Register protocol handlers
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 12, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override)\Content settings User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override)\Content settings Description
Set this policy (recommended only) to register a list of protocol handlers. This list is merged with ones registered by the user and both are available to use. To register a protocol handler: - Set the protocol property to the scheme (for example, "mailto") - Set the URL property to the URL property of the application that handlers the scheme specified in the "protocol" field. The pattern can include a "%s" placeholder, which the handled URL replaces. Users can't remove a protocol handler registered by this policy. However, they can install a new default protocol handler to override the existing protocol handlers. In the examples in this section, the URL points to the Outlook on the Web (OWA) endpoint used in Exchange Online. If you're targeting Exchange Server (on-premises), use the following URL and replace mail.contoso.com with your organization's OWA endpoint: https://mail.contoso.com/?path=/mail/action/compose&mailtouri=%s Example value: [ { "default": true, "protocol": "mailto", "url": "https://outlook.office.com/mail/deeplink/compose?to=%s" } ]
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Register protocol handlers
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"RegisteredProtocolHandlers"=""More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RegisteredProtocolHandlers' -Value '' -Type StringIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'RegisteredProtocolHandlers' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RegisteredProtocolHandlers' -Value '' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'RegisteredProtocolHandlers' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Register protocol handlers
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RegisteredProtocolHandlers' -Value '' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.