Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Description
OBSOLETE: This policy is obsolete and doesn't work after Microsoft Edge 119. This policy is obsolete due to the deprecation of the Web widget, which is now known as Edge search bar. Admins should use the 'SearchbarIsEnabledOnStartup' (Allow the Search bar at Windows startup) policy for Edge search bar instead. This policy allows the Search bar to start running at Windows startup. If you enable this policy, the Search bar starts running at Windows startup by default. If the Search bar is disabled via 'WebWidgetAllowed' (Enable the Search bar) policy, this policy doesn't start the Search bar on Windows startup. If you disable this policy, the Search bar doesn't start at Windows startup for all profiles. The option to start the Edge search bar at Windows startup is disabled and toggled off in Microsoft Edge settings. If you don't configure this policy, the Search bar doesn't start at Windows startup for all profiles. The option to start the Edge search bar at Windows startup is toggled off in Microsoft Edge settings.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Value name: WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup
Enabled: WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup = 1
Disabled: WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup = 0
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: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune 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: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, 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: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow the Search bar at Windows startup (obsolete)
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 88-119, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'WebWidgetIsEnabledOnStartup' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.