Allow clearing browsing data on exit
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge Description
This policy setting allows the automatic clearing of browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes. If you enable this policy setting, clearing browsing history on exit is turned on. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, it can be turned on and configured by the employee in the Clear browsing data options under Settings.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy Value name: ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit
Enabled: ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit = 1
Disabled: ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/ClearBrowsingDataOnExit User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/ClearBrowsingDataOnExit Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
CSP values
-
0 (Default)- Prevented/not allowed. Users can configure the 'Clear browsing data' option in Settings. -
1- Allowed. Clear the browsing data upon exit automatically.
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 clearing browsing data on exit
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy]
"ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/ClearBrowsingDataOnExit
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy' -Name 'ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 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 clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy' -Name 'ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1703 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.