How to force Microsoft Edge to Open the Application Catalog in Internet Explorer

 

So as we are getting excited to start finally deploying Windows 10 in production with Configuration Manager we get the agent installed and start trying to test out Application Deployments and go to open the Application Catalog and BAM… we get an error since our default browser is now Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 which does not support Silverlight.  Well this is a bit problematic isn't it.  Before the question comes in I have no idea if Edge will support Silverlight or when we will remove Silverlight from the application catalog so lets look at our options.

Well we have a few options I guess we could change the default web browser to IE11 by opening up settings –> System –> Default apps and changing the web browser to IE11 instead of Microsoft Edge.

No way I just got my shiny new Windows 10 I want to give Microsoft Edge a shot.  This is our preferred method and will leverage Enterprise Mode and the enterprise mode site list.  Below are the steps needed to setup Group Policy but this could also be setup using the registry keys listed below and a local site list if needed with Compliance Settings as well.

Set up Microsoft Edge to use the Enterprise Mode site list

You must turn on the Use Enterprise Mode Site List Group Policy setting before Microsoft Edge can use the Enterprise Mode site list. This Group Policy applies to both Microsoft Edge and IE11, letting Microsoft Edge switch to IE11 as needed, based on the Enterprise Mode site list. For more info about IE11 and Enterprise Mode, see Enterprise Mode for Internet Explorer 11 (IE11).

To turn on Enterprise Mode using Group Policy

1. Open your Group Policy editor and go to the Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Use the Enterprise Mode IE website list setting.

   Turning this setting on also requires you to create and store a site list.

   

2. Click Enabled, and then in the Options area, type the location to your site list.

3. Refresh your policy in your organization and then view the affected sites in Microsoft Edge.

   The site shows a message in Microsoft Edge, saying that the page needs Internet Explorer. At the same time, the page opens in IE11; in a new frame if it's not yet running, or in a new tab if it is.

To turn on Enterprise Mode using the registry

1. To turn on Enterprise Mode for only the local user: Open a registry editor, like regedit.exe and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode.

   -or-

   To turn on Enterprise Mode for all users on the PC: Open a registry editor, like regedit.exe and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode.

2. Edit the SiteList registry key to point to where you want to keep your Enterprise Mode site list file. For example:

   

   • HTTP location: “SiteList”=”https://localhost:8080/sites.xml”

   • Local network: "SiteList"="\\network\shares\sites.xml"

   • Local file: "SiteList"="file:///c:\\Users\\<user>\\Documents\\testList.xml"

     All of your managed devices must have access to this location if you want them to be able to access and use Enterprise Mode and your site list.

3. Refresh your policy in your organization and then view the affected sites in Microsoft Edge.

   The site shows a message in Microsoft Edge, saying that the page needs IE. At the same time, the page opens in IE11; in a new frame if it's not yet running, or in a new tab if it is.

Fix your intranet sites

You can add the Send all intranet traffic over to Internet Explorer Group Policy setting for Windows 10 so that all of your intranet sites open in IE11. This means that even if your employees are using Microsoft Edge, they will automatically switch to IE11 while viewing the intranet.

To turn on Send all intranet traffic over to Internet Explorer using Group Policy

1. Open your Group Policy editor and go to the Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Send all intranet traffic over to Internet Explorer setting.

   

2. Click Enabled.

3. Refresh your policy in your organization and then view the affected sites in Microsoft Edge.

   The site shows a message in Microsoft Edge, saying that the page needs IE. At the same time, the page opens in IE11; in a new frame if it's not yet running, or in a new tab if it is.

Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, confers no rights, and is not supported by the authors or Microsoft Corporation. Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified
in the Terms of Use .

Comments

• Anonymous
  August 18, 2015
  Hi Brandon,
  this only worked for me when I enabled Enterprise Mode for Microsoft Edge with the separate policy: "Allows you to configure the Enterprise Site list" and added the site list there as well.
  Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftMicrosoftEdgeMainEnterpriseMode
  “SiteList”=”http://localhost:8080/sites.xml”
  
  Regards
  Matthias
• Anonymous
  September 26, 2015
  Using unc shares doesn´t work. You need IIS for holding that xml site list file.
• Anonymous
  October 08, 2015
  @yannara . For IE11, this is incorrect XML file can reside in \domainnamenetlogon\sites.xml as an example.
  Are you saying Edge will not support this?
• Anonymous
  February 26, 2016
  UNC Paths work in IE11, but do not appear to be working in Edge