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How to hide TABS in IE11 and load in KIOSK Mode with or without Address Bar?

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In this quick post, we will cover the options we have to manage the IE TABs on a controlled environment.

I would like to first clarify that there is not a single GPO to just hide TABS in IE11. There is however a way you can enforce IE in Full View Mode which by default will remove the TABS and Address bar via a GPO.

The GPO  you can use to enforce the Full-Screen view is available on both Computer and User configuration policy. Below is the gpo location path in group policy editor console.

  • GPO NAME: Enforce full-screen mode
  • LOCATION: Computer or User configuration - Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
  • KEY LOCATION: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions

SCREENSHOT: GPO CONSOLE

 SCREENSHOT: REGISTRY LOCATION WITH VALUES

The gpo and keys will cause the browser to open in full view with no address bar or tabs

If you want to use a different alternative to force a Full View with Address bar, you will need to consider using Group Policy Preference / Registry gpo and push the following registry keys:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions]
"NoNavBar"=dword:00000000
"NoCommandBar"=dword:00000001

 SCREENSHOT USING THE KEYS ABOVE:

This blog has been provided to you by the IE Support team!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    December 02, 2015
    Hi, thank you for this tutorial. A question about remove nav bar. When we modify registry to remove it from IE, it will  also removed on File Explorer?

  • Anonymous
    December 06, 2015
    @Pierpaolo     From my test, no. For Windows 8.1 and Win7 I did not see this key affect the Shell Address bar.

  • Anonymous
    August 03, 2016
    Do you still use REG_DWORD with 64 bit version of Windows 7?

    • Anonymous
      August 08, 2016
      Yes, I am running Win7-64 in a kiosk mode and did the above steps.

  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2016
    Is it possible to only show the navigationarrows back/forward but not the addressfield?

    • Anonymous
      January 21, 2017
      Also, tab panes get removed. I'm wondering if there is a way to not remove tabs
    • Anonymous
      January 24, 2017
      @ElShehriNo. You may want to consider writing a custom web browser where you can just have the address bar and options.