Browser experience
Note
You've reached the documentation for Microsoft Edge version 45 and earlier. To see the documentation for Microsoft Edge version 77 or later, go to the Microsoft Edge documentation landing page.
Not only do the other Microsoft Edge group policies enhance the browsing experience, but we also want to mention some of the other and common browsing experiences. For example, printing web content is a common browsing experience. However, if you want to prevent users from printing web content, Microsoft Edge has a group policy that allows you to prevent printing. The same goes for Pop-up Blocker; Microsoft Edge has a group policy that lets you prevent pop-up windows or let users choose to use Pop-up Blocker. You can use any one of the following group policies to continue enhancing the browsing experience for your users.
You can find the Microsoft Edge Group Policy settings in the following location of the Group Policy Editor unless otherwise noted in the policy:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge\
Allow clearing browsing data on exit
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1703 or later
Default setting: Disabled or not configured (Prevented)
Microsoft Edge does not clear the browsing data on exit by default, but users can configure the Clear browsing data option in Settings. Browsing data includes information you entered in forms, passwords, and even the websites visited. With this policy, you can configure Microsoft Edge to clear the browsing data automatically each time Microsoft Edge closes.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled or not configured (default) | 0 | 0 | Prevented. Users can configure the Clear browsing data option in Settings. | |
| Enabled | 1 | 1 | Allowed. Clear the browsing data upon exit automatically. |  |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Allow clearing browsing data on exit
- GP name: AllowClearingBrowsingDataOnExit
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/ClearBrowsingDataOnExit
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/ClearBrowsingDataOnExit
- Data type: Integer
Registry
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy
- Value name: ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit
- Value type: REG_DWORD
Allow fullscreen mode
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1809
Default setting: Enabled or not configured (Allowed)
Microsoft Edge allows fullscreen mode by default, which shows only the web content and hides the Microsoft Edge UI. When allowing fullscreen mode, users and extensions must have the proper permissions. Disabling this policy prevents fullscreen mode in Microsoft Edge.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled | 0 | 0 | Prevented | |
| Enabled (default) |
1 | 1 | Allowed |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Allow fullscreen mode
- GP name: AllowFullScreenMode
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/AllowFullscreen
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowFullscreen
- Data type: Integer
Registry settings
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Value name: AllowFullScreenMode
- Value type: REG_DWORD
Allow printing
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1809
Default setting: Enabled or not configured (Allowed)
Microsoft Edge allows users to print web content by default. With this policy, you can configure Microsoft Edge to prevent users from printing web content.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled | 0 | 0 | Prevented | |
| Enabled or not configured (default) |
1 | 1 | Allowed |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Allow printing
- GP name: AllowPrinting
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/AllowPrinting
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowPrinting
- Data type: Integer
Registry settings
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Value name: AllowPrinting
- Value type: REG_DWORD
Allow Saving History
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1809
Default setting: Enabled or not configured (Allowed)
Microsoft Edge saves the browsing history of visited websites and shows them in the History pane by default. Disabling this policy prevents Microsoft Edge from saving the browsing history. If browsing history existed before disabling this policy, the previous browsing history remains in the History pane. Disabling this policy does not stop roaming of existing browsing history or browsing history from other devices.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled | 0 | 0 | Prevented | |
| Enabled or not configured (default) |
1 | 1 | Allowed |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Allow Saving History
- GP name: AllowSavingHistory
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/AllowSavingHistory
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowSavingHistory
- Data type: Integer
Registry settings
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Value name: AllowSavingHistory
- Value type: REG_DWORD
Configure Autofill
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
Default setting: Not configured (Blank)
By default, users can choose to use the Autofill feature to populate the form fields automatically. With this policy, you can configure Microsoft Edge, when enabled to use Autofill or, when disabled to prevent using Autofill.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not configured (default) |
Blank | Blank | Users can choose to use Autofill. | |
| Disabled | 0 | 0 | Prevented. | |
| Enabled | 1 | 1 | Allowed. |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Configure Autofill
- GP name: AllowAutofill
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/AllowAutofill
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowAutofill
- Data type: Integer
Registry settings
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Value name: Use FormSuggest
- Value type: REG_SZ
Configure Pop-up Blocker
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
Default setting: Disabled (Turned off)
By default, Microsoft Edge turns off Pop-up Blocker, which opens pop-up windows. Enabling this policy turns on Pop-up Blocker preventing pop-up windows from opening. If you want users to choose to use Pop-up Blocker, don’t configure this policy.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not configured | Blank | Blank | Users can choose to use Pop-up Blocker. | |
| Disabled (default) |
0 | 0 | Turned off. Allow pop-up windows to open. | |
| Enabled | 1 | 1 | Turned on. Prevent pop-up windows from opening. | |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Configure Pop-up Blocker
- GP name: AllowPopups
- GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
- GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Browser/AllowPopups
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowPopups
- Data type: Integer
Registry
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Value name: AllowPopups
- Value type: REG_SZ
Do not sync
Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
Default setting: Disabled or not configured (Allowed/turned on)
By default, Microsoft Edge turns on the Sync your settings toggle in Settings > Device sync settings letting users choose what to sync on their devices. Enabling this policy turns off and disables the Sync your settings toggle preventing the syncing of user’s settings between their devices. If you want syncing turned off by default in Microsoft Edge but not disabled, enable this policy and select the Allow users to turn syncing on option.
Supported values
| Group Policy | MDM | Registry | Description | Most restricted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled or not configured (default) |
0 | 0 | Allowed/turned on. Users can choose what to sync to their device. | |
| Enabled | 2 | 2 | Prevented/turned off. Disables the Sync your Settings toggle and prevents syncing. | |
ADMX info and settings
ADMX info
- GP English name: Do not sync
- GP name: AllowSyncMySettings
- GP path: Windows Components/Sync your settings
- GP ADMX file name: SettingSync.admx
MDM settings
- MDM name: Experience/AllowSyncMySettings
- Supported devices: Desktop
- URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Experience/AllowSyncMySettings
- Data type: Integer
Registry settings
- Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync
- Value name: DisableSettingSyn
- Value type: REG_DWORD
Related topics
About sync setting on Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 devices: Learn about what settings are synced.
To learn about the policies to sync the browser settings, see Sync browser settings.