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Microsoft Edge Group Policy settings

910 settings · 155.0.4283.62 · 16 Oct 2026

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Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override) › Downloads

Set default download directory

Computer and userIntune-readyDefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended

Supported on Microsoft Edge version 147, Windows 7 or later

What it does

This policy sets the default directory that Microsoft Edge uses to download files. Users can change the directory through browser settings. If you don't configure this policy, Microsoft Edge uses the platform-specific default download directory. This policy has no effect if the DownloadDirectory policy is set. For a list of supported variables, see https://learn.microsoft.com/deployedge/edge-learnmore-create-user-directory-vars . Example value: /home/${user_name}/Downloads

What it writes

Hive
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended

Options

OptionTypeRegistry valueAllowed values
Set default download directory Text DefaultDownloadDirectory Up to 1000000 characters

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

State
Apply to
Options used when Enabled

Enabled · Computer · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"DefaultDownloadDirectory"=""


PowerShell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Set default download directory
# Name: DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'DefaultDownloadDirectory' -PropertyType 'String' -Value ''
  • The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
  • Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
  • The generated payload is incomplete because one or more ADMX element values were not supplied: DefaultDownloadDirectory

ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended
Intune remediation scripts

Detection

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Set default download directory
# Name: DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'DefaultDownloadDirectory' -Kind 'String' -Expected ''
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended\DefaultDownloadDirectory') | Out-Null
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

Remediation

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Set default download directory
# Name: DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'DefaultDownloadDirectory' -PropertyType 'String' -Value ''

History 37 retained releases

  1. 153.0.4234.3211 Sep 2026
    • Description … the DownloadDirectory policy is set. For a list of supported variables, see https://learn.microsoft.com/[removed: en-us/]deployedge/edge-learnmore-create-user-directory-vars . Example value: /home/${user_name}/Downloads
      Whole description, marked

      This policy sets the default directory that Microsoft Edge uses to download files. Users can change the directory through browser settings. If you don't configure this policy, Microsoft Edge uses the platform-specific default download directory. This policy has no effect if the DownloadDirectory policy is set. For a list of supported variables, see https://learn.microsoft.com/[removed: en-us/]deployedge/edge-learnmore-create-user-directory-vars . Example value: /home/${user_name}/Downloads

  2. 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
    • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

35 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name
DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended
Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.Edge
Template file
msedge.admx
Release
Microsoft Edge 155.0.4283.62 · file set 0a733b0040dbbf02…
Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.DefaultDownloadDirectory)" explainText="$(string.DefaultDownloadDirectory_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended" name="DefaultDownloadDirectory_recommended" presentation="$(presentation.DefaultDownloadDirectory)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:Downloads_recommended" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147" />
      <elements>
        <text id="DefaultDownloadDirectory" maxLength="1000000" valueName="DefaultDownloadDirectory" />
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="DefaultDownloadDirectory" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions"><textBox refId="DefaultDownloadDirectory"><label>Set default download directory</label></textBox></presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:Downloads_recommended
<category displayName="$(string.Downloads_group)" name="Downloads_recommended" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge_recommended" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge_recommended
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge_recommended)" name="microsoft_edge_recommended" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:Downloads_recommended
<category displayName="$(string.Downloads_group)" name="Downloads_recommended" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge_recommended" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:Downloads_group">Downloads</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge_recommended
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge_recommended)" name="microsoft_edge_recommended" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge_recommended">Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override)</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V147">Microsoft Edge version 147, Windows 7 or later</string></strings>
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