Default sensors setting

What it does

Set whether websites can access and use sensors such as motion and light sensors. You can completely block or allow websites to get access to sensors. Setting the policy to 1 lets websites access and use sensors. Setting the policy to 2 denies access to sensors. Setting the policy to 3 is intended to prompt the user when a site requests access to sensors, but this option isn't yet supported; if you select it, websites can still access and use sensors. You can override this policy for specific URL patterns by using the 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' (Allow access to sensors on specific sites) and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls' (Block access to sensors on specific sites) policies. If you don't configure this policy, websites can access and use sensors, and users can change this setting. This setting is the global default for 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls'. Policy options mapping: * AllowSensors (1) = Allow sites to access sensors * BlockSensors (2) = Do not allow any site to access sensors * AskSensors (3) = Ask whenever a site wants to access sensors (This policy is not yet supported) Use the preceding information when configuring this policy.

What it writes

Hive

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Registry key

Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

Options

Configure and deploy

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

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"DefaultSensorsSetting"=dword:00000001

$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: Default sensors setting
# Name: DefaultSensorsSetting
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'DefaultSensorsSetting' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/DefaultSensorsSetting

$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: Default sensors setting
# Name: DefaultSensorsSetting
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'DefaultSensorsSetting' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\DefaultSensorsSetting') | Out-Null
}

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

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

$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: Default sensors setting
# Name: DefaultSensorsSetting
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'DefaultSensorsSetting' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

History 37 retained releases

1. 152.0.4191.5328 Aug 2026
   • Description … policy to 2 denies access to sensors. Setting the policy to 3 [removed: prompts][added: is intended to prompt] the user when a site requests access to [removed: sensors if the tri-state feature flag is enabled; otherwise, it defaults to allowing][added: sensors, but this option isn't yet supported; if you select it, websites can still] access [removed: to][added: and use] sensors. You can override this policy for specific URL patterns by using … * AskSensors (3) = Ask whenever a site wants to access sensors[added: (This policy is not yet supported)] Use the preceding information when configuring this policy.
     Whole description, marked

     Set whether websites can access and use sensors such as motion and light sensors. You can completely block or allow websites to get access to sensors. Setting the policy to 1 lets websites access and use sensors. Setting the policy to 2 denies access to sensors. Setting the policy to 3 [removed: prompts][added: is intended to prompt] the user when a site requests access to [removed: sensors if the tri-state feature flag is enabled; otherwise, it defaults to allowing][added: sensors, but this option isn't yet supported; if you select it, websites can still] access [removed: to][added: and use] sensors. You can override this policy for specific URL patterns by using the 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' (Allow access to sensors on specific sites) and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls' (Block access to sensors on specific sites) policies. If you don't configure this policy, websites can access and use sensors, and users can change this setting. This setting is the global default for 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls'. Policy options mapping: * AllowSensors (1) = Allow sites to access sensors * BlockSensors (2) = Do not allow any site to access sensors * AskSensors (3) = Ask whenever a site wants to access sensors[added: (This policy is not yet supported)] Use the preceding information when configuring this policy.

   • A choice in “Default sensors setting” is renamed Ask whenever a site wants to access sensors [added: (This policy is not yet supported) ](3)
2. 151.0.4129.5931 Jul 2026
   • Description … and use sensors. Setting the policy to 2 denies access to sensors.[added: Setting the policy to 3 prompts the user when a site requests access to sensors if the tri-state feature flag is enabled; otherwise, it defaults to allowing access to sensors.] You can override this policy for specific URL patterns by using the … to access sensors * BlockSensors (2) = Do not allow any site[added: to access sensors * AskSensors (3) = Ask whenever a site wants] to access sensors Use the preceding information when configuring this policy.
     Whole description, marked

     Set whether websites can access and use sensors such as motion and light sensors. You can completely block or allow websites to get access to sensors. Setting the policy to 1 lets websites access and use sensors. Setting the policy to 2 denies access to sensors.[added: Setting the policy to 3 prompts the user when a site requests access to sensors if the tri-state feature flag is enabled; otherwise, it defaults to allowing access to sensors.] You can override this policy for specific URL patterns by using the 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' (Allow access to sensors on specific sites) and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls' (Block access to sensors on specific sites) policies. If you don't configure this policy, websites can access and use sensors, and users can change this setting. This setting is the global default for 'SensorsAllowedForUrls' and 'SensorsBlockedForUrls'. Policy options mapping: * AllowSensors (1) = Allow sites to access sensors * BlockSensors (2) = Do not allow any site[added: to access sensors * AskSensors (3) = Ask whenever a site wants] to access sensors Use the preceding information when configuring this policy.

   • “Default sensors setting” gains the choice [added: Ask whenever a site wants to access sensors (3)]
3. 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
   • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

34 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name

DefaultSensorsSetting

Namespace

Microsoft.Policies.Edge

Template file

msedge.admx

Release

Microsoft Edge 155.0.4283.62 · file set 0a733b0040dbbf02…

<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.DefaultSensorsSetting)" explainText="$(string.DefaultSensorsSetting_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" name="DefaultSensorsSetting" presentation="$(presentation.DefaultSensorsSetting)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86" />
      <elements>
        <enum id="DefaultSensorsSetting" valueName="DefaultSensorsSetting">
          <item displayName="$(string.DefaultSensorsSetting_AllowSensors)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.DefaultSensorsSetting_BlockSensors)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="2" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.DefaultSensorsSetting_AskSensors)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="3" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

<presentation id="DefaultSensorsSetting" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions"><dropdownList refId="DefaultSensorsSetting">Default sensors setting</dropdownList></presentation>

Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge">Microsoft Edge</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V86">Microsoft Edge version 86, Windows 7 or later</string></strings>