Microsoft Edge › Idle Browser Actions
Delay before running idle actions
Supported on Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
What it does
Triggers an action when the computer is idle. If you set this policy, it specifies the length of time without user input, in minutes, before the browser runs actions configured via the IdleTimeoutActions policy. If you don't set this policy, the browser doesn't run any actions. The minimum threshold is 1 minute. "User input" is defined by operating system APIs and includes actions such as moving the mouse or typing on the keyboard. On Android, the operating system doesn't report the time since the user last interacted with the device. Instead, idle time is measured from the moment the device screen turns off, and it resets to zero when the user unlocks the device. While the screen is on, idle time is always zero, no matter how long the browser is left untouched. Idle actions therefore run after the device stays locked for longer than the configured timeout. The user sees the result the next time they unlock the device.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delay before running idle actions | Number | IdleTimeout |
1 to 2000000000 |
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"IdleTimeout"=dword:00000001
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: Delay before running idle actions
# Name: IdleTimeout
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'IdleTimeout' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
- 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: IdleTimeout
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/IdleTimeoutIntune 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: Delay before running idle actions
# Name: IdleTimeout
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'IdleTimeout' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeout') | Out-Null
}
if ($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: Delay before running idle actions
# Name: IdleTimeout
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'IdleTimeout' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
History 37 retained releases
- 154.0.4258.3724 Sep 2026
- Description
… you set this policy, it specifies the leng…
[removed: input (in minutes)][added: input, in minutes,] before the browser runs actions configured via t…action[added: s]. The minimum threshold is 1 minute. "User input" is define…[removed: Operating System APIs,][added: operating system APIs] and includes[removed: things like][added: actions such as] moving the mouse or typing on the keyboard.[added: On Android, the operating system doesn't report the time since the user last interacted with the device. Instead, idle time is measured from the moment the device screen turns off, and it resets to zero when the user unlocks the device. While the screen is on, idle time is always zero, no matter how lo…]Whole description, marked
Triggers an action when the computer is idle. If you set this policy, it specifies the length of time without user
[removed: input (in minutes)][added: input, in minutes,] before the browser runs actions configured via the IdleTimeoutActions policy. If you don't set this policy, the browser doesn't run any action[added: s]. The minimum threshold is 1 minute. "User input" is defined by[removed: Operating System APIs,][added: operating system APIs] and includes[removed: things like][added: actions such as] moving the mouse or typing on the keyboard.[added: On Android, the operating system doesn't report the time since the user last interacted with the device. Instead, idle time is measured from the moment the device screen turns off, and it resets to zero when the user unlocks the device. While the screen is on, idle time is always zero, no matter how long the browser is left untouched. Idle actions therefore run after the device stays locked for longer than the configured timeout. The user sees the result the next time they unlock the device.]
- Description
… you set this policy, it specifies the leng…
- 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
35 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
IdleTimeout- 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.IdleTimeout)" explainText="$(string.IdleTimeout_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" name="IdleTimeout" presentation="$(presentation.IdleTimeout)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:BrowserIdle" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134" />
<elements>
<decimal id="IdleTimeout" maxValue="2000000000" minValue="1" valueName="IdleTimeout" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="IdleTimeout" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions"><decimalTextBox refId="IdleTimeout">Delay before running idle actions:</decimalTextBox></presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:BrowserIdle
<category displayName="$(string.BrowserIdle_group)" name="BrowserIdle" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:BrowserIdle
<category displayName="$(string.BrowserIdle_group)" name="BrowserIdle" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:BrowserIdle_group">Idle Browser Actions</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge">Microsoft Edge</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134">Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later</string></strings>