Microsoft Edge › Idle Browser Actions
Actions to run when the computer is idle
Supported on Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
What it does
When the timeout from the IdleTimeout policy is reached, the browser runs the actions configured in this policy. If you don't configure the IdleTimeout policy, this policy has no effect. If you don't configure this policy or no actions are selected, the IdleTimeout policy has no effect. Supported actions are: 'close_browsers': close all browser windows and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for this profile. 'reload_pages': reload all webpages. For some pages, the user might be prompted for confirmation first. 'sign_out': sign out of browser. (This action only applies to iOS.) 'close_tabs': close all open tabs and create an NTP (New Tab Page). Supported in Android and iOS. 'clear_browsing_history', 'clear_download_history', 'clear_cookies_and_other_site_data', 'clear_cached_images_and_files', 'clear_password_signing', 'clear_autofill', 'clear_site_settings': clear the corresponding browsing data. Deleting cookies using this policy doesn't sign the user out of their profile, the user stays signed in. Setting 'clear_browsing_history', 'clear_password_signing', 'clear_autofill', and 'clear_site_settings' disables sync for the respective data types if sync isn't already disabled by setting either the SyncDisabled policy or BrowserSignin to disabled. Policy options mapping: * close_browsers (close_browsers) = Close Browsers * clear_browsing_history (clear_browsing_history) = Clear Browsing History * clear_download_history (clear_download_history) = Clear Download History * clear_cookies_and_other_site_data (clear_cookies_and_other_site_data) = Clear Cookies and Other Site Data * clear_cached_images_and_files (clear_cached_images_and_files) = Clear Cached Images and Files * clear_password_signin (clear_password_signin) = Clear Password sign in * clear_autofill (clear_autofill) = Clear Autofill * clear_site_settings (clear_site_settings) = Clear Site Settings * reload_pages (reload_pages) = Reload Pages * sign_out (sign_out) = Sign Out * close_tabs (close_tabs) = Close Tabs Use the preceding information when configuring this policy. Example value: close_browsers
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actions to run when the computer is idle | List of values | Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions |
Any |
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\IdleTimeoutActions]
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: Actions to run when the computer is idle
# Name: IdleTimeoutActions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Clear-RegistryKeyValues -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions'
- 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: IdleTimeoutActionsDesc
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/IdleTimeoutActionsIntune 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: Actions to run when the computer is idle
# Name: IdleTimeoutActions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
$keyPath = 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions'
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $keyPath) {
$propertyNames = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $keyPath).Property
if ($propertyNames.Count -gt 0) {
$reasons.Add('Key should be empty: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions') | Out-Null
}
}
if ($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 $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Actions to run when the computer is idle
# Name: IdleTimeoutActions
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Clear-RegistryKeyValues -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions'
History 37 retained releases
- 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
36 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
IdleTimeoutActions- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.Edge- Template file
msedge.admx- Release
- Microsoft Edge 155.0.4283.62 · file set
0a733b0040dbbf02…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.IdleTimeoutActions)" explainText="$(string.IdleTimeoutActions_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" name="IdleTimeoutActions" presentation="$(presentation.IdleTimeoutActions)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:BrowserIdle" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V134" />
<elements>
<list id="IdleTimeoutActionsDesc" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\IdleTimeoutActions" valuePrefix="" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="IdleTimeoutActions" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions"><listBox refId="IdleTimeoutActionsDesc">Actions to run when the computer is idle</listBox></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>