Microsoft Edge
Secure mode and Certificate-based Digital Signature validation in native PDF reader
Supported on Microsoft Edge version 100, Windows 7 or later
What it does
This policy controls whether the native PDF reader validates certificate-based digital signatures in PDF files in a secure environment and displays the validation status. Starting with Microsoft Edge version 154, this capability is enabled by default on Windows. It remains disabled by default on macOS and on Windows in earlier versions. If you enable this policy, the native PDF reader validates certificate-based digital signatures and provides an option to view the validation status. If you don't configure this policy, the default behavior described above applies. If you disable this policy, the native PDF reader doesn't validate certificate-based digital signatures or provide an option to view the validation status.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge- Value name
PDFSecureMode- When enabled
- DWORD 1
- When disabled
- DWORD 0
Configure and deploy
Choose a state; 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]
"PDFSecureMode"=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: Secure mode and Certificate-based Digital Signature validation in native PDF reader
# Name: PDFSecureMode
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'PDFSecureMode' -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.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/PDFSecureModeADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/PDFSecureMode</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>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: Secure mode and Certificate-based Digital Signature validation in native PDF reader
# Name: PDFSecureMode
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'PDFSecureMode' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\PDFSecureMode') | Out-Null
}
if ($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: Secure mode and Certificate-based Digital Signature validation in native PDF reader
# Name: PDFSecureMode
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'PDFSecureMode' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
History 37 retained releases
- 154.0.4258.3724 Sep 2026
- Description
[removed: The][added: This] policy[removed: enables Digital Signature validation for][added: controls whether the native PDF reader validate…] PDF files in a secure environment[removed: , which show][added: and display]s the[removed: correct validation status of the signatures.][added: validation status. Starting with Microsoft Edge version 154, this ca…] If you enable this policy, [added: the native ]PDF[removed: files with Certificate-based][added: reader validates certificate-based]…Whole description, marked
[removed: The][added: This] policy[removed: enables Digital Signature validation for][added: controls whether the native PDF reader validates certificate-based digital signatures in] PDF files in a secure environment[removed: , which show][added: and display]s the[removed: correct validation status of the signatures.][added: validation status. Starting with Microsoft Edge version 154, this capability is enabled by default on Windows. It remains disabled by default on macOS and on Windows in earlier versions.] If you enable this policy, [added: the native ]PDF[removed: files with Certificate-based][added: reader validates certificate-based] digital signatures[removed: are opened with ][added: and provides ]an option to view[removed: and verify the validity of][added: the validation status. If you don't configure this policy,] the[removed: signatures with high security.][added: default behavior described above applies.] If you disable[removed: or don't configure this policy, the capability][added: this policy, the native PDF reader doesn't validate certificate-based digital signatures or provide an option] to view[removed: and verify ]the[removed: signature isn't available.][added: validation status.]
- Description
- 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
35 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
PDFSecureMode- 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.PDFSecureMode)" explainText="$(string.PDFSecureMode_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" name="PDFSecureMode" presentation="$(presentation.PDFSecureMode)" valueName="PDFSecureMode" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100" />
<enabledValue>
<decimal value="1" />
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<decimal value="0" />
</disabledValue>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="PDFSecureMode" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge">Microsoft Edge</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V100">Microsoft Edge version 100, Windows 7 or later</string></strings>