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Microsoft Edge Group Policy settings

914 settings · 157.0.4341.42 · 5 Nov 2026

3 settingsCSV
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Microsoft Edge Update › Applications

Allow Microsoft Edge Side by Side browser experience

ComputerIntune-readyPol_AllowSideBySideExperience

Supported on Microsoft Edge Update 1.2.145.5 and later

Shown as of 157.0.4341.42, 5 Nov 2026. See it in the latest templates.

What it does

This policy lets a user run Microsoft Edge (Edge HTML) and Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) side-by-side. If this policy is set to “Not configured”, Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) will replace Microsoft Edge (Edge HTML) after the Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) stable channel and the November 2019 security updates are installed. This is the same behavior as the “Disabled” setting. The “Disabled” (0) setting blocks a side-by-side experience and Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) will replace Microsoft Edge (Edge HTML) after the Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) stable channel and the November 2019 security updates are installed. This is the same behavior as the “Not Configured” setting. When this policy is “Enabled” (1), Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) and Microsoft Edge (Edge HTML) can run side-by-side after Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) is installed. For this group policy to take affect, it must be configured before the automatic install of Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) by Windows Update. Note: ​A user can block the automatic update of Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) by using the Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Blocker Toolkit. Starting with Windows 10 version 20H2 Microsoft Edge Legacy and the side-by-side browser experience are not supported.

What it writes

Hive
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate
Value name
Allowsxs
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.

State

Enabled · Computer · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate]
"Allowsxs"=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: Allow Microsoft Edge Side by Side browser experience
# Name: Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'Allowsxs' -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_msedgeupdate/Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience

ADMX 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_msedgeupdate/Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;</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' {
            $actualBits = if ($actual -is [uint64]) { $actual } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$actual), 0) }
            $expectedBits = if ($Expected -is [uint64]) { $Expected } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$Expected), 0) }
            return $actualBits -eq $expectedBits
        }
        '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: Allow Microsoft Edge Side by Side browser experience
# Name: Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'Allowsxs' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate\Allowsxs') | 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: Allow Microsoft Edge Side by Side browser experience
# Name: Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

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

History 48 retained releases

  1. 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
    • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

47 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name
Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience
Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.Update
Template file
msedgeupdate.admx
Release
Microsoft Edge 157.0.4341.42 · file set 0c38d160a969619e…
Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience)" explainText="$(string.Explain_AllowSideBySideExperience)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" name="Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience" presentation="$(presentation.Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience)" valueName="Allowsxs" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_Applications" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5" />
      <enabledValue><decimal value="1" /></enabledValue>
      <disabledValue><decimal value="0" /></disabledValue>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="Pol_AllowSideBySideExperience" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Update:category:Cat_Applications
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_Applications)" explainText="$(string.Explain_Applications)" name="Cat_Applications" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_EdgeUpdate" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Update:category:Cat_EdgeUpdate
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_GoogleUpdate)" explainText="$(string.Explain_GoogleUpdate)" name="Cat_EdgeUpdate" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Update:definition:Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5
<definition displayName="$(string.Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5)" name="Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Update:category:Cat_Applications
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_Applications)" explainText="$(string.Explain_Applications)" name="Cat_Applications" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_EdgeUpdate" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_Applications">Applications</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Explain_Applications">An updated ADMX/ADML template will be required to support Edge applications released in the future.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Update:category:Cat_EdgeUpdate
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_GoogleUpdate)" explainText="$(string.Explain_GoogleUpdate)" name="Cat_EdgeUpdate" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_GoogleUpdate">Microsoft Edge Update</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Explain_GoogleUpdate">Policies to control the installation and updating of Microsoft Edge using Microsoft Edge Update.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Update:definition:Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5
<definition displayName="$(string.Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5)" name="Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Sup_GoogleUpdate1_2_145_5">Microsoft Edge Update 1.2.145.5 and later</string></strings>
ChangeIntel

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Sources read 14 Nov 21:28 UTC · 274 of 275 readable · 272 fully read · documentation 469/469 current