Control updater's communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service

ComputerIntune-readyPol_ECSControl

Supported on Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.145.1 and later

155.0.4283.62

What it does

In Microsoft Edge Update, the Experimentation and Configuration Service is used to deploy experimentation and configuration payloads. Experimentation payload consists of a list of early-in-development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing and feedback. Configuration payload consists of a list of recommended settings that Microsoft wants to deploy to optimize the user experience. If you set this policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Configuration Service. This includes both the experimentation and configuration payloads. If you set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set this policy to 'RestrictedMode' (0), communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service is stopped completely. If you don't configure this policy, on a managed device the behavior is the same as policy 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode'. If you don't configure this policy, on a device that isn't managed through domain policy or device management, the behavior is the same as policy 'FullMode'.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration ServiceRequiredDefault: Retrieve configurations and experiments	Drop-down list	`UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl`	Disable communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service`0` Retrieve configurations and experiments`1` Retrieve configurations only`2`

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\EdgeUpdate]
"UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl"=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: Control updater's communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service
# Name: Pol_ECSControl
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl' -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_ECSControl

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_ECSControl</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;
&lt;data id="Part_ECSControl" value="1"/&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]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$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: Control updater's communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service
# Name: Pol_ECSControl
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate' -Name 'UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate\UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl') | 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: Control updater's communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service
# Name: Pol_ECSControl
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedgeupdate.admx

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

History 37 retained releases

154.0.4258.3724 Sep 2026
- Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
153.0.4234.4617 Sep 2026
- Description … Edge Update, the Experimentation and…~~[removed: payload.]~~[added: and configuration payloads.] Experimentation payload consists of a li…early~~[removed: in ]~~[added: -in-]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing…[added: Configuration payload consists of a list of rec…]If you ~~[removed: enable (1) this policy, experimentation]~~[added: set this policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full] payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Config…[added: This includes both the experimentation and configuration …] If you ~~[removed: disable (0)]~~[added: set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set]…
  Whole description, marked
  In Microsoft Edge Update, the Experimentation and Configuration Service is used to deploy experimentation ~~[removed: payload.]~~[added: and configuration payloads.] Experimentation payload consists of a list of early~~[removed: in ]~~[added: -in-]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing and feedback. [added: Configuration payload consists of a list of recommended settings that Microsoft wants to deploy to optimize the user experience. ]If you ~~[removed: enable (1) this policy, experimentation]~~[added: set this policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full] payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Configuration Service.[added: This includes both the experimentation and configuration payloads.] If you ~~[removed: disable (0)]~~[added: set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set] this ~~[removed: policy,]~~[added: policy to 'RestrictedMode' (0),] communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service is stopped completely. If you don't configure this policy, on a managed device the behavior is [added: the ]same as policy ~~[removed: 'disabled'.]~~[added: 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode'.] If you don't configure this policy, on ~~[removed: an unmanaged]~~[added: a device that isn't managed through domain policy or] device [added: management, ]the behavior is [added: the ]same as policy ~~[removed: 'enabled'.]~~[added: 'FullMode'.]
- A choice in “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” is renamed ~~[removed: Enable communication]~~[added: Retrieve configurations] and~~[removed: download]~~ experiments (1)
- “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” gains the choice [added: Retrieve configurations only (2)]
153.0.4234.3211 Sep 2026
- Description … Edge Update, the Experimentation and…~~[removed: and configuration payloads.]~~[added: payload.] Experimentation payload consists of a li…early~~[removed: -in-]~~[added: in ]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testin…~~[removed: Configuration payload consists of a list of rec…]~~If you ~~[removed: set]~~[added: enable (1)] this ~~[removed: policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full ]~~[added: policy, experimentation ]payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Configuration Service.~~[removed: This includes both the experimentation and configuration payloads.]~~…
  Whole description, marked
  In Microsoft Edge Update, the Experimentation and Configuration Service is used to deploy experimentation ~~[removed: and configuration payloads.]~~[added: payload.] Experimentation payload consists of a list of early~~[removed: -in-]~~[added: in ]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing and feedback. ~~[removed: Configuration payload consists of a list of recommended settings that Microsoft wants to deploy to optimize the user experience. ]~~If you ~~[removed: set]~~[added: enable (1)] this ~~[removed: policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full ]~~[added: policy, experimentation ]payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Configuration Service.~~[removed: This includes both the experimentation and configuration payloads.]~~ If you ~~[removed: set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set ]~~[added: disable (0) ]this ~~[removed: policy to 'RestrictedMode' (0), ]~~[added: policy, ]communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service is stopped completely. If you don't configure this policy, on a managed device the behavior is ~~[removed: the ]~~same as policy ~~[removed: 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode'.]~~[added: 'disabled'.] If you don't configure this policy, on ~~[removed: a device that isn't managed through domain policy or ]~~[added: an unmanaged ]device ~~[removed: management, ]~~the behavior is ~~[removed: the ]~~same as policy ~~[removed: 'FullMode'.]~~[added: 'enabled'.]
- “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” loses the choice ~~[removed: Retrieve configurations only (2)]~~
- A choice in “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” is renamed ~~[removed: Retrieve configurations]~~[added: Enable communication] and[added: download] experiments (1)
152.0.4191.9621 Sep 2026
- Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
152.0.4191.8817 Sep 2026
- Description … Edge Update, the Experimentation and…~~[removed: payload.]~~[added: and configuration payloads.] Experimentation payload consists of a li…early~~[removed: in ]~~[added: -in-]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing…[added: Configuration payload consists of a list of rec…]If you ~~[removed: enable (1) this policy, experimentation]~~[added: set this policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full] payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Config…[added: This includes both the experimentation and configuration …] If you ~~[removed: disable (0)]~~[added: set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set]…
  Whole description, marked
  In Microsoft Edge Update, the Experimentation and Configuration Service is used to deploy experimentation ~~[removed: payload.]~~[added: and configuration payloads.] Experimentation payload consists of a list of early~~[removed: in ]~~[added: -in-]development features that Microsoft is enabling for testing and feedback. [added: Configuration payload consists of a list of recommended settings that Microsoft wants to deploy to optimize the user experience. ]If you ~~[removed: enable (1) this policy, experimentation]~~[added: set this policy to 'FullMode' (1), the full] payload is downloaded from the Experimentation and Configuration Service.[added: This includes both the experimentation and configuration payloads.] If you ~~[removed: disable (0)]~~[added: set this policy to 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode' (2), only the configuration payload is downloaded. If you set] this ~~[removed: policy,]~~[added: policy to 'RestrictedMode' (0),] communication with the Experimentation and Configuration Service is stopped completely. If you don't configure this policy, on a managed device the behavior is [added: the ]same as policy ~~[removed: 'disabled'.]~~[added: 'ConfigurationsOnlyMode'.] If you don't configure this policy, on ~~[removed: an unmanaged]~~[added: a device that isn't managed through domain policy or] device [added: management, ]the behavior is [added: the ]same as policy ~~[removed: 'enabled'.]~~[added: 'FullMode'.]
- A choice in “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” is renamed ~~[removed: Enable communication]~~[added: Retrieve configurations] and~~[removed: download]~~ experiments (1)
- “Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service” gains the choice [added: Retrieve configurations only (2)]
150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

31 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name: Pol_ECSControl
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.Update
Template file: msedgeupdate.admx
Release: Microsoft Edge 155.0.4283.62 · file set 0a733b0040dbbf02…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.Pol_ECSControl)" explainText="$(string.Explain_ECSControl)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" name="Pol_ECSControl" presentation="$(presentation.Pol_ECSControl)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_EdgeUpdate" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1" />
      <elements>
        <enum id="Part_ECSControl" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" required="true" valueName="UpdaterExperimentationAndConfigurationServiceControl">
          <item displayName="$(string.Name_ECSCommunicationDisabled)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.Name_ECSCommunicationEnabled)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.Name_ECSConfigurationsOnly)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="2" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="Pol_ECSControl" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <dropdownList defaultItem="1" refId="Part_ECSControl">Control updater's communication with Experimentation and Configuration Service</dropdownList>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and 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_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1
<definition displayName="$(string.Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1)" name="Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Update:category:Cat_EdgeUpdate
<category displayName="$(string.Cat_GoogleUpdate)" explainText="$(string.Explain_GoogleUpdate)" name="Cat_EdgeUpdate" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Cat_GoogleUpdate">Microsoft Edge Update</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Explain_GoogleUpdate">Policies to control the installation and updating of Microsoft Edge using Microsoft Edge Update.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Update:definition:Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1
<definition displayName="$(string.Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1)" name="Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Update:Sup_EdgeUpdate1_3_145_1">Microsoft Edge Update 1.3.145.1 and later</string></strings>