Microsoft Office 2016 › Security Settings
Control how Office handles form-based sign-in prompts
Supported on SUPPORTED_Windows7 (defined in the Windows templates)
What it does
This policy setting controls how Office applications handle form-based sign-in prompts. If you enable this policy setting, you must choose one of the following options: Block all prompts Ask the user what to do for each new host Show prompts only from allowed hosts If you select “Block all prompts” then no form-based sign-in prompts are shown to the user and the user is shown a message that the sign-in method isn’t allowed. If you select “Ask the user what do for each new host” then the user is asked for each new host whether the user wants to sign-in to the host. If the user has previously signed-in to a host, a form-based sign-in prompt is shown for that host. Also, form-based sign-in prompts are shown for any hosts specified by the “Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users” setting. If you select “Show prompts only from allowed hosts” then form-based sign-in prompts are shown only from hosts that have been specified by the additional “Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users” setting. Form-based sign-in prompts from all other hosts are blocked and the user is shown a message that the sign-in method isn’t allowed. Note: If you don’t configure the “Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users” setting or don’t specify any hosts in that setting, then the behavior of the “Show prompts only from allowed hosts” option will be the same as if you selected the “Block all prompts” option. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, all form-based sign-in prompts are blocked and the user is shown a message that the sign-in method isn’t allowed. But users are able to change the behavior for form-based sign-in prompts by going to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Form-based sign-in. Note: This policy setting only applies to subscription versions of Office, such as Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, and to subscription versions of Project and Visio.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common
Why it needs changes for Intune
- Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
- ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE
Security baselines
Microsoft's Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise 2512 sets this to Enabled, in its GPO “MSFT Microsoft 365 Apps v2512 - User”.
- Behavior
- Set to “Block all prompts” (1).
- Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users
- Set to “”.
Read from the registry.pol files in the baselines' GPO backups, downloaded from Microsoft's Security Compliance Toolkit. All baselines
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| BehaviorDefault: Block all prompts | Drop-down list | fbabehavior |
|
| Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users | Text | fbaenabledhosts |
Up to 255 characters |
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · User · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common]
"fbabehavior"=dword:00000001
"fbaenabledhosts"=hex(2):00,00
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 how Office handles form-based sign-in prompts
# Name: L_AuthenticationFBABehavior
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: office16.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbabehavior' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbaenabledhosts' -PropertyType 'ExpandString' -Value ''
- 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: L_AuthenticationFBAEnabledHostsID
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_office16/L_AuthenticationFBABehaviorIntune 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 how Office handles form-based sign-in prompts
# Name: L_AuthenticationFBABehavior
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: office16.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbabehavior' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\fbabehavior') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbaenabledhosts' -Kind 'ExpandString' -Expected ''
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\fbaenabledhosts') | Out-Null
}
if ($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 $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Control how Office handles form-based sign-in prompts
# Name: L_AuthenticationFBABehavior
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: office16.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbabehavior' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common' -Name 'fbaenabledhosts' -PropertyType 'ExpandString' -Value ''
History 1 retained release
- 5568.100010 Aug 2026
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
Template
- Internal name
L_AuthenticationFBABehavior- Namespace
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows- Template file
office16.admx- Release
- Microsoft 365 Apps 5568.1000 · file set
8be05d876aae137d…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy Area="Security Baseline" AreaCategory="Auth and Encryption" class="User" displayName="$(string.L_AuthenticationFBABehavior)" explainText="$(string.L_AuthenticationFBABehaviorExplain)" key="software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common" name="L_AuthenticationFBABehavior" presentation="$(presentation.L_AuthenticationFBABehavior)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_SecuritySettings" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
<elements>
<enum id="L_authenticationFBABehaviorEnum" valueName="fbabehavior">
<item displayName="$(string.L_AuthenticationFBABehaviorBlockAllHosts)">
<value>
<decimal value="1" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.L_AuthenticationFBABehaviorPromptPerHost)">
<value>
<decimal value="2" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.L_AuthenticationFBABehaviorOnlyPreConfiguredHosts)">
<value>
<decimal value="3" />
</value>
</item>
</enum>
<text expandable="true" id="L_AuthenticationFBAEnabledHostsID" required="false" valueName="fbaenabledhosts" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="L_AuthenticationFBABehavior" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="L_authenticationFBABehaviorEnum">Behavior:</dropdownList>
<textBox refId="L_AuthenticationFBAEnabledHostsID">
<label>Specify hosts allowed to show form-based sign-in prompts to users:</label>
</textBox>
<text>If you select "Show prompts only from allowed hosts", you need to enter the hosts by name, separating the host names with a semi-colon. For example:
contoso.com;fabrikam.com
Important: You should only include hosts that you know and trust.
</text>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem
<category displayName="$(string.L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem)" name="L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_SecuritySettings
<category displayName="$(string.L_SecuritySettings)" name="L_SecuritySettings" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem" />
</category>
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem
<category displayName="$(string.L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem)" name="L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem">Microsoft Office 2016</string></strings>
office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:L_SecuritySettings
<category displayName="$(string.L_SecuritySettings)" name="L_SecuritySettings" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_MicrosoftOfficeSystem" />
</category>
<strings><string id="office16.Office.Microsoft.Policies.Windows:L_SecuritySettings">Security Settings</string></strings>