Windows Components › Internet Explorer
Set tab process growth
Supported on At least Internet Explorer 8.0
What it does
This policy setting allows you to set the rate at which Internet Explorer creates new tab processes. There are two algorithms that Internet Explorer uses. The default algorithm has four settings: low, medium, high, or default. Low creates very few tab processes; medium creates a moderate amount of tab processes; and high allows the tab process to grow very quickly and is intended only for computers that have ample physical memory. The default setting creates the optimal number of tab processes based on the operating system and amount of physical memory. We recommend the default setting. The second algorithm must be explicitly enabled through the creation of an integer setting. In this case, each Internet Explorer isolation setting will quickly grow to use the specified integer number of tab processes, regardless of the physical memory on the computer or how many Internet Explorer isolation settings are running. If you enable this policy setting, you set the rate at which Internet Explorer creates new tab processes to low, medium, or high, or to an integer. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the tab process growth is set to the default. The user can change this value by using the registry key. Note: On Terminal Server, the default value is the integer “1”.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
In Intune
No native CSP; import the ADMX (Intune-ready).
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tab Process GrowthRequired | Text | TabProcGrowth |
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.
Fix the highlighted options to generate output.
History 2 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
- 1607 · 2.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
Template
- Internal name
TabProcGrowth- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer- Template file
inetres.admx- Release
- Windows 10 22H2 · 1.0 · file set
bc15f6a5271783ee…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.TabProcGrowth)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainTabProcGrowth)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" name="TabProcGrowth" presentation="$(presentation.TabProcGrowth)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE8" />
<elements>
<text id="TabProcGrowthPart" required="true" valueName="TabProcGrowth" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="TabProcGrowth" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<textBox refId="TabProcGrowthPart">
<label>Tab Process Growth</label>
</textBox>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE8)" name="SUPPORTED_IE8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="8" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:InternetExplorer
sha256:f287ee590cbba46b7a95511866303967b9370c7c7d81185659d675ca19b05d72
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:IE_ExplainCat">Contains settings to configure Internet Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer">Internet Explorer</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE8)" name="SUPPORTED_IE8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="8" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE8">At least Internet Explorer 8.0</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:InternetExplorer
<product displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer30)" name="InternetExplorer30" versionIndex="3" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer40)" name="InternetExplorer40" versionIndex="4" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer50)" name="InternetExplorer50" versionIndex="5" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer60)" name="InternetExplorer60" versionIndex="6" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer70)" name="InternetExplorer70" versionIndex="7" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer80)" name="InternetExplorer80" versionIndex="8" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer90)" name="InternetExplorer90" versionIndex="9" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer100)" name="InternetExplorer100" versionIndex="10" />
<majorVersion displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer110)" name="InternetExplorer110" versionIndex="11" />
</product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer">Internet Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer100">Internet Explorer 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer110">Internet Explorer 11</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer30">Internet Explorer 3</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer40">Internet Explorer 4</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer50">Internet Explorer 5</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer60">Internet Explorer 6</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer70">Internet Explorer 7</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer80">Internet Explorer 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer90">Internet Explorer 9</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>