Windows Components › Internet Explorer › Internet Settings › Advanced settings › Browsing
Turn off details in messages about Internet connection problems
Supported on At least Internet Explorer 7.0
What it does
This policy setting specifies whether, when there is a problem connecting with an Internet server, to provide a detailed description with hints about how to correct the problem. If you clear this check box, the user sees only the error code and the name of the error. If you enable this policy setting, when there is a problem connecting with an Internet server, the user does not see a detailed description or hints about how to correct the problem. The user cannot change this policy setting. If you disable this policy setting, when there is a problem connecting with an Internet server, the user sees a detailed description with hints about how to correct the problem. The user cannot change this policy setting. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user can turn on or turn off details in these error messages.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main- Value name
Friendly http errors- When enabled
- "no"
- When disabled
- "yes"
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.
Configure and deploy
Choose a state; 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\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Friendly http errors"=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: Turn off details in messages about Internet connection problems
# Name: FriendlyErrorText
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'no'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -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)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_inetres/FriendlyErrorTextADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_inetres/FriendlyErrorText</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: Turn off details in messages about Internet connection problems
# Name: FriendlyErrorText
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -Kind 'String' -Expected 'no'
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Friendly http errors') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Friendly http errors') | Out-Null
}
if ($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 $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Turn off details in messages about Internet connection problems
# Name: FriendlyErrorText
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'no'
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Friendly http errors' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
History 5 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
4 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
FriendlyErrorText- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer- Template file
inetres.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="User" displayName="$(string.FriendlyErrorText)" explainText="$(string.FriendlyErrorText_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" name="FriendlyErrorText" valueName="Friendly http errors" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:Browsing" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE7" />
<enabledValue>
<string>no</string>
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<string>yes</string>
</disabledValue>
</policy>Editor controls
Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:Advanced
<category displayName="$(string.Advanced)" name="Advanced" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetSettings" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:Browsing
<category displayName="$(string.Browsing)" name="Browsing" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:Advanced" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetSettings
<category displayName="$(string.InternetSettings)" name="InternetSettings" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE7)" name="SUPPORTED_IE7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:InternetExplorer
sha256:f287ee590cbba46b7a95511866303967b9370c7c7d81185659d675ca19b05d72
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:Advanced
<category displayName="$(string.Advanced)" name="Advanced" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetSettings" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:Advanced">Advanced settings</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:Browsing
<category displayName="$(string.Browsing)" name="Browsing" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:Advanced" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:Browsing">Browsing</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.InternetExplorer)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:IE_ExplainCat">Contains settings to configure Internet Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer">Internet Explorer</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:category:InternetSettings
<category displayName="$(string.InternetSettings)" name="InternetSettings" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetSettings">Internet Settings</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE7)" name="SUPPORTED_IE7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE7">At least Internet Explorer 7.0</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:InternetExplorer
<product displayName="$(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>