Windows Components › Internet Explorer
Configure Media Explorer Bar
Supported on Only Internet Explorer 6.0
What it does
Allows Administrators to enable and disable the Media Explorer Bar and set the auto-play default. The Media Explorer Bar plays music and video content from the Internet. If you disable the Media explorer bar, users cannot display the Media Explorer Bar. The auto-play feature is also disabled. When users click on a link within Internet Explorer, the content will be played by the default media client on their system. If you enable the Media Explorer Bar or do not configure it, users can show and hide the Media Explorer Bar. Administrators also have the ability to turn the auto-play feature on or off. This setting only applies if the Media Explorer Bar is enabled. If checked, the Media Explorer Bar will automatically display and play the media content when the user clicks on a media link. If unchecked, the content will be played by the default media client on their system.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disable the Media Explorer Bar and auto-play feature | Checkbox | Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\RestrictionsNo_LaunchMediaBar |
On (1) or off (0) |
| Auto-Play Media files in the Media bar when enabledDefault: checked | Checkbox | Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\mediaAutoplay |
On (1) or off (0) |
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\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media]
"Autoplay"="yes"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions]
"No_LaunchMediaBar"=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: Configure Media Explorer Bar
# Name: MediaSettings
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions' -Name 'No_LaunchMediaBar' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media' -Name 'Autoplay' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'yes'
- 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: BlockMedia
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_inetres/MediaSettingsIntune 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: Configure Media Explorer Bar
# Name: MediaSettings
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions' -Name 'No_LaunchMediaBar' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions\No_LaunchMediaBar') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media' -Name 'Autoplay' -Kind 'String' -Expected 'yes'
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media\Autoplay') | Out-Null
}
if ($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 $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Configure Media Explorer Bar
# Name: MediaSettings
# Scope: User
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions' -Name 'No_LaunchMediaBar' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media' -Name 'Autoplay' -PropertyType 'String' -Value 'yes'
History 5 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
4 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
MediaSettings- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer- Template file
inetres.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="User" displayName="$(string.MediaSettings)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainMediaExpBar)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" name="MediaSettings" presentation="$(presentation.MediaSettings)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY" />
<elements>
<boolean id="BlockMedia" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions" valueName="No_LaunchMediaBar" />
<boolean id="PlayByDefault" key="Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\media" valueName="Autoplay">
<trueValue>
<string>yes</string>
</trueValue>
<falseValue>
<string>no</string>
</falseValue>
</boolean>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="MediaSettings" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<checkBox refId="BlockMedia">Disable the Media Explorer Bar and auto-play feature</checkBox>
<checkBox defaultChecked="true" refId="PlayByDefault">Auto-Play Media files in the Media bar when enabled</checkBox>
</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_IE6ONLY
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY)" name="SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer60" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer60
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer60" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(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="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:IE_ExplainCat">Contains settings to configure Internet Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer">Internet Explorer</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY)" name="SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer60" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE6ONLY">Only Internet Explorer 6.0</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>