Windows Components › Internet Explorer

Configure which channel of Microsoft Edge to use for opening redirected sites

Computer and userNative Intune settingNeedEdgeBrowser

Supported on At least Internet Explorer 11.0

25H2 · 1.0

What it does

Enables you to configure up to three versions of Microsoft Edge to open a redirected site (in order of preference). Use this policy if your environment is configured to redirect sites from Internet Explorer 11 to Microsoft Edge. If any of the chosen versions are not installed on the device, that preference will be bypassed. If both the Windows Update for the next version of Microsoft Edge* and Microsoft Edge Stable channel are installed, the following behaviors occur: - If you disable or don't configure this policy, Microsoft Edge Stable channel is used. This is the default behavior. - If you enable this policy, you can configure redirected sites to open in up to three of the following channels where: 1 = Microsoft Edge Stable 2 = Microsoft Edge Beta version 77 or later 3 = Microsoft Edge Dev version 77 or later 4 = Microsoft Edge Canary version 77 or later If the Windows Update for the next version of Microsoft Edge* or Microsoft Edge Stable channel are not installed, the following behaviors occur: - If you disable or don't configure this policy, Microsoft Edge version 45 or earlier is automatically used. This is the default behavior. - If you enable this policy, you can configure redirected sites to open in up to three of the following channels where: 0 = Microsoft Edge version 45 or earlier 1 = Microsoft Edge Stable 2 = Microsoft Edge Beta version 77 or later 3 = Microsoft Edge Dev version 77 or later 4 = Microsoft Edge Canary version 77 or later *For more information about the Windows update for the next version of Microsoft Edge including how to disable it, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2102115. This update applies only to Windows 10 version 1709 and higher.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ConfigureEdgeRedirectChannelInternetExplorer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.20348, 10.0.19041.789, 10.0.18362.1350.
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ConfigureEdgeRedirectChannelInternetExplorer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.20348, 10.0.19041.789, 10.0.18362.1350.

From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
First choiceDefault:	Drop-down list	`NeedEdgeBrowser`	removes the value Microsoft Edge Stable`1` Microsoft Edge Beta version 77 or later`2` Microsoft Edge Dev version 77 or later`3` Microsoft Edge Canary version 77 or later`4` Microsoft Edge version 45 or earlier`0`
Second choiceDefault:	Drop-down list	`NeedEdgeBrowser2`	removes the value Microsoft Edge Stable`1` Microsoft Edge Beta version 77 or later`2` Microsoft Edge Dev version 77 or later`3` Microsoft Edge Canary version 77 or later`4` Microsoft Edge version 45 or earlier`0`
Third choiceDefault:	Drop-down list	`NeedEdgeBrowser3`	removes the value Microsoft Edge Stable`1` Microsoft Edge Beta version 77 or later`2` Microsoft Edge Dev version 77 or later`3` Microsoft Edge Canary version 77 or later`4` Microsoft Edge version 45 or earlier`0`

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

State Enabled Disabled Not configured

Apply to Computer User

Options used when Enabled

First choice

Second choice

Third choice

Enabled · Computer · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode]
"NeedEdgeBrowser"=-
"NeedEdgeBrowser2"=-
"NeedEdgeBrowser3"=-

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 which channel of Microsoft Edge to use for opening redirected sites
# Name: NeedEdgeBrowser
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser'

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser2'

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser3'

These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.

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_inetres/NeedEdgeBrowser

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_inetres/NeedEdgeBrowser</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;
&lt;data id="NeedEdgeBrowser" value="0"/&gt;
&lt;data id="NeedEdgeBrowser2" value="0"/&gt;
&lt;data id="NeedEdgeBrowser3" value="0"/&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: Configure which channel of Microsoft Edge to use for opening redirected sites
# Name: NeedEdgeBrowser
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx

$exists = Test-RegistryValueExists -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser'
if ($exists) {
    $reasons.Add('Value should be absent: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode\NeedEdgeBrowser') | Out-Null
}

$exists = Test-RegistryValueExists -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser2'
if ($exists) {
    $reasons.Add('Value should be absent: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode\NeedEdgeBrowser2') | Out-Null
}

$exists = Test-RegistryValueExists -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser3'
if ($exists) {
    $reasons.Add('Value should be absent: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode\NeedEdgeBrowser3') | 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 which channel of Microsoft Edge to use for opening redirected sites
# Name: NeedEdgeBrowser
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: inetres.admx

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser'

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser2'

Remove-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode' -Name 'NeedEdgeBrowser3'

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: NeedEdgeBrowser
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="Both" displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowser)" explainText="$(string.IE_ExplainNeedEdgeBrowser)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode" name="NeedEdgeBrowser" presentation="$(presentation.NeedEdgeBrowser)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE11" />
      <elements>
        <enum id="NeedEdgeBrowser" valueName="NeedEdgeBrowser">
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_None)">
            <value>
              <delete />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumStable)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumBeta)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="2" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumDev)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="3" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumCanary)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="4" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_EdgeHTML)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
        <enum id="NeedEdgeBrowser2" valueName="NeedEdgeBrowser2">
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_None)">
            <value>
              <delete />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumStable)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumBeta)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="2" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumDev)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="3" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumCanary)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="4" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_EdgeHTML)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
        <enum id="NeedEdgeBrowser3" valueName="NeedEdgeBrowser3">
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_None)">
            <value>
              <delete />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumStable)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumBeta)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="2" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumDev)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="3" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_ChromiumCanary)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="4" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.NeedEdgeBrowserChoice_EdgeHTML)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="NeedEdgeBrowser" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="NeedEdgeBrowser">First choice</dropdownList>
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="NeedEdgeBrowser2">Second choice</dropdownList>
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="NeedEdgeBrowser3">Third choice</dropdownList>
      </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_IE11
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE11)" name="SUPPORTED_IE11" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <and>
          <range minVersionIndex="11" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
        </and>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:InternetExplorer
sha256:f287ee590cbba46b7a95511866303967b9370c7c7d81185659d675ca19b05d72
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(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="$(string.IE_ExplainCat)" name="InternetExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:IE_ExplainCat">Contains settings to configure Internet Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:InternetExplorer">Internet Explorer</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:definition:SUPPORTED_IE11
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_IE11)" name="SUPPORTED_IE11" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <and>
          <range minVersionIndex="11" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:InternetExplorer" />
        </and>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.InternetExplorer:SUPPORTED_IE11">At least Internet Explorer 11.0</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>