This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable enhanced security mode in Microsoft Edge for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Microsoft Edge web browser is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy and security features.
Microsoft Edge offers Enhance your security on the web, an optional browsing mode that provides an extra layer of protection when browsing the web and unfamiliar sites.
Enhanced security in Microsoft Edge helps safeguard against memory-related vulnerabilities by disabling just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation and enabling additional operating system protections for the browser. These protections include Hardware-enforced Stack Protection and Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG). With these protections in place, Microsoft Edge helps reduce the risk of an attack by automatically applying stricter security settings on unfamiliar sites while adapting to your browsing habits over time.
When enhanced security is turned on, you can select from three levels of browsing security: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. You can manually add site exceptions. Sites added to the exception list will have the feature turned off by default.
You can turn on or off to always use "Strict" level of enhanced security when browsing InPrivate.
| Off (Default) | Feature is turned off. |
| Basic (Recommended) | Microsoft Edge applies added security protections to less visited sites. Websites will work as expected. |
| Balanced | Microsoft Edge applies added security protections to sites that you don’t engage with often or are unknown to you. Websites you browse frequently will be left out. Most sites will work as expected. |
| Strict | Microsoft Edge applies added security protections to all sites visited by default. Strict mode may impact your ability to complete normal tasks on the web because some parts of websites might not work as expected. |
Reference:
Enhance your security on the web with Microsoft Edge - Microsoft Support
Learn how Microsoft Edge provides enhanced security for browsing the web.
support.microsoft.com
Browse more safely with Microsoft Edge
Learn how enhanced security supports safer browsing with Microsoft Edge.
learn.microsoft.com
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: What to expect when enhanced security is turned on
When this feature is turned on you will see Added security to the left of your browser’s address bar. This indicates that Microsoft Edge is applying enhanced security to this specific website.
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 dots button, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Privacy, search, and services in the left pane. (see screenshots below)
If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.
4 Do step 5 (on) or step 6 (off) below for what you want.
5 Turn On Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge
A) Under Security on the right side, turn on Enhance your security on the web. (see screenshot below)
B) Select the Balanced (default) or Strict mode you want.
6 Turn Off Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge
This is the default setting.
A) Under Security on the right side, turn off Enhance your security on the web. (see screenshot below)
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option uses the EnhanceSecurityMode policy for Microsoft Edge.
1 Do step 2 (always on - Basic), step 3 (always on - Balanced), or step 4 (always on - Strict), step 5 (always off), or step 6 (default) below for what you want.
2 Always Turn On Basic Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 7 below.
Always_turn_on_basic_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=dword:000000033 Always Turn On Balanced Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 7 below.
Always_turn_on_balanced_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=dword:000000014 Always Turn On Strict Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 7 below.
Always_turn_on_strict_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=dword:000000025 Always Turn Off Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 7 below.
Disable_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=dword:000000006 Default User Choice Enhanced Security Mode in Microsoft Edge
This is the default setting to allow using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 7 below.
Default_user-choice_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"EnhanceSecurityMode"=-7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
10 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Attachments
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Microsoft_Edge.png -
Always_turn_on_balanced_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
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Always_turn_on_basic_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
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Always_turn_on_strict_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
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Default_user-choice_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg
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Disable_enhanced_security_mode_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
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