Turn on Protected Mode

Protected mode protects Internet Explorer from exploited vulnerabilities by reducing the locations Internet Explorer can write to in the registry and the file system.

If you enable this policy setting, Protected Mode will be turned on. Users will not be able to turn off protected mode.

If you disable this policy setting, Protected Mode will be turned off. It will revert to Internet Explorer 6 behavior that allows for Internet Explorer to write to the registry and the file system. Users will not be able to turn on protected mode.

If you do not configure this policy, users will be able to turn on or off protected mode.

Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista

Protected Mode


  1. Enable
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\1
    Value Name2500
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. Disable
    Registry HiveHKEY_CURRENT_USER
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\1
    Value Name2500
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value3


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Administrative Templates (Computers)

Administrative Templates (Users)