In this blog, we will cover the steps taken to configure a site to open in IE using Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 Enterprise Mode GPOs.
OBJECTIVE: To implement Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 Group Policy using SiteList Manager rule to open a site url in IE11
REQUIREMENTS: Be familiar with Group Policies using GPEDIT.MSC or GPMC.MSC console.
APPLICABLE OS: Windows 10
SCENARIO: In this example, we will have www.bing.com to open in IE 11 instead of default MS Edge browser out of your Windows 10 client machine. We are publishing the site list xml file on a web server, but this can also be retrieved using the file protocol, as long as the users have access to the location.
STEP 1:
If not already, download the Windows 10 Site list Manager tool and install it on your system. We will create the sitelist xml file with this tool to be used in the Group policy. To get familiar with the tool, see this article: KB2942883 Enterprise Mode Site List Manager tool is available for Windows – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2942883
STEP 2:
Run the Site List Manager tool from your desktop and add www.bing.com with the following configuration:
Enterprise Mode Site List Manager tool
Save the file as bing.xml or any name you like.
STEP 3
Copy the Sitelist to your Web server. In this case, I am dropping the file in the wwwroot folder: C:\inetpub\wwwroot\bing.xml
Confirm you are able to load the bing.xml from your test machine. Example:
STEP 4
Configure the following GPOs with the link to the site list xml file: http://axelrmsft/bing.xml
Computer Configuration/Windows Components/Internet Explorer/Use the Enterprise Mode IE website list
Computer Configuration/Windows Components/Microsoft Edge/Configure the Enterprise Mode IE website list
STEP 5
Verify the GPO is taking effect by opening the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main\EnterpriseMode
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode
both key should be pointing to the GPO defined URL, in this example should be the: http://axelrmsft/bing.xml
STEP 6:
Test the site: http://www.bing.com
The site should be redirected to IE11 and should load in EMIE 8 mode, which is identified with an EMIE icon next to the URL
Here is a screenshot:
MICROSOFT EDGE EMIE GPO WORKING
TROUBLESHOOT
If you are not seeing the GPO take effect, here are a few tips you could use to make sure, everything is lined up correctly.
Open Regedit.exe and navigate to the following keys and confirmed it looks correctly, if it does not look right, delete it. A GPupdate /force or a restart of your machine should bring this back!
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main\EnterpriseMode
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnterpriseMode
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge\NeedIE
MS EDGE EMIE NeedIE Registry location
Make sure, there is NO IExplore.exe or MSEdge process running
Run the GPupdate /force or restart your machine and then test again.
This blog has been provided to you by the IE Support team!