Edit

Share via

AllowDeletingBrowserHistory

  • Article

Enable deleting browser and download history

Supported versions

  • On Windows and macOS since 77 or later

Description

Enables deleting browser history and download history and prevents users from changing this setting.

Note that even with this policy is disabled, the browsing and download history aren't guaranteed to be retained: users can edit or delete the history database files directly, and the browser itself may remove (based on expiration period) or archive any or all history items at any time.

If you enable this policy or don't configure it, users can delete the browsing and download history.

If you disable this policy, users can't delete browsing and download history. Disabling this policy will disable history sync and open tab sync.

If you enable this policy, don't enable the ClearBrowsingDataOnExit policy, because they both deal with deleting data. If you enable both, the ClearBrowsingDataOnExit policy takes precedence and deletes all data when Microsoft Edge closes, regardless of how this policy is configured.

Supported features

  • Can be mandatory: Yes
  • Can be recommended: No
  • Dynamic Policy Refresh: Yes
  • Per Profile: Yes
  • Applies to a profile that is signed in with a Microsoft account: No

Data type

  • Boolean

Windows information and settings

Group Policy (ADMX) info

  • GP unique name: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory
  • GP name: Enable deleting browser and download history
  • GP path (Mandatory): Administrative Templates/Microsoft Edge
  • GP path (Recommended): N/A
  • GP ADMX file name: MSEdge.admx

Example value

Enabled

Registry settings

  • Path (Mandatory): SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
  • Path (Recommended): N/A
  • Value name: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory
  • Value type: REG_DWORD

Example registry value

0x00000001

Mac information and settings

  • Preference Key name: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory
  • Example value:
<true/>

See also