Policy

Turn off shell protocol protected mode

Windows 11 25H2

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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

ClassUser
CategoryWindows Components > File Explorer
Supported onAt least Windows XP Professional with SP2

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

This policy setting allows you to configure the amount of functionality that the shell protocol can have. When using the full functionality of this protocol, applications can open folders and launch files. The protected mode reduces the functionality of this protocol allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders. Applications are not able to open files with this protocol when it is in the protected mode. It is recommended to leave this protocol in the protected mode to increase the security of Windows. If you enable this policy setting the protocol is fully enabled, allowing the opening of folders and files. If you disable this policy setting the protocol is in the protected mode, allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders. If you do not configure this policy setting the protocol is in the protected mode, allowing applications to only open a limited set of folders.

Internal name
ShellProtocolProtectedModeTitle_1
Policy ID
f9ada92b9125
Elements
0

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

Registry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled value
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\PreXPSP2ShellProtocolBehaviorREG_DWORD
1
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

This policy has no additional user input fields.

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