Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs: registry value UTF8URLQueryUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel
- Policy ID
- ControlPanel_UTF8URLQuery
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Internet Explorer 11.0
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Internet Explorer › Internet Control Panel › Advanced Page
Registry
UTF8URLQuery
REG_DWORDUserComputer…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control PanelHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Select the desired behavior
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Never encode query strings in UTF-8 | 0 |
| Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs | 1 |
| Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs | 2 |
| Always encode query strings in UTF-8 | 3 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel] ; Options (use only one) ; Never encode query strings in UTF-8 "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000000 ; Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000001 ; Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000002 ; Always encode query strings in UTF-8 "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000003
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Never encode query strings in UTF-8 reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f :: Always encode query strings in UTF-8 reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Never encode query strings in UTF-8 New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null # Always encode query strings in UTF-8 New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel] ; Options (use only one) ; Never encode query strings in UTF-8 "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000000 ; Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000001 ; Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000002 ; Always encode query strings in UTF-8 "UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000003
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Never encode query strings in UTF-8 reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f :: Always encode query strings in UTF-8 reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel" /v "UTF8URLQuery" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Never encode query strings in UTF-8 New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in non-Intranet URLs New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Encode query strings in UTF-8 only in Intranet URLs New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null # Always encode query strings in UTF-8 New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null