Set how links are opened in Internet Explorer: registry value AssociationActivationModeUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Policy ID
- DefaultLinksView
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Internet Explorer 10.0 on Windows 8
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Internet Explorer › Internet Settings
Registry
AssociationActivationMode
REG_DWORDUserComputer…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MainHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Default browser launch behavior for links
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Let Internet Explorer decide | 0 |
| Always in Internet Explorer | 1 |
| Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop | 2 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] ; Options (use only one) ; Let Internet Explorer decide "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000000 ; Always in Internet Explorer "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000001 ; Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000002
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Let Internet Explorer decide reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Always in Internet Explorer reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Let Internet Explorer decide New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Always in Internet Explorer New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] ; Options (use only one) ; Let Internet Explorer decide "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000000 ; Always in Internet Explorer "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000001 ; Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop "AssociationActivationMode"=dword:00000002
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Let Internet Explorer decide reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Always in Internet Explorer reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "AssociationActivationMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Let Internet Explorer decide New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Always in Internet Explorer New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'AssociationActivationMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null