Allow or Block Sites for Browse with Copilot in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

Why use this?

Use these lists to keep your data safe. A block list stops the AI from interacting with sensitive sites such as your bank or private work portals. An allow list tells it which sites are fine to work on.

If you only use Copilot on a handful of sites, start by blocking the sensitive ones first. You can add trusted sites to the allow list later as you need them.

What happens when done?

Managing Sites via Settings

Microsoft Edge lets you control which websites Browse with Copilot can work on through the browser settings. You add web addresses to an allow list or a block list, so the assistant only handles the pages you want it to while you browse. Follow the steps below.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the Settings and more (three dots) menu at the top right and select Settings. The Settings⚙️ page opens in a new tab.

3. Select Copilot and AI on the left, then click Browse with Copilot. You should see the options for the feature on the right.

4. Click Manage what URLs can or cannot be accessed by Browse with Copilot. The allow and block lists open.

5. Click the Add button for the list you want, then enter the website address. Use the Add button in the allow section for sites Copilot may use. Use the one in the block section for sites it must stay away from. The new entry shows up in that list.
6. To move a site from one list to the other, click the three-dot menu next to its entry. Check the same menu if you want to remove an entry.

Settings save as you make changes, so you do not need to restart Edge. To undo a change, open this page again and move or remove the entry.

Administrative Configuration (For IT Admins)

If you manage computers for a business, you can set these rules for all users with Group Policy (GPO) or the Registry. This keeps the rules the same across your organization, and users cannot change them from the Edge settings page. Group Policy is easier to maintain across many PCs. The Registry method is useful for a single test machine or a deployment script.

Registry Configuration (Requires Admin Privileges)

The Windows Registry Editor lets IT admins enforce allow and block lists for Browse with Copilot on computers across a network. You add string values under the Microsoft Edge policy key, and these values control which website URLs the AI tool may access. You need administrator rights to edit this key. Back up the key, or export it, before you make changes.

To set the allow list, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge and create a new string value named BrowsingWithCopilotAllowList. Add your URLs separated by commas.

To set the block list, create a string value named BrowsingWithCopilotBlockList in the same path.

Close and reopen Edge after you save the values so the browser picks them up. To undo the change, delete the string values you created.

Group Policy (GPO)

On a domain or managed PC, Group Policy is the cleaner option. It needs the Microsoft Edge administrative templates (ADMX files) installed. If the Microsoft Edge folder is missing in step 2, those templates are not installed yet.

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console. Requires Admin Privileges.
2. Go to Computer Configuration › Administrative Templates › Microsoft Edge. Open the Group Policy Object you want to edit first.
3. Locate Configure the allow list for Browse with Copilot or Configure the block list for Browse with Copilot and open it.
4. Set the policy to Enabled and enter your URL patterns, then click OK.

Client PCs apply the policy at the next Group Policy refresh, and a restart of Edge may be needed. To undo it, set the policy back to Not Configured.

Summary

You can control Copilot’s access to websites through the Edge settings menu for personal use, or through GPO or the Registry in business environments. Block sensitive sites first, and only allow domains you trust. For more technical details, refer to the official Microsoft Edge policy documentation.