Turning guest browsing on or off in Microsoft Edge takes a few registry tweaks on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
You can enable or disable guest mode in Microsoft Edge by using specific commands in Windows Terminal. Open Terminal as administrator and either delete the BrowserGuestModeEnabled and BrowserGuestModeEnforced registry keys to allow guest mode, or add them with specific values to enforce or disable it.
What is Guest Mode?
Guest mode in Microsoft Edge provides a temporary, clean slate for web activity.
Why Use Guest Mode?
Guest mode in Microsoft Edge lets anyone browse the web without signing into websites automatically.
What Policies Control Guest Mode?
Microsoft Edge relies on configuration rules called policies to manage browser behavior. The BrowserGuestModeEnabled policy controls whether guest profiles remain available. Newer versions also support the BrowserGuestModeEnforced policy to lock the browser strictly into guest mode.
Forcing guest-only browsing is possible with the BrowserGuestModeEnforced policy, available starting with Microsoft Edge version 147.
For more details on Microsoft Edge privacy, check out ‘User data and privacy in Microsoft Edge‘.
How to Enable or Disable Browse as Guest
🔒 Administrator rights are required to change these settings.
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator.
- Copy and paste one of the command sets below, depending on what you want to do.
- Press Enter to run the command.
Option 1Let Users Choose to Browse as Guest (Default)
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnforced /f
Option 2Always Browse as Guest for All Users
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnforced /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Option 3Turn Off Browse as Guest for All Users
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v BrowserGuestModeEnforced /f
Summary
Guest mode in Microsoft Edge offers a fast way to browse without altering anyone's main profile, and all session data disappears upon closing.
How do I turn off guest mode in edge?
Closing all open guest windows ends the session automatically. The browser wipes all browsing history, cookies, and site data the moment the final window shuts. Manual configuration changes are unnecessary for ending a single guest browsing session.
How to permanently disable guest mode?
Permanently disabling guest mode in Microsoft Edge requires modifying the BrowserGuestModeEnabled policy through the Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.
How do I turn guest mode off?
Shutting down every open guest window effectively deactivates guest mode in Microsoft Edge.
How do I disable guest mode on Windows?
Disabling guest mode on Windows for Microsoft Edge involves configuring the BrowserGuestModeEnabled policy to Disabled inside the Group Policy Editor.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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