How to hide TABS in IE11 and load in KIOSK Mode with or without Address Bar?

In this quick post, we will cover the options we have to manage the IE TABs on a controlled environment.

I would like to first clarify that there is not a single GPO to just hide TABS in IE11. There is however a way you can enforce IE in Full View Mode which by default will remove the TABS and Address bar via a GPO.

The GPO  you can use to enforce the Full-Screen view is available on both Computer and User configuration policy. Below is the gpo location path in group policy editor console.

  • GPO NAME: Enforce full-screen mode
  • LOCATION: Computer or User configuration - Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
  • KEY LOCATION: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions

SCREENSHOT: GPO CONSOLE

 SCREENSHOT: REGISTRY LOCATION WITH VALUES

The gpo and keys will cause the browser to open in full view with no address bar or tabs

If you want to use a different alternative to force a Full View with Address bar, you will need to consider using Group Policy Preference / Registry gpo and push the following registry keys:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbars\Restrictions]
"NoNavBar"=dword:00000000
"NoCommandBar"=dword:00000001

 SCREENSHOT USING THE KEYS ABOVE:

This blog has been provided to you by the IE Support team!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    December 02, 2015
    Hi, thank you for this tutorial. A question about remove nav bar. When we modify registry to remove it from IE, it will  also removed on File Explorer?

  • Anonymous
    December 06, 2015
    @Pierpaolo     From my test, no. For Windows 8.1 and Win7 I did not see this key affect the Shell Address bar.

  • Anonymous
    August 03, 2016
    Do you still use REG_DWORD with 64 bit version of Windows 7?

    • Anonymous
      August 08, 2016
      Yes, I am running Win7-64 in a kiosk mode and did the above steps.
  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2016
    Is it possible to only show the navigationarrows back/forward but not the addressfield?

    • Anonymous
      January 21, 2017
      Also, tab panes get removed. I'm wondering if there is a way to not remove tabs
    • Anonymous
      January 24, 2017
      @ElShehriNo. You may want to consider writing a custom web browser where you can just have the address bar and options.