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BrowsingDataLifetime

Browsing Data Lifetime Settings

Supported versions

  • On Windows and macOS since 89 or later

Description

This policy controls how long specific types of browsing data are retained. If Sync is enabled, this policy has no effect.

You can specify the following data types: 'browsing_history' 'download_history' 'cookies_and_other_site_data' 'cached_images_and_files' 'password_signin' 'autofill' 'site_settings' 'hosted_app_data'

Microsoft Edge periodically deletes data of the selected types that is older than the value set by 'time_to_live_in_hours'.

Expired data is removed 15 seconds after browser startup and every hour while the browser is running.

Note: Deleting cookies using this policy does not sign the user out of their profile, the user stays signed in.

Supported features

  • Can be mandatory: Yes
  • Can be recommended: No
  • Dynamic Policy Refresh: Yes
  • Per Profile: Yes
  • Applies to a profile that is signed in with a Microsoft account: Yes

Data type

  • Dictionary

Windows information and settings

Group Policy (ADMX) info

  • GP unique name: BrowsingDataLifetime
  • GP name: Browsing Data Lifetime Settings
  • GP path (Mandatory): Administrative Templates/Microsoft Edge
  • GP path (Recommended): N/A
  • GP ADMX file name: MSEdge.admx

Example value

[{"data_types": ["browsing_history"], "time_to_live_in_hours": 24}, {"data_types": ["password_signin", "autofill"], "time_to_live_in_hours": 12}]

Registry settings

  • Path (Mandatory): SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
  • Path (Recommended): N/A
  • Value name: BrowsingDataLifetime
  • Value type: REG_SZ

Example registry value

[{"data_types": ["browsing_history"], "time_to_live_in_hours": 24}, {"data_types": ["password_signin", "autofill"], "time_to_live_in_hours": 12}]

Expanded example registry value

[
  {
    "data_types": [
      "browsing_history"
    ],
    "time_to_live_in_hours": 24
  },
  {
    "data_types": [
      "password_signin",
      "autofill"
    ],
    "time_to_live_in_hours": 12
  }
]

Mac information and settings

  • Preference Key name: BrowsingDataLifetime
  • Example value:
<key>BrowsingDataLifetime</key>
<array>
  <dict>
    <key>data_types</key>
    <array>
      <string>browsing_history</string>
    </array>
    <key>time_to_live_in_hours</key>
    <integer>24</integer>
  </dict>
  <dict>
    <key>data_types</key>
    <array>
      <string>password_signin</string>
      <string>autofill</string>
    </array>
    <key>time_to_live_in_hours</key>
    <integer>12</integer>
  </dict>
</array>

See also