Set Microsoft Edge as the default browser via GPO

To set Microsoft Edge as the default browser on domain-joined devices, utilize the “Set a default associations configuration file” policy via group policy.

This requires creating and storing an XML file with your default associations, which can be named Edge.xml and stored in a central share accessible to all domain-joined resources. Once properly configured, Microsoft Edge will be the default browser on all devices.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefaultAssociations> 
  <Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier=".html"/>
  <Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier=".htm"/>
  <Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier="http"/>
  <Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier="https"/>  
</DefaultAssociations>

CONFIGURE THE GPO  FOR A DEFAULT FILE TYPE AND PROTOCOL ASSOCIATIONS CONFIGURATION FILE:

1. Open the Group Policy editor and go to the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer.
2. Select Set a default associations configuration file.
3. Click policy setting, and then click Enabled.
4. Under Options:, type the location to your default associations configuration file.
5. Click OK to save the policy settings.
6. Ensure this GPO is linked to the OU where all devices are
7. The GPO will be processed the next time the user logs in

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