THERE WAS NEW UPDATES, THIS POST IS NOW OBSOLETE. UPDATE TO THIS POST WILL COME SOON.
The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser has been officially released to the masses and I’m pleased to begin working on deploying the official stable release along with new GPO policy settings.
UBlock Origin is a general purpose blocker for web browsers that blocks ads, trackers, and malware sites by default. In this guide, you'll learn how to install uBlock Origin on Microsoft Edge. Make Microsoft Edge your own with extensions that help you personalize the browser and be more productive. For Microsoft Edge pronounced you-block origin (/ˈjuːˌblɒk/) — you decide what enters your browser. UBlock Origin is now maintained in the core repository. As the new Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium, development of uBlock Origin for Microsoft is done entirely in the core repository, as Microsoft Edge's extension platform is the same.
Full disclosure: I install uBlock Origin and use a whitelist for company websites. I encourage everyone else to do the same. Please see my uBlock Origin post if you need further guidance on its configuration.
Here are the policy settings that I used for Edge:
HKLM (settings users cant override)
Top level:
Always open PDF files externally - enabled
Automatically import another browser's data and settings - enabled/import chrome
Set Microsoft Edge as default browser - disabled
Hide the first-run experience and splash screen - enabled
Allow user feedback - disabled
Default search provider:Enable the default search provider - enabled
Default search provider search URL - enabled / https://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}
Extensions:Control which extensions cannot be installed - enabled
bjicifbhnpakmaekfnphojjehhnifkmc (Search and New Tab by Yahoo)
efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj (Adobe Acrobat)
There are two sources to obtain uBlock Origin, either from the Google store or Microsoft store. Options for both are below.
Google store version of uBlock Origin:
Control which extensions are installed silently - enabled / cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crxConfigure extension management settings - enabled / Copy uBlock backup and paste it here:
Microsoft store version of uBlock Origin:Control which extensions are installed silently - enabled / odfafepnkmbhccpbejgmiehpchacaeak;https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx
Configure extension management settings - enabled / Copy uBlock backup and paste it here:
Printing: Print using system print dialog - enabled
Set the system defaul printer as the default printer - enabled
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HKCU Level (Settings users can override)
Top level: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes - Disabled
Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes - enabled
Password manager and protection:Enable saving password to the password manager - enabled
SmartScreen settings:Configure Microsoft Defender SmartScreen - enabled
Ublock Origin Download
Startup, home page and new tab page: Show Home button on toolbar - enabled
Configure the home page URL - enabled / https://www.companywebsite.com
Configure the new tab page - enabled / https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl
Action to take on startup - enabled / Open a list of URLs
Sites to open when the browser starts - enabled / https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl
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Ublock Origin Internet Explorer Extension
Here’s a link to the registry key created when applying the final settings. Caveat: this is the Google store version of uBlock, change out the extension paths with Microsoft store’s if you wish to use it instead: https://github.com/SysAdminDoc/Windows10/blob/master/EdgeGPO.reg