In this article, we aim to guide you through the process of implementing the Prevent Codec Download Policy using Intune. We will make use of Intune’s Configuration Profiles to achieve this policy. Our primary objective is to provide you with the knowledge and steps required to prevent codec downloads using Intune.
This policy option enables you to block Windows Media Player from acquiring codecs. When you activate this policy stops the Player from automatically fetching codecs to your device. Furthermore, it disables the “Download codecs automatically” checkbox on the Player tab.
If you deactivate this policy, codecs will be fetched automatically, and the “Download codecs automatically” checkbox will remain accessible. If you leave this policy unconfigured, users retain the ability to modify the “Download codecs automatically” checkbox setting.
This policy configuration provides control over Windows Media Player’s ability to download codecs. Enabling this policy prevents the Player from autonomously fetching codecs to your computer. Additionally, it removes the option to check the “Download codecs automatically” box on the Player tab.
Conversely, if you disable this policy, codecs will be automatically downloaded, and users will still have the option to enable or disable the “Download codecs automatically” checkbox. In cases where you don’t specify a configuration for this policy, users retain the flexibility to adjust the “Download codecs automatically” setting according to their preferences.
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Prevent Codec Download Policy using Intune
To set the Prevent Codec Download Policy Using Intune, follow the steps stated below:
- Sign in to the Intune Admin Center portal https://intune.microsoft.com/.
- Select Devices > Windows > Configuration profiles > Create a profile.
In Create Profile, I select Windows 10 and later in Platform and select Profile Type as Settings catalog. Click on Create button.
| Platform | Profile Type |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 and later | Settings Catalog |
On the Basics tab pane, I provide a name for the policy as “Prevent Codec Download Policy.” Optionally, if you want, you can enter a policy description and proceed by selecting “Next.”
Now in Configuration Settings, click Add Settings to browse or search the catalog for the settings I want to configure.
In the Settings Picker windows, I searched for the keyword Codec, I found the category Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Media Player\Playback and selected this.
When I select that option as stated above, I see the sub-category, Prevent Codec Download (User). After selecting that, click the cross mark at the right-hand corner, as shown below.
I kept the Prevent Codec Download (User) as Enabled in the Administrative Templates and clicked on Next to continue.
Using Scope tags, you can assign a tag to filter the profile to specific IT groups. One can add scope tags (if required) and click Next to continue. Now in Assignments, in Included Groups, you need to click on Add Groups, choose Select Groups to include one or more groups, and click Next to continue.
In the Review + Create tab, I review settings. After clicking on Create, changes are saved, and the profile is assigned.
Upon successfully creating the “Prevent Codec Download Policy,“ notification will appear in the top right-hand corner, confirming the action. You can also verify the policy’s existence by navigating to the Configuration Profiles list, where it will be prominently displayed.
Your groups will receive your profile settings when the devices check in with the Intune service. The Policy applies to the device.
Intune Report for Prevent Codec Download Policy
From Intune Portal, you can view the Intune settings catalog profile report, which provides an overview of device configuration policies and deployment status.
To track the assignment of the policy, you need to select the relevant policy from the Configuration Profiles list. Reviewing the device and user check-in status lets you determine if the policy has been successfully applied. If you require more detailed information, you can click on “View Report” to access additional insights.
Intune MDM Event Log
To verify the successful implementation of String or integer policies on Windows 10 or 11 devices through Intune, you can leverage event IDs 813 and 814. These event IDs provide valuable insights into the application status of the policy as well as the specific value assigned to the policy on those devices. In the case of this particular policy, the value is String and is linked to the event ID 814.
By analyzing these event IDs, you can gain a clear understanding of the policy’s application status and the corresponding value associated with it on the devices in question.
To confirm this, you can check the Event log path – Applications and Services Logs – Microsoft – Windows – Devicemanagement-Enterprise-Diagnostics-Provider – Admin.
MDM PolicyManager: Set policy string, Policy: (PolicyCodecUpdate), Area: (ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer), EnrollmentID requesting merge: (5B88AEF1-09E8-43BB-B144-7254ACBBDF3E), Current User: (S-1-12-1-3186897659-1137825691-1845872004-278613382), String: (<enabled/>), Enrollment Type: (0x6), Scope: (0x1).
When I opened the above Event log, I found that the policy I have applied to the device has been successfully implemented. By reviewing the log entry shown in the above image, the Event Viewer, I came across essential information, including the Area and Enrollment ID. These details play a significant role in identifying the corresponding registry path. To locate the specific information, please consult the table provided below:
| Area | Policy | String | Scoped | Event ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer | PolicyCodecUpdate | Enabled | Device | 814 |
The details presented in the table above for the Prevent Codec Download Policy Using Intune can be employed to access the registry settings that hold the group policy configurations on a specific computer. To accomplish this, you can execute “REGEDIT.exe” on the target computer and navigate to the precise registry path where these settings are stored.
- Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\providers\5B88AEF1-09E8-43BB-B144-7254ACBBDF3E\default\S-1-12-1-3186897659-1137825691-1845872004-278613382\ADMX_WindowsMediaPlayer
When you navigate the above path in the Registry Editor, you will find the registry key named