Applies to IT administrators who want to deploy a initial_preferences file for managed Chrome browser on Windows and Mac computers.
As an admin, you can use initial preferences to deploy default preferences to Chrome browser users on managed computers. These preferences are applied when users first open Chrome browser. For example, you can set the homepage or choose which tabs and URLs are shown when they open Chrome browser.
Note: For Chrome browser 91 or later, the file named initial_preferences replaces the master_preferences file. To minimize disruption, Chrome continues to support both filenames, and any further change will be notified in the Chrome Enterprise release notes.
When to use initial preferences
Use initial preferences to:
- Configure default settings that users can change later.
- Deploy settings that you don’t want to manage, or aren’t available, with a Chrome policy.
- Apply settings to Microsoft® Windows® computers that aren’t joined to an Active Directory® domain.
To apply settings that you don’t want users to change, enforce Chrome policies on Windows or Mac computers instead.
If a setting is managed by a Chrome policy and also configured in the initial_preferences file, the policy takes precedence and users can’t edit the setting. For details, see View a device’s current Chrome policies.
Note: The "Welcome to Chrome" dialog shown to users on Chrome's first run on Windows 8 will be removed in Chrome 78. Support for the distribution.suppress_first_run_default_browser_prompt initial_preferences setting will be removed accordingly.
Before you begin
If users already have Chrome browser on their computers, you need to remove it before you complete the steps below.
Deploy initial preferences
Step 1: Create the initial_preferences file- Windows—C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\initial_preferences
- Mac—~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Google Chrome Initial Preferences or /Library/Google/Google Chrome Initial Preferences