How to Stop Edge from Downloading AI Models on Windows 11

Microsoft Edge can automatically download local AI models in the background to power certain AI-based features. While these models help enable on-device processing, they can also consume storage space and network bandwidth. This guide will walk you through the effective methods to stop Edge from downloading these models on your Windows 11 PC.

Method 1: Stop Edge AI Model Downloads Using Registry Editor

This method works on all editions of Windows 11, including Home.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. In Registry Editor, go to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

3. If the Edge key does not exist, right-click on the Microsoft folder, select New > Key and name it Edge.

4. With the Edge key selected, right-click an empty area in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

5. Name the new value as GenAILocalFoundationalModelSettings.

6. Double-click the new value and set its Value data to 1.

7. Click OK and close Registry Editor.

Method 2: Stop Edge AI Model Downloads Using Group Policy

If you're using Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use the Group Policy Editor.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge > Generative AI

3. Double-click the policy named Settings for GenAI local foundational model to open it.

4. Select Enabled. In the Options section, click the dropdown menu and select Do not download model.

5. Click Apply and then OK.

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge continues to integrate more AI-powered experiences into Windows 11, but not everyone wants automatic downloads running in the background. Whether you use Group Policy or Registry Editor, disabling Edge AI model downloads is straightforward.