Start/notes.ini Parameters/BrowserRenderDisable

BrowserRenderDisable

Parameter: BrowserRenderDisable
Short description: Controls whether HTML-formatted mail in the Notes client is rendered with the embedded Notes browser or with the operating system's default browser.

Description

BrowserRenderDisable controls which renderer the HCL Notes client uses to display HTML-formatted mail messages for reading (read-only).
  • With the default value 0, Notes uses the embedded (built-in) browser to render HTML mail.
  • With BrowserRenderDisable=1, the embedded browser is disabled and the operating system's default browser (historically Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Safari) is used instead, providing improved HTML rendering.
According to the HCL Domino product documentation ("HTML rendering for mail"), this NOTES.INI variable can be deployed to users centrally through a Desktop policy.
When an HTML mail is edited, replied to, or forwarded, the Notes-internal renderer is always used regardless of this value – so some of the original HTML formatting may be lost during these operations.
In the Notes client UI the setting corresponds to "Disable embedded browser for MIME mail" under File → Preferences → Basic Notes Client Configuration. Per HCL Support KB0127468, this option is unchecked by default; applying BrowserRenderDisable=1 (e.g. via a Desktop Policy with Custom Settings) checks it and therefore disables the embedded browser.

Profile

Parameter
BrowserRenderDisable
Category
Client configuration / Mail rendering
Component
Notes client only (not Domino server)
Value range
0 (default) – use the Notes embedded browser for HTML mail
1 – disable the embedded browser and use the OS / default browser
Default
0 (embedded browser enabled)
Available since
At least 9.0.1 (documented in HCL Domino 10.0.1 and 11.0.1 Administrator Help)
Effective
After restarting the Notes client
GUI equivalent
Notes Client Preferences → Basic Notes Client Configuration → "Disable embedded browser for MIME mail" (deployable via Desktop Policy → Custom Settings, see HCL KB0127468)

Examples

BrowserRenderDisable=1
BrowserRenderDisable=0

Notes

  • Applies to the Notes client only; it has no effect on Domino server tasks.
  • The change becomes effective only after the Notes client is restarted.
  • Affects the display of HTML-formatted mail only – when editing, replying to, or forwarding such a message, the Notes-internal renderer is always used.
  • Recommended deployment for larger environments: a Desktop Policy with Custom Settings adding BrowserRenderDisable = 1 to each user's notes.ini (see HCL KB0127468).
  • Typical use case: workaround for crashes of the embedded browser when opening certain MIME / HTML mails (e.g. on Notes 10/11/12; addressed in HCL Notes 14.0).
  • From a security standpoint, disabling the embedded browser can be considered, since HTML mail rendering generally increases the attack surface.

Sources (HCL Product Documentation)