Unblock File in Windows 10  

I guess that works.

One other thing, is it possible to enable this prompt for files or executables that don't usually generate this prompt?
I'm asking that, because it seems like older versions of Windows seem to show this prompt on most files, while Windows 10 has never shown it for any file I've downloaded. Perhaps Windows 10 changed some security measures to tell which files are safe? But at the same time, batch files downloaded from guides here are ran without prompt on Windows 10, even though such files can be considered unsafe based on their contents.

If there is a reason, could you explain it? I've heard of reasons like valid certificates, etc, but I'm not sure about those.

@Brink,

Just one more technical note and yet another method to unblock a file(s).

Microsoft adds an alternate data stream to files that are downloaded and that alternate data stream identifies them as something to be blocked.

There is a Microsoft Sysinternals command line utility called "streams" that can show and remove these alternate data streams.

As an example, I downloaded an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog. I renamed it simply to make the name shorter and more manageable, but otherwise made no changes. File Explorer shows the file as being blocked.

I then use to Streams utility (streams64.exe in this case since I am on a x64 installation of Windows) to do 3 things:

1) Simply display the alternate data stream on the file
2) Remove the alternate data stream
3) Display the alternate data stream once again to show that it is now gone.

Here is the output that results from this series of commands:

Code:

C:\Streams>streams64 c:\sample\KB4589212.msu

streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

c:\sample\KB4589212.msu:
     :SmartScreen:$DATA 7
   :Zone.Identifier:$DATA       182

C:\Streams>streams64 -d c:\sample\KB4589212.msu

streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

c:\sample\KB4589212.msu:
   Deleted :SmartScreen:$DATA
   Deleted :Zone.Identifier:$DATA

C:\Streams>streams64 c:\sample\KB4589212.msu

streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com


C:\Streams>

After this, the file is no longer identified as being blocked.

I used to use this in a batch file before leaning of the powershell command back when I would automatically apply Windows updates to Windows via a script. This ensured that installation for all updates would go smoothly wiyhout being blocked.

The utility is documented and can be downloaded here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sys...nloads/streams

The brief text includes some interesting info that some might find interesting.

Hi, Shawn,
The property screen of the downloaded file is very different from what you've shown.
But how can I print/attach the property screen here to show it, as examples below?
Opens with -> Description
Security -> nothing, only Attributes row

Hi, Shawn,
OK, I attached a screen shot. I cannot copy the property screen alone.

none.docx

EDIT: Shawn already has a method of doing this with powershell in the tutorial. Don't know why I neglected to note that earlier. So the below is simply a variation on that.

End Edit


I found yet another way to unblock files that is great for traversing even really large subdirectories with many files rapidly. I had previously noted a way to do this using a utility called "Streams". This method will work without needing to download anything.

In my case, I have a library of software, utilities, drivers, etc. There are many thousands of files and I'm constantly downloading updates. If I run the batch file below it only takes a couple of seconds and checks every single file in my library including all subdirectories.

To use, simply copy the sample code from below into a file and call it something like UnblockAllFiles.bat. When run, it will unblock all files from the location where it is located and all subdirectories. Naturally, this can easily be modified.

The key to the whole thing is the very last line.

Code:

:: This batch file will unblock all files in the local folder and subdirectories from where this batch file is run.
:: This is the equivalent to right-clicking on a file, going to properties, and checking the unblock option for every file.

@echo off

:: Change directories to the location from where this batch file is being run

cd /d %~dp0

:: Perform the operation that unblocks all files

powershell "dir * -Recurse | Unblock-File"