Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10

    How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Security System
    22 Jun 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10


    Starting with Windows 10 version 2004, Windows Defender SmartScreen as been renamed to Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.

    Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking downloaded files and web content within apps to help protect you from malicious software and potentially unsafe web content. Before an unknown or potentially unsafe downloaded file is opened, Windows will display a warning. If SmartScreen detects potentially unsafe web content in an app, Windows will display a warning in place of the content.

    If an app has been blocked by Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, you can unblock it to open it if you trust it.

    See also:

    This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for apps and files from the web for all users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to change Microsoft Defender SmartScreen settings.


    Turning off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen can make your PC more vulnerable to security threats.



    Contents

    • Option One: Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows Security
    • Option Two: Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web using a REG file
    • Option Three: Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Four: Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warning
    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-windows_smartscreen-1.png Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-windows_smartscreen-2.png






    OPTION ONE

    Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows Security


    1 Open Windows Security, and click/tap on the App & browser control icon.

    2 If you are running a Windows Insiders build of Windows 10, click/tap on the Reputation-based protection settings link. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-reputation-based_protection.png

    3 Turn on default) or off Check apps and files for what you want to set. (see screenshots below)

    4 Click/tap on Yes when prompted by UAC to confirm.

    5 You can now close Windows Security if you like.

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-smartscreen_check_apps_and_files-.png Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-smartscreen_check_apps_and_files-off.png






    OPTION TWO

    Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

    SmartScreenEnabled String Value

    Warn = On. Warn before running an unrecognized app
    Off = Don't do anything


    1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want to set.


     2. To Turn On Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Set_SmartScreen_to_Warn.reg

    Download


     3. To Turn Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Turn_SmartScreen_Off.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Local Group Policy Editor


    If enabled of disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.

    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    All editions can use Option Four below to set this policy.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/File Explorer

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-smartscreen_for_apps_and_files_gpedit-1.jpg

    3 In the right pane of File Explorer in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable - block), step 6 (enable - warn), step 7 (disable), or step 8 (default) below for what you would like to do.


     5. To Enable SmartScreen to Block Apps and Files from Web

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Warn and prevent bypass in the Options drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)


     6. To Enable SmartScreen to Warn for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Warn in the Options drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)


     7. To Disable SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)


     8. Default SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10-smartscreen_for_apps_and_files_gpedit-2.jpg

    9 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






    OPTION FOUR

    Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web using a REG file


    If enabled of disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.

    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD and string value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

    EnableSmartScreen DWORD

    (delete) = default
    1 = Enable
    0 = Disable

    ShellSmartScreenLevel string value

    (delete) = default
    Block = Warn and prevent bypass
    Warn = Warn


    1 Do step 2 (enable - block), step 3 (enable - warn), step 4 (disable), or step 5 (default) below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Enable SmartScreen to Block Apps and Files from Web

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Enable_SmartScreen_to_Block_Apps_and_Files_from_Web.reg

    Download


     3. To Enable SmartScreen to Warn for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Enable_SmartScreen_to_Warn_Apps_and_Files_from_Web.reg

    Download


     4. To Disable SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Disable_SmartScreen_for_Apps_and_Files_from_Web.reg

    Download


     5. Default SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.

    Default_Not_Configured_SmartScreen_for_Apps_and_Files_from_Web.reg

    Download


    6 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    9 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 221
    Win10
       #2

    Brink,

    I've just installed and activated my Win 10...thanks to your tutorials, it was smooth.

    I have Kaspersky Internet Security. What is the benefit of running Smart Screen if I am already running KIS? Wouldn't they interfere with one another? (Similar to Windows Defender and any other anti-virus software.)

    Thanks,
    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello Ken, :)

    Smart Screen and Kaspersky can safely be used together without issue. Smart Screen will just automatically block a file that came from an unknown or external source, and prompt you when you try to open it.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 71
    Windows 10
       #4

    I got hit with the SmartScreen filter last night when downloading a new version of Keepass. SmartScreen said the file was bad and Norton said the file was good. SmartScreen would not let me install the program. I never saw anything to unblock it. I ended up changing the SmartScreen Filter to do nothing, installed the program and turned the SmartScreen back on.

    I figure if the SmartScreen Filter does not like the app, I should do some extra research before I install it.

    Z
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Tutorial updated to add Option 3 and 4 for group policy options.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #6

    Hi,
    Okay get out of my head
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

      My Computers


  8. Posts : 184
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H2
       #8

    I followed option one to disable smartscreen, but I still see smartscreen.exe running.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    TONPumper said:
    I followed option one to disable smartscreen, but I still see smartscreen.exe running.

    Hello TON,

    This tutorial is only for turning on or off smartscreen for apps and files.

    SmartScreen will still run for the below unless turned off for them as well. It's not recommended to turn off SmartScreen though for better security.

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 | Tutorials

    Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Windows Store Apps in Windows 10 | Tutorials
      My Computers


 

Tutorial Categories

Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:36.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums