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:
- Microsoft Defender SmartScreen | Microsoft Docs
- Set up and use Microsoft Defender SmartScreen on individual devices | Microsoft Docs
- What is SmartScreen and how can it help protect me? | Microsoft Support
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
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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)
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Warn in the Options drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)
9 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
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.
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
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
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
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
Related Tutorials
- How to Open Windows Security in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 10
- How to Unblock a File in Windows 10
- How to Add Unblock File Context Menu in Windows 10
- How to Disable Downloaded Files from being Blocked in Windows
- Hide or Show App and Browser Control in Windows Security in Windows 10
Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files from Web in Windows 10
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New #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
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New #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.
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New #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
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New #6
Hi,
Okay get out of my head
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New #8
I followed option one to disable smartscreen, but I still see smartscreen.exe running.
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New #9
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.
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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 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Security System
22 Jun 2020
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