Windows 10: Change Windows SmartScreen Settings in Windows 10

How to: Change Windows SmartScreen Settings in Windows 10

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


Windows 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 Windows SmartScreen, you can unblock it to open it if you trust it.

See also:

• Evolving Microsoft SmartScreen to protect you from drive-by attacks
• MS SmartScreen and Application Reputation | DigiCert Blog

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

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to change Windows SmartScreen settings.

*Warning Turning off SmartScreen Filter can make your PC more vulnerable to security threats.


CONTENTS:

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

EXAMPLE: Windows Defender SmartScreen warning











OPTION ONE [/i] Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files in Windows Security
1. Open Windows Security, and click/tap on the App & browser control icon.

2. Under Check apps and files, select Block, Warn (default), or Off for what you want to set. (see screenshot below)

3. Click/tap on Yes when prompted by UAC.

4. You can now close Windows Defender Security Center if you like.









OPTION TWO [/i] Turn On or Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files using a REG file

*note 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

Block = Blocks an unrecognized app from running
Warn = Warn before running an unrecognized app
Off = Don't do anything


1. Do step 2 (block), step 3 (warn), step 4 (off) below for what you want to set.

2. To Set SmartScreen for Apps and Files to Block
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

Set_SmartScreen_to_Block.reg

Download

3. To Set SmartScreen for Apps and Files to Warn
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

Set_SmartScreen_to_Warn.reg

Download

4. Turn Off SmartScreen for Apps and Files
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.

Turn_SmartScreen_Off.reg

Download
5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

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





OPTION THREE [/i] Enable or Disable SmartScreen for Apps and Files in Local Group Policy Editor

*note 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)
*Arrow 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.


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)




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





OPTION FOUR [/i] Enable or Disable SmartScreen for Apps and Files using a REG file

*note 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


Related Tutorials

• How to Open Windows Security in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Windows Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Windows Defender SmartScreen for Store Apps in Windows 10
• How to Change User Account Control (UAC) Settings 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

:)

 

Based On The Attached Screenshot, How Do I Unblock This Publisher In Order To Run The Software?

Disable UAC and Windows Smartscreen Filter.

How to Adjust or Turn Off SmartScreen Filter in Windows 10 - groovyPost

User Account Control (UAC) - Change Settings in Windows 10 ...

 

Window Smartscreen seems to forbid all certificated exe that went through the Internet since a few days, on every computers. What is happenning?

This is not a known issue AFAIK.

Can you try disabling Windows Smartscreen temporarily to see if the behaviour is persistent:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5593-change...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5520-turn-o...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/81139-turn-...

 

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

 

Hello Ken, *Smile

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.

 

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