Windows 10: For mmc.exe I get "This app has been blocked for your protection"

When I try to run anything that uses mmc.exe, I get the message "This app has been blocked for your protection" and "An administrator has blocked you from running this app." This happens even if I try to run whatever it is as administrator. This is preventing me using the services control panel and the device manager.

The background is that I have just upgraded to the Creator's Edition using the upgrade tool because Windows Update isn't working for me. The upgrade didn't fix the problem with Windows Update, but it appears to have created this additional problem.

:)

 

This app has been blocked for your protection

Hello,

Windows 10 has security features like Defender SmartScreen built in that sometimes blocks apps and programs that you really want.

You may need to give permission to that app/program. To do this:

• Navigate to the file or program that's being blocked by SmartScreen.
• Right-click the file.
• Click Properties.
• Click the checkbox next to Unblock so that a checkmark appears.
• Click Apply.

You should be able to open the app/program safely. If you're still having an issue with running it, try opening the program as an Administrator in addition to the steps above.

Let us know how things go.

 

THIS APP HAS BEEN BLOCKED FOR YOUR PROTECTION

How can I get past "This App has been blocked for your protection" in Windows 10? I need to install a valid program, but even when I try to do as an administrator, I'm told to "see the administrator."

 

I would try to fix update problem first. It also could have the same roots.

D you have any Grup policy restrictions applied? Tools like Cryptoprevent can do that..

Which version is your system? (15063.332 is the latest)

 

Thanks for replying. I have version 15063.332. I don't have any group policy restrictions to the best of my knowledge. I posted on the Microsoft forum as well and the Microsoft person suggested doing a clean boot and that sounds reasonable, so I'm going to try that first. If that gets mmc.exe working, then I can stop the UpdateOrchestrator service and if I can do that I have a chance of repairing WindowsUpdate.

 

If that doesn't work, start the elevated administrator account, log on to it and run mmc there. Disable it afterwards.

enable-disable-elevated-administrator-account-windows-10

 

I finally managed to stop the wuauserv and bits services and delete the contents of \Windows\SoftwareDistribution, so hopefully that will have solved the update problems. I was able to run an app that uses mmc.exe (namely the Services control panel) when logged in to the admin account, but I still can't run it when I am logged in as a normal administrator.

 

How do I get round this if the "app" in question that is being blocked is mme.exe, which is an essential part of Windows and is necessary in order to use things like control panels and the device manager? I can't switch to the administrator account every time I want to use a control panel.

 

Have you tried removing catroot2's folder?

Since you can not run system apps because of an invalid certificate/publisher.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/catroo...-reset-windows

 

Do you mean "mmc.exe" instead?

 

Yes, that's the one. I keep getting MMC and MME muddled up in my brain.

 

LOL, I can relate to that. *Wink

Are you getting the exact warning message as the example in this tutorial when you try to open MMC? Usually, you shouldn't. Instead, you should just see a message that basically says you can't use unless you're an administrator.

If you like, you could try using the method in the tutorial below to create an elevated shortcut for your standard user account that should allow you to run it.

Elevated Program Shortcut - Create for Standard User - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

No, I get the same message. Graphically it looks a bit different, presumably due to different Windows 10 versions, but the same content.

I'm not sure if the elevated shortcut would work because I never try to start MMC directly. It gets called by other programs. Someone suggested (with instructions!) somewhere else that I try removing the catroot2 folder. I'll give this a try once I've reassured myself that it's a safe thing to do.

 

@ricecrispies


Your statement above....

Try to start it yourself. See what happens. It is only a shell for the Microsoft Management Console.

In the search at bottom left of taskbar (Cortana box), type MMC. First choice at top of results box should be





Click that choice. You should get





It doesn't do anything by itself, it's only a shell. It needs "snap-ins" added to it in order to actually do something. Event Viewer is an example of a MMC with a snap-in for viewing system logged events.

If you can get to this, then your other "programs" that are calling MMC don't have the privilege to run it.

Be cautious deleting Catroot or Catroot2. They are used by Windows Update. More info here: How do I Delete all contents of catroot2 folder but leave the catroot2 - Microsoft Community

 

Finally got around to trying deleting catroot2 today and .................
............. it didn't work *Biggrin