Windows 10: restrict user to run only a few applications Windows Home edition

Hi. I created a user name titled "Visitor". How can I (without a lot of registry changes) allow Visitor to run only 5 or 6 applications. I have created a unique desktop for Visitor with only those icons. Visitor is not a family member.

Or can I create a unique start menu that only shows the 5 or 6 applications to Visitor?

I found out how to restrict Visitor to one application but not more than one. Windows 10 Home edition.

Thanks!

:)

 

restrict user to 5 or 6 applications Windows 10 Home Edition

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Where do I allow specific programs for Windows 10 Family Safety?

I have seen this done in group edit. Go to run type gpedit.msc. There is a world of settings in here to shut of literally anything you want.

Software restrictions are under, computer configurations and user configuration but I think you should go with user config only. Then click on

administrative template, then system, scroll down to "run only specific windows applications". I believe when Win 10 finally gets all of this set up in a nice interface in control panel, you will simply see a simplified version of these steps.

If you click once (no double) o "run only specific windows applications" you will get more specific information on the left hand window. Be careful when editing Group Policies.

 

As you probably know this is possible using the Group Policy Editor, not available in the Home Edition.
You could have a look at sites such as this; try observing normal caution; I've not tried this so no guarantees.
How to Enable Group Policy Editor on Windows 10 Home Edition

How to Block (or Allow) Certain Applications for Users in Windows
(Updated for '10- describes Regedit, then GP Editor).

There may be a suitable parental control type program that can do this. (Some AV's offer parental features).
(Win 7 had a parental control feature that supported this- I believe it was withdrawn in '10- vague memory).

** E.g. McAfee Internet Security offers:
Explicitly block or allow a restricted user profile the ability to use

specific programs installed in the computer and limit their access to
Internet Newsgroups
MCAFEE INTERNET SECURITY 5.0 Manual (Page 31 of 128)

 

Hi there

If the Visitor is a casual user a possible scenario would be to create a Virtual Machine and simply install those applications you want the user to run -- this is probably the safest way but could be a bit of overkill.

Another way would be to install a HOME VPN and only present the relevant desktop to your user - also a bit overkill - but both these would be great learning tools !!!!.

Other than that I can't really suggest anything here -- Windows by its nature is a single user system which makes this type of stuff a bit tricky -- I'm sure some Windows Gurus might be able to come up with something.

Windows HOME edition IMO seems a bit basic once you want to do anything a bit more complex than just run typical programs from your own user id.

Controlling Internet is easier -- even just setting up a proxy server for "Visitor" -- plus there's all sorts of options in your Router and Windows Firewall -- but that's a totally different issue.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I think using an appropriate security suite is a neat option...

 

Hi there

actually that's probably a HIDEOUS solution as you are depending on 3rd party software which often fails after update - and to even THINK of installing Mcafee on any HOME computer --'nuf said.

Incidentally instead of PAYING for a security suite to achieve this solution - I think you'd be better off upgrading to W10 PRO and then use standard Group Policy editor.

The trick of getting it to work on W10 HOME - referred to in an above post is neat - but there again those sorts of tricks are likely to stop working at any time after updates etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

..not recommending McAfee in particular, or indeed at all. Just saying that's a possible direction in which to look for a solution.

There are parental control programs too, but most seem to be more focussed on internet issues than program control.

 

Thanks very much for your suggestions. What about this idea: move all the entries from the public start menu to that of the administrator start menu. Then add just a few entries into the start menu of the Visitor.

If I understand this correctly, the public start menu entries flow down to all the users. But the users can have additional start menu entries too. I know this works with desktops. If the public start menu has few entries and Visitor's start menu has a few more, would Visitor only show those few apps in its start menu?

I'll give it a try and see what happens. Thanks, again! ~mark

 

Easily defeated- just use search, or launch the program from its installation folder.

Of course if you carefully install certain programs just for one user, that would help, making sure only the programs you want the other user to have access to are installed for all users.

 

The nearest equivalent is family settings, I believe?
Family Settings - Manage for Child in Windows 10

But seemingly it doesn't allow control on what software can be run, except by age rating.
Plus the user being restricted needs a Microsoft account, which is probably no good for a general Visitor login.

 

Yes, fuller parental controls were available in '8.. good comment here:
Parental controls in Windows 10? - Microsoft Community

(and I've discovered I get 'Something went wrong' if I try to add a family member... I can add someone else...).

 

One thing that may help in controlling what Visitor can access is to make them a member of the Guests group, amongst other things the Settings app becomes 'out of bounds'.

Like the Group Policy, you haven't got Local Users and Groups in Home either - but you don't need it. Run Netplwiz, select the Visitor account and click Properties. There's a Group Membership tab here. Select 'Other' and pick Guests from the list.