How to disable Windows Defender SmartScreen on Windows 11
If you remember, Microsoft has introduced a new security app for Windows 10 users called Windows Security. Windows security is also available for Windows 11, and it protects you from known and unknown security threats.
Windows Security is a free security program provided by Microsoft for Windows users. The Windows Security app runs in the background and protects your computer from various security threats such as malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing attacks, etc.
It also has a security feature called Windows SmartScreen that many users don't know about. The role of Windows SmartScreen is to prevent unrecognized applications from starting and running on your Windows 11 system.
What is Windows SmartScreen?
SmartScreen is a security feature introduced in Windows 8, but improved in Windows 10. SmartScreen acts as a filter that scans your download files against the Microsoft database.
So, when you download something malicious from the internet and try to run it, the SmartScreen filter scans and blocks it. When it prevents the program from working or making changes to your system, you will see a prompt like this.
Windows SmartScreen
Although the feature is excellent, it sometimes prevents the safe use of the app. The only way to run blocked apps is to click on the More Info option> Run anyway.
You need to do this every time you want to launch an application that is blocked by Windows Defender SmartScreen. You can disable the Windows Defender SmartScreen feature if you don't want to do this for apps you trust. However, before disabling the feature, set up a good Windows security app on your computer.
Ways to disable Windows Defender SmartScreen on Windows 11
It is very easy to disable Windows Defender SmartScreen on Windows 11, and there are multiple ways to do this. Hence, this article will share the few best practices for disabling Windows Defender SmartScreen in Windows 11. Let's check.
1) Disable Defender SmartScreen via Windows Security
We'll use the Windows Security app to disable the Windows Defender SmartScreen feature in this way. That's what you need to do.
1. First, click Windows 11 Search and type Windows Security. Next, click on Windows Security from the list of options that appears.
Windows Security
2. In Windows Security, click App and browser control.
Apps and browser control
3. In the left pane, scroll down and click the Reputation-based protection settings link.
Reputation-based protection settings
4. On the next screen, disable the Scan Apps and Files key
"Check apps and files"
5. You will now see the UAC prompt; click the Yes button to apply the changes.
Is that him! It's done. This is how you can disable Windows Defender SmartScreen via the Windows Security app.
2) How to disable SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge
Windows 11 allows you to manage SmartScreen for Edge separately. Thus, you need to disable SmartScreen for the Microsoft Edge browser.
1. First, open the Windows Security app on your Windows 11 PC and tap App & Browser Control.
Apps and browser control
2. In the right pane, click the Reputation-based protection settings link.
Reputation-based protection settings
3. Scroll down and disable the SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge toggle on the next screen.
SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge
Is that him! It's done. This is how you can disable SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 11.
3) Disable Windows Defenender SmartScreen via registry
If for some reason you cannot access the Windows security application, you can use the registry editor to disable the SmartScreen feature. That's what you need to do.
1. Firstly, press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. In the RUN dialog box, enter regedit and press the Enter button.
2. In the registry editor, go to the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Scroll to the path
3. Next, right click the System folder and select New Value> DWORD (32-bit).
New> DWORD (32-bit
4. Name the value of the newly created REG_DWORD as EnableSmartScreen.
EnableSmartScreen
5. Next, double-click EnableSmartScreen, set the value data to 0, and then click the OK button.
Set the value data to 0
Is that him! It's done. After making the changes, restart your Windows 11 computer. This will disable Defender SmartScreen on Windows 11. If you want to enable the SmartScreen feature again, delete the EnableSmartScreen value you created in step 4.
4) Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen via Group Policy Editor
You can even use the Local Group Policy Editor to disable Windows Defender SmartScreen on your Windows 11 PC. Here are some simple steps that you should follow.
1. Firstly, press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. In the Run dialog box, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
gpedit.msc
2. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor. Go to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
Go to the next path
3. In the left pane, find and double-click Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen Policy.
Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen
4. In the next window, select Disabled and click on the Apply button.
Select Disabled
Is that him! It's done. After making the above changes, restart your computer. After rebooting, Windows Defender SmartScreen will be disabled.
Windows Defender SmartScreen is a great security feature that shouldn't be turned off. If you still want to turn it off, be sure to use other security software on your computer. Otherwise, you can enable SmartScreen after installing the blocked app again.