SmartScreen Filter in Windows 11 helps protect your PC from suspicious, malicious apps and files. Additionally, SmartScreen Filter may also display a warning message when trying to launch an unrecognized application. Smart Screen uses Microsoft cloud computing technology to detect quickly, alert and block potentially unwanted programs. You can quickly turn off the SmartScreen filter for unrecognized apps with just a few clicks and launch the app or file as needed.
Ways to Disable SmartScreen in Windows 11
1. Using Windows Security
The easiest way to turn off SmartScreen Filter is to use the options provided by Windows Security Center. Windows Defender’s built-in antivirus lets you individually manage SmartScreen settings for apps and files, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store apps.
- Head over to the path: ” Settings “> ” Updating and security “> ” the Windows Security “> Open service ” the Windows Security.”
- Next, go to ” Manage applications/browser”, and on the right, you will see that SmartScreen is turned on to ” Warn ” for all three categories. To disable SmartScreen altogether, you must select Disable in all types: Check apps and files, for Microsoft Edge, for apps from the Microsoft Store.
2. Using the Group Policy Editor
For system or network administrators, Windows has a specific policy setting in the “Group Policy” editor to disable SmartScreen in Windows 11 quickly.
- Press the Win + R key combination and enter gpedit.msc to open Group Policies. In the editor, navigate to Computer Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> File Explorer, and double-click the Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen policy on the right.
- In the settings window, check Disabled to turn off the SmartScreen filter. Restart the system for the changes to take effect.
3. Using the registry editor
Windows 11 Home users will not have access to the Group Policy Editor. However, you can use Registry Editor to disable SmartScreen Filter. Create a restore point before editing the registry.
1. Press Win + R and type regedit to launch the Registry Editor, then navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Right-click on an empty spot with the right mouse button New> DWORD32 (32-bit) Value. Name it EnableSmartScreen, double click it and set the value to 0. Reboot your PC.
2. If you need to turn SmartScreen back on, set the value to 1 for EnableSmartScreen. Next, you need to set the blocking level. To do this, right-click in the right pane, select New> String Parameter and name it ShellSmartScreenLevel. Then double-click and set the value:
- Warn – Displays a warning.
- Block – Displays a warning message and blocks the launch of an application or file.
Once you’re done, reboot your system.
