{"id":4348,"date":"2019-03-21T18:51:38","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T18:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/?p=4348"},"modified":"2019-03-22T17:18:55","modified_gmt":"2019-03-22T17:18:55","slug":"windows-protected-your-pc-win10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/windows-protected-your-pc-win10\/","title":{"rendered":"How to remove the \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 message on Windows 10?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windows Defender SmartScreen is a Windows security feature that was first introduced in Internet Explorer 8, mainly to protect your system from malicious entities that are spread through the internet. The feature now comes built into Windows 10 and is more advanced. The SmartScreen feature is responsible for showing the \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 error message.<\/p>\n

Why Does the \u2018Windows Protected Your PC\u2019 Message Appear?<\/h2>\n

Windows Defender SmartScreen runs in the background and monitors the execution of apps and websites to determine if they pose any threat. Every time you download and try to run a program, the feature gathers information about the program and sends the data to Microsoft servers where it is analyzed and compared with a huge database of malicious apps.<\/p>\n

The server then responds, and if the feedback is negative, SmartScreen blocks the app from running, hence the error message, \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019. While this is an important feature that helps to protect your system against malware, the warning messages can be annoying.<\/p>\n

If you’re an advanced user, you know what’s safe and what isn’t with regards to downloading and installing apps. Therefore, you don\u2019t necessarily need the SmartScreen filter. If you want to disable the SmartScreen feature in Windows 10, then you’re on the right page. This post shows you how to deal with \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 warnings and stop them from popping up when you’re about to run an app.<\/p>\n

How to Remove\/Turn Off “Windows Protected Your PC”?<\/h2>\n

You can bypass the SmartScreen feature to be able to run unrecognized apps on your PC. The feature is enabled by default, and if you’re a novice Windows user, we advise against turning it off.<\/p>\n

Using Windows Defender<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Open the \u201cSettings\u201d app by pressing the Windows Key+I simultaneously.<\/li>\n
  2. Type Windows security in the search box.<\/li>\n
  3. Select \u201cWindows Defender settings\u201d from the results.<\/li>\n
  4. On the right pane, under \u201cWindows Security\u201d, go to \u201cApp & browser control\u201d.<\/li>\n
  5. Under the \u201cCheck apps and files\u201d section, you\u2019ll notice that Windows Defender SmartScreen is, by default, set to \u201cWarn\u201d. Click the \u201cOff\u201d button to disable it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you select \u201cBlock\u201d, SmartScreen prevents the app from running and a warning message pops up. On the other hand, the \u201cWarn\u201d option allows you to choose whether or not to allow the app to run on your system.<\/p>\n

    Choose the \u201cOff\u201d button under \u201cSmartScreen for Microsoft Edge\u201d and \u201cSmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps\u201d as well.<\/p>\n

    Using Group Policy<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Press the Windows Key+R, and type gpedit.msc in the \u201cRun\u201d dialog box.<\/li>\n
    2. Follow this path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.<\/li>\n
    3. Find and double-click the \u201cConfigure Windows Defender SmartScreen\u201d policy.<\/li>\n
    4. Click on \u201cDisabled\u201d to turn off SmartScreen for all users. When you open the \u201cConfigure Windows Defender SmartScreen\u201d window, you will notice that the \u201cNot configured\u201d option is the default selection. This means that SmartScreen is enabled by default for all users.<\/li>\n
    5. Restart your computer to effect the changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Using Registry Editor<\/h3>\n

      If you’re using Windows 10 Home, you won’t have access to the Group Policy Editor. However, you can use the Registry Editor to disable SmartScreen. As a general rule, you need to be careful when making changes to the registry because one mistake may render your whole system useless.<\/p>\n

      For this reason, always back up the Registry before making any changes.<\/p>\n

      To disable SmartScreen:<\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. Press the Windows Key+R, and type regedit in the \u201cRun\u201d dialog box.<\/li>\n
      2. Follow this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System<\/li>\n
      3. Right-click on an empty space on the right pane, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.<\/li>\n
      4. Assign \u201cEnableSmartScreen\u201d to the new value.<\/li>\n
      5. Double-click the new value you just created and set the \u201cValue Data\u201d as \u201c0\u201d. The default value is \u201c1\u201d.<\/li>\n
      6. Restart your PC to effect the changes.<\/li>\n
      7. If you don\u2019t find the path above, try the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer<\/li>\n
      8. When you click on \u201cExplorer\u201d, you\u2019ll see a list of keys on the right pane. Find \u201cSmartScreenEnabled\u201d. By default, the key should be set to \u201cRequireAdmin”.<\/li>\n
      9. Double-click the key, and set it to \u201cOff\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Turn Off SmartScreen in Microsoft Edge<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. Launch Microsoft Edge and open the \u201cMenu\u201d.<\/li>\n
        2. Select Settings > Privacy & security.<\/li>\n
        3. Scroll down to the end of the page to find \u201cWindows Defender SmartScreen\u201d. Click to toggle the button to \u201cOff\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          That\u2019s it! The SmartScreen pop-up messages will no longer bother you after applying the tips above.<\/p>\n

          In this age of advanced malware attacks, we always recommend Windows users to install Auslogics Anti-Malware<\/a>, a powerful tool that will help to protect your system against malicious files, apps, and websites.<\/p>\n

          Hackers are now developing sophisticated entities that can bypass your system’s antivirus. That’s why it’s crucial to add an extra layer of security to block malicious items from infecting your system and causing irreversible damage.<\/p>\n

          Auslogics Anti-Malware<\/a> is always updated to prevent new malware from penetrating the tight perimeter wall that it sets around your computer. This is an intelligent tool that works hand-in-hand with your built-in antivirus, giving you peace of mind, 24\/7.<\/p>\n

          Be sure to keep the Auslogics Anti-Malware software up to date to guarantee 100 percent protection.<\/p>\n

          Did the above steps on how to turn off \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 messages work? If you have any questions or you need further assistance, please don\u2019t hesitate to post your concerns in the comments section below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Windows Defender SmartScreen is a Windows security feature that was first introduced in Internet Explorer 8, mainly to protect your system from malicious entities that are spread through the internet. The feature now comes built into Windows 10 and is more advanced. The SmartScreen feature is responsible for showing the \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 error […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[132],"tags":[65,64,61],"yoast_head":"\nHow to remove the \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 message on Windows 10? - The Official FileInspect Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/windows-protected-your-pc-win10\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ivan.diskin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCI6brHKmaiiUCcseAlcV3tQ\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outbyte\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200x630-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200x630-3.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"Outbyte Computing Pty Ltd\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Official FileInspect Blog\",\"description\":\"News and Perspectives from IT Experts\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/windows-protected-your-pc-win10\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fileinspect.com\/blog\/windows-protected-your-pc-win10\/\",\"name\":\"How to remove the \u2018Windows protected your PC\u2019 message on Windows 10? 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