Error This app has been blocked for your protection. Description Information: This is only a warning and does not present an actual. It's possible that Computer Management is being blocked by SmartScreen. We suggest disabling it and see if it helps. Follow the steps below: Click the Start button. Type smartscreen in the search bar. Click Change SmartScreen settings. Click the drop-down arrow in the Security row. Click Change settings beneath the Windows SmartScreen row.
Hello Kapil
Your fixes 2 and 3 seemed to apply to issues that I'm not having.
- Windows 10 updates OK
- I've installed a whole raft of apps including Adobe CC, Office 365, Camtasia, Filezilla, Telephone System, Website Monitoring apps, and various browsers - all OK
The only app I had problems with was the patch for the Sage accounts which I left until last as it is an old legacy program.
![Was Was](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125754280/799957307.jpg)
Your fixes 2 and 3 were a bit too scary for me. I'm a one-person business and was frightened in case I did more damage than good in the registry - that I do not understand and don't really want to understand.
From previous google searches I had found a couple of suggestions that showed how to enable the 'hidden administrator' account and, as the instructions for that were not quite as scary as delving into the registry, I gave that a shot and IT WORKED. (The suggestion I tried in the initial post didn't work - but this one did)
I logged in as this previously hidden administrator, installed the patch, logged out and back in as me and the Sage Accounts program is running - woo-hoo! (I never thought I would be excited with the Sage Accounts program!)
Although I didn't try your fixes 2 and 3, I really do appreciate your very quick help.
Thank you again.
Kind regards
Sharon
Yes, it is a good thing that Windows 10 has security features like Defender SmartScreen built in, but sometimes they get in the way. You really want to install this app — you know there's nothing wrong with it — but you're locked out.
Windows Defender SmartScreen acts as a sort of guard dog while you use Windows 10. It will block you from opening some apps if they come from an unknown place or are created by an unknown publisher. While these steps will get you around the Windows 10 block, you should use them with care. Some apps really are harmful and really will get you in a mess. Only go around the Windows 10 app block if you know for sure that the file is safe.
How to open a file blocked by Windows Defender SmartScreen
If a file you know is safe is going to give you trouble when you attempt to launch it, you can quickly give it permission to open.
- 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.
The file should now be treated as safe by SmartScreen and you'll be allowed to open it. If you're running into further problems, try running the program as an Administrator in addition to the steps above.
How to disable Windows Defender SmartScreen
Although not recommended, SmartScreen can be disabled through Windows Defender. If you must completely disable SmartScreen, we recommend re-enabling it soon after.
- Launch Windows Defender Security Center from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
- Click the App and browser control button on the left side of the window.
- Click Off in the Check apps and files section.
- Click Off in the SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge section.
- Click Off in the SmartScreen for Windows Store apps section.
SmartScreen is now completely disabled. If you'd like to still receive a warning when a potentially malicious file or program is detected, you can choose Warn in each SmartScreen section.
How to enable Windows Defender SmartScreen
Once you've done everything that SmartScreen was preventing you from doing, you should immediately go back and re-enable it. Even if the file or program you were working with was known not to be malicious, forgetting to enable SmartScreen could lead to big problems in the future.
- Launch Windows Defender Security Center from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
- Click the App and browser control button on the left side of the window.
- Click Block in the Check apps and files section.
- Click Block in the SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge section.
- Click Warn in the SmartScreen for Windows Store apps section.
More resources
When attempting to download a file through Microsoft Edge, you might sometimes run into a SmartScreen block. Use this guide to get around it and download the files you want.
Updated August 1, 2018: I've refreshed this guide to ensure you're still getting current information about SmartScreen and how to get around it.