How to Disable SmartScreen in Windows 11

SmartScreen is a built-in security feature in Windows 11 that helps protect your computer from malicious software and dangerous websites. However, in certain cases, it can block legitimate programs or interfere with specific tasks. If you need to temporarily or permanently disable SmartScreen, follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Open Windows Security Settings

To disable SmartScreen, we’ll start by opening the security settings. Follow these steps:

  • Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
  • Navigate to Privacy & Security.
  • Select Windows Security and then click Open Windows Security.

Step 2: Disabling SmartScreen Features

Now let’s adjust the SmartScreen filter settings:

  • In the Windows Security window, choose App & Browser Control.
  • Here, you’ll see three SmartScreen options:
    • SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge — Protects against malicious websites and downloads in the Edge browser.
    • SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps — Monitors apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
    • Check apps and files — Scans files and applications downloaded from the Internet.

Step 3: Adjust Each Setting

To completely disable SmartScreen, turn off each of the three settings:

  1. For each setting, select Off to disable SmartScreen in the respective area.
  2. Once you’ve made these changes, close the Windows Security window.

Step 4: Confirm the Disablement

In some cases, you may need to confirm these changes. If prompted, simply follow the on-screen instructions to finalize disabling SmartScreen.