microsoft defender smartscreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting

This page also lets you disable SmartScreen in Microsoft Edge. Type 'Windows Defender' into the search box and launch the Windows Defender Security Centre.Ĭlick 'App and browser control' and under 'Check apps and files' change the setting from 'Warn' to 'Off'. If you find that SmartScreen regularly blocks programs you want to install, you can disable the feature altogether. You will now to be able to run your program. Tick the Unblock box, then Apply and OK that window. At the bottom you'll see a section relating to Security. Right-click the EXE file and select Properties. You can also grant a program permission to open before you run it.

Click this, and Windows will install or run the software without any further warnings. Click the 'More info' link under the error message, and a 'Run anyway' button will appear. If, however, you're completely sure the program in question is safe, you can force Windows to run it.

It then provides a 'Don't run' button for you to click, with seemingly no way around this block. Running this app might put your PC at risk.' The error message in Windows 10 informs you that 'Windows Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting.

Windows Defender SmartScreen springs into life when you try to install an unknown piece of software from an unrecognised source, and sometimes challenges programs from smaller, lesser-known developers. If uploading a suspicious file sounds like too much hassle, the free program Winja (opens in new tab) provides an easy-to-use front end for VirusTotal that lets you use it like any standard antivirus scanner.

Microsoft defender smartscreen prevented an unrecognised app from starting