This post shows students and new users steps to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Check apps and files in Windows 11. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen protects against phishing or malware websites and applications, and the downloading of potentially malicious files.
By default Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is turned on and which helps protect your device by checking for unrecognized apps and files from the web. If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen determines that a page or app is suspicious, it will show a warning page to advise caution.
A typical warning message should read “Windows protected your PC“
These protections are built into Windows and it works with Microsoft Defender Endpoint on your device and in the cloud. Protection such as Controlled folder access, Real-time protection, Tamper protection and Ransomware protection, Phishing protection are included with Microsoft Security.
Below is how to turn off or on Microsoft Defender SmartScreen check apps and files in Windows 11
How to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Apps and Files check in Windows 11
As mentioned above, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen protects against phishing or malware websites and applications, and the downloading of potentially malicious files.
Turn on SmartScreen Check apps and files:
In the search box on the taskbar, type Windows Security and then select Windows Security in the list of results.
In Windows Security, select App & browser control tile as highlighted in the image below.
On the App & browser control settings page, under Reputation-based protection, click on Reputation-based protection settings link as highlighted below.
On the Reputation-based protection settings page, under Check apps and files, toggle the button to On of Off to enable or disable apps and files checking with Microsoft Defender.
There are two modes one can choose from:
- On = Warns users that the apps and files being downloaded from the web are potentially dangerous but allows the action to continue.
- Off = Turns off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, so a user isn’t alerted or stopped from downloading potentially malicious apps and files.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen apps and files checking in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
