Privacy and Security Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 11

Brink · Apr 8, 2022

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps for your account 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 protects your device by checking web content that Microsoft Store apps use.

You can turn on or off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps in Windows 11.

On = Warns users that the sites and downloads used by Microsoft Store apps are potentially dangerous but allows the action to continue.

Off = Turns off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, so a user isn't alerted or stopped from visiting sites or from downloading potentially malicious apps and files.

References:

Windows security documentation - Windows Security

Windows is designed with zero-trust principles at its core, offering powerful security from chip to cloud. As organizations embrace hybrid work environments, the need for robust security solutions becomes paramount. Windows integrates advanced hardware and software protection, ensuring data...

docs.microsoft.com

Reputation-based protection - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Contents

Option One: Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps in Windows Security
Option Two: Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps using REG file

Option One

Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps in Windows Security

1 Open Windows Security.

2 Click/tap on App & browser control. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_Defender_SmartScreen_for_Microsoft_Store_apps-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Reputation-based protection settings link. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_Defender_SmartScreen_for_Microsoft_Store_apps-2.png

4 Turn On (default) or Off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Microsoft_Defender_SmartScreen_for_Microsoft_Store_apps-3.png

5 You can now close Windows Security if you like.

Option Two

Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps using REG file

1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.

2 Turn On Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps

This is the default setting

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_ON_Microsoft_Defender_SmartScreen_for_Microsoft_Store_apps.reg

Download

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppHost]
"EnableWebContentEvaluation"=dword:00000001
"PreventOverride"=dword:00000000

3 Turn Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_OFF_Microsoft_Defender_SmartScreen_for_Microsoft_Store_apps.reg

Download

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppHost]
"EnableWebContentEvaluation"=dword:00000000
"PreventOverride"=dword:00000000

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink