How to Deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a security feature that is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is designed to protect users from malicious websites, downloads, and applications. SmartScreen works by scanning files and websites for suspicious activity. If SmartScreen detects something suspicious, it will warn the user and block access to the file or website.

In most cases, SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that helps to protect users from online threats. However, there may be times when you want to deactivate SmartScreen. For example, you may want to deactivate SmartScreen if you are having trouble downloading a file or accessing a website that you know is safe.

To deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, follow these steps:

How to Deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

Follow these steps to disable SmartScreen:

• Open Windows Security.
• Select App & browser control.
• Choose Reputation-based protection settings.
• Toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge.
• Toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps.
• Toggle off SmartScreen for other apps.
• Select Yes to confirm.

SmartScreen will now be deactivated.

Open Windows Security.

To deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, you must first open Windows Security.

• Click the Start button.
  

  The Start button is located in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

• Type "Windows Security" and press Enter.
  

  The Windows Security window will open.

• Click on "App & browser control."
  

  This section contains settings for controlling how apps and browsers interact with your system.

• Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
  

  This section contains settings for SmartScreen.

You are now ready to deactivate SmartScreen.

Select App & browser control.

The "App & browser control" section of Windows Security contains settings for controlling how apps and browsers interact with your system. This includes settings for SmartScreen.

• SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge.
  

  This setting controls SmartScreen protection for Microsoft Edge. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious websites, downloads, and applications when using Microsoft Edge.

• SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps.
  

  This setting controls SmartScreen protection for apps that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

• SmartScreen for other apps.
  

  This setting controls SmartScreen protection for all other apps that are installed on your system. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the internet or from other sources.

• Exploit protection.
  

  This setting controls Exploit Protection, which is a set of features that can help to protect your system from exploits. If you disable this setting, Exploit Protection will be turned off.

To deactivate SmartScreen, you must toggle off all three of the SmartScreen settings.

Choose Reputation-based protection settings.

The "Reputation-based protection settings" section of Windows Security contains settings for SmartScreen. SmartScreen is a security feature that is designed to protect users from malicious websites, downloads, and applications. SmartScreen works by scanning files and websites for suspicious activity. If SmartScreen detects something suspicious, it will warn the user and block access to the file or website.

There are three SmartScreen settings in the "Reputation-based protection settings" section:

• SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge. This setting controls SmartScreen protection for Microsoft Edge. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious websites, downloads, and applications when using Microsoft Edge.
• SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps. This setting controls SmartScreen protection for apps that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
• SmartScreen for other apps. This setting controls SmartScreen protection for all other apps that are installed on your system. If you disable this setting, SmartScreen will not be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the internet or from other sources.

To deactivate SmartScreen, you must toggle off all three of the SmartScreen settings.

Once you have toggled off all three of the SmartScreen settings, SmartScreen will be deactivated. You will no longer be protected from malicious websites, downloads, and applications.

Note: Deactivating SmartScreen is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats.

Toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge.

To toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Once you have toggled off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, SmartScreen will no longer be able to protect you from malicious websites, downloads, and applications when using Microsoft Edge.

Note: Deactivating SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats.

Here are some of the potential risks of deactivating SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge:

• You may be more likely to visit malicious websites.
• You may be more likely to download malicious files.
• You may be more likely to install malicious applications.

If you are sure that you want to deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, follow the steps above to do so.

Additional information:

• SmartScreen is a cloud-based service. This means that it is always up-to-date with the latest information about malicious websites, downloads, and applications.
• SmartScreen is integrated with Microsoft Edge. This means that it can scan websites and downloads in real time.
• SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats. It is recommended that you keep SmartScreen turned on.

Toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps.

To toggle off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Once you have toggled off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps, SmartScreen will no longer be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

Note: Deactivating SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats.

Here are some of the potential risks of deactivating SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps:

• You may be more likely to download malicious apps from the Microsoft Store.
• Malicious apps may be able to access your personal information or control your computer.
• Malicious apps may be able to install other malware on your computer.

If you are sure that you want to deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps, follow the steps above to do so.

Additional information:

• SmartScreen is a cloud-based service. This means that it is always up-to-date with the latest information about malicious apps.
• SmartScreen is integrated with the Microsoft Store. This means that it can scan apps before they are downloaded and installed.
• SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats. It is recommended that you keep SmartScreen turned on.

Toggle off SmartScreen for other apps.

To toggle off SmartScreen for other apps, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for other apps."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Once you have toggled off SmartScreen for other apps, SmartScreen will no longer be able to protect you from malicious apps that are downloaded from the internet or from other sources.

Note: Deactivating SmartScreen for other apps is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats.

Here are some of the potential risks of deactivating SmartScreen for other apps:

• You may be more likely to download malicious apps from the internet.
• Malicious apps may be able to access your personal information or control your computer.
• Malicious apps may be able to install other malware on your computer.

If you are sure that you want to deactivate SmartScreen for other apps, follow the steps above to do so.

Additional information:

• SmartScreen is a cloud-based service. This means that it is always up-to-date with the latest information about malicious apps.
• SmartScreen scans all apps that are downloaded from the internet or from other sources.
• SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats. It is recommended that you keep SmartScreen turned on.

Select Yes to confirm.

After you have toggled off all three of the SmartScreen settings, you will be prompted to select "Yes" to confirm.

Clicking "Yes" will deactivate SmartScreen. You will no longer be protected from malicious websites, downloads, and applications.

Note: Deactivating SmartScreen is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats.

If you are sure that you want to deactivate SmartScreen, click on "Yes" to confirm.

Additional information:

• Once you have deactivated SmartScreen, you can reactivate it at any time by following the same steps and toggling the SmartScreen settings back on.
• It is important to keep SmartScreen turned on to protect yourself from online threats.
• If you have any questions about SmartScreen, you can visit the Microsoft Support website for more information.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen:

Question 1: Why would I want to deactivate SmartScreen?
Answer 1: There are a few reasons why you might want to deactivate SmartScreen. For example, you might want to deactivate SmartScreen if you are having trouble downloading a file or accessing a website that you know is safe. Additionally, some users find that SmartScreen can be too aggressive and blocks legitimate websites and downloads.

Question 2: Is it safe to deactivate SmartScreen?
Answer 2: Deactivating SmartScreen is not recommended. SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect you from online threats. However, if you are sure that you want to deactivate SmartScreen, you can follow the steps outlined in this article.

Question 3: How do I deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge?
Answer 3: To deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Question 4: How do I deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps?
Answer 4: To deactivate SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Question 5: How do I deactivate SmartScreen for other apps?
Answer 5: To deactivate SmartScreen for other apps, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Toggle off "SmartScreen for other apps."
5. Click on "Yes" to confirm.

Question 6: What are some of the risks of deactivating SmartScreen?
Answer 6: There are several risks associated with deactivating SmartScreen. These risks include:

• You may be more likely to visit malicious websites.
• You may be more likely to download malicious files.
• You may be more likely to install malicious applications.

Closing Paragraph for FAQ:

If you have any other questions about how to deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, please consult the Microsoft Support website.

In addition to the information provided in this FAQ, here are some additional tips for deactivating Microsoft Defender SmartScreen:

Tips

Here are some tips for deactivating Microsoft Defender SmartScreen:

Tip 1: Consider the risks.

Before you deactivate SmartScreen, it is important to consider the risks. Deactivating SmartScreen can make you more vulnerable to online threats, such as malware, phishing attacks, and malicious websites. If you are not comfortable with the risks, it is best to leave SmartScreen turned on.

Tip 2: Only deactivate SmartScreen for specific apps or websites.

If you only need to deactivate SmartScreen for a specific app or website, you can do so without turning off SmartScreen completely. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on "App & browser control."
3. Click on "Reputation-based protection settings."
4. Under "Exploit protection," click on "Settings."
5. In the "Exploit protection" settings, find the app or website that you want to add to the exclusion list.
6. Click on the "Add" button to add the app or website to the exclusion list.

Tip 3: Use a third-party antivirus program.

If you are concerned about the risks of deactivating SmartScreen, you can use a third-party antivirus program to help protect your computer. There are many different antivirus programs available, so you can choose one that best suits your needs.

Tip 4: Keep your software up to date.

Keeping your software up to date is one of the best ways to protect your computer from online threats. Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware. Make sure to install software updates as soon as they are available.

Closing Paragraph for Tips:

By following these tips, you can safely deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen if necessary.

In addition to the information provided in this article, here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

Conclusion

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a valuable security feature that can help to protect users from online threats. However, there may be times when you need to deactivate SmartScreen, such as when you are having trouble downloading a file or accessing a website that you know is safe.

To deactivate SmartScreen, you can follow the steps outlined in this article. However, it is important to consider the risks of deactivating SmartScreen before you do so.

If you are concerned about the risks of deactivating SmartScreen, you can use a third-party antivirus program to help protect your computer. You should also keep your software up to date, as software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware.

Closing Message:

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to deactivate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a personal one. If you are comfortable with the risks, you can deactivate SmartScreen by following the steps in this article. However, if you are concerned about the risks, it is best to leave SmartScreen turned on.

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