How to Hide or Display Windows Security app Account Protection Section in Windows 11

computer 1459654 640
computer 1459654 640

This article describes steps to hide or show the Windows Security app Account Protection section in Windows 11.

The Windows Security app is a built-in application that comes with Windows 11. It provides a centralized dashboard to see what’s happening with your device’s security and health and take any necessary actions.

The app has many sections that allow you to quickly see the status of your virus and threat protection, firewall and network security, device security controls, and more.

The Account protection section provides settings to control security for your account and sign-in, including Windows Hello and Dynamic lock.

If you have configured your device’s security settings to suit your environment and don’t want others to change or mess with these settings, you can hide these sections from users.

On the other hand, if these sections are hidden, and you want to show them again, you can use the guide below.

How to hide or show the Account protection section with Windows Security app in Windows 11

As described above, the Account protection section provides settings to control security for your account and sign-in, including Windows Hello and Dynamic lock.

First, open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking on the Start Menu and searching for Edit group policy, as highlighted below.

Under Best match, select Edit group policy to launch Local Group Policy Editor.

windows 11 edit group policy
windows 11 edit group policy

In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, expand the tree: 

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Account protection

In the Account protection details pane on the right, locate and double-click the setting that says “Hide the Account protection area.”

windows 11 group policy hide the account protection area settings
windows 11 group policy hide the account protection area settings

On the Hide, the Account protection area window set the option to Not ConfigureEnabled, or Disabled.

  • Not Configured (default)
  • Enabled  – The Account protection area will be hidden.
  • Disabled – The Account protection area will be shown.
windows 11 group policy hide the account protection area settings options
windows 11 group policy hide the account protection area settings options

Display or hide the Account protection section in Windows Security via Windows Registry

If you can’t open the Local Group Policy Editor, you can use the Windows Registry instead.

Open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path as listed below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Account protection

If you don’t see the Windows Defender Security Center -> Account protection folder key, right-click on the Windows key, then create both key folders.

windows 11 windows registry account protection
windows 11 windows registry account protection

On the right pane of the Account protection folder key, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Next, type a new key named UILockdown.

Double-click the new key and enter the Value data as 0 to show the Account protection section in Windows Security app.

A Value data of 1 will hide the Account protection section in the Windows Security app.

windows 11 registry account protection uilockdown options
Windows 11 registry account protection uilockdown options

Restart your computer, and the Account protection section will be hidden or will be displayed.

windows 11 windows security app without sections
windows 11 windows security app without sections

That should do it!

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-sign-in-options-and-account-protection-7b34d4cf-794f-f6bd-ddcc-e73cdf1a6fbf#WindowsVersion=Windows_11

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to show or hide the Account protection section in Windows Security app in Windows 11. Please use the comment form below if you find any errors above or have something to add.

Posted by
Richard W

I love computers; maybe way too much. What I learned I try to share at geekrewind.com.

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