How to Enable or Disable Account Protection in the Windows Security apps on Windows 11

This guide explains how to hide or show the Windows Security app Account Protection section in Windows 11. The Windows Security app is a built-in tool that shows your device’s health and security status. It covers sections like virus and threat protection, firewall and network security, and account settings like Windows Hello and Dynamic lock.

Why do this? Sometimes you may want to hide these settings to prevent other people from changing your security preferences. What happens when done? The Account Protection section will either disappear from the app or reappear, depending on your choice.

Hide or Show Account Protection via Group Policy

Note: This method requires administrator privileges.

1. Open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking the Start menu and searching for “Edit group policy.”

2. In the menu on the left, go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Account protection

3. On the right side, double-click the setting named “Hide the Account protection area.”

4. Choose your setting:

• Not Configured: This is the default setting.
• Enabled: This hides the Account protection area.
• Disabled: This shows the Account protection area.

Hide or Show Account Protection via Registry

Note: This method requires administrator privileges.

If you cannot use the Group Policy Editor, you can use the Windows Registry instead. Open the Windows Registry and go to this path:

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

If those folders do not exist, right-click on the “Windows” folder and create the new folders manually.

1. Right-click in the empty space on the right, select New, then DWORD (32-bit) Value.

2. Name this new file UILockdown.

3. Double-click UILockdown and change the Value data:

• Enter 0 to show the section in Windows Security app.
• Enter 1 to hide the section.

4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary

You can control the visibility of the Account Protection section in Windows 11 using either the Local Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry. This allows you to secure your settings or restore them if they have been hidden. Always restart your computer after making changes to the Registry to ensure they take effect. For more information, see Microsoft.com.