How to Enable or Disable Device Security in the Windows Security app on Windows 11

This guide explains how to hide or show the Windows Security app Device security section in Windows 11. Windows Security is a built-in app that acts as a dashboard for your computer’s health. It shows the status of your virus and threat protection, firewall and network security, Account protection, and App and Browser Control.

The Device Security section helps protect your computer from malicious software. It includes settings for Core isolation, Secure boot, and Data encryption.

Why hide these settings?

You might want to hide these options if you have set them up for a specific environment and do not want other users to change them.

What happens when done?

Once you apply these changes, the Device security menu will either disappear from the Windows Security app or reappear, depending on the setting you choose.

Hide or Show Device Security via Group Policy

Note: This method requires admin privileges.

The App & browser control section manages Microsoft Defender SmartScreen to keep your files and apps safe.

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

2. Select “Edit group policy” to open the editor.

3. In the left panel, go to this path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Device security

4. In the right pane, double-click on “Hide the Device security area.”

5. Choose one of the following options:

• Not Configured: The default setting.
• Enabled: Hides the Device security area.
• Disabled: Shows the Device security area.

Hide or Show Device Security via Registry

Note: This method requires admin 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\Device security

If the folders do not exist, right-click the “Windows” key to create them.

1. In the right pane, right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

2. Name this new value UILockdown.

3. Double-click the UILockdown file. Set the Value data to 0 to show the section or 1 to hide the section in Windows Security app.

4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary

You can manage the visibility of the Device Security section in Windows 11 by using the Group Policy editor or by modifying a specific key in the Windows Registry. Both methods effectively lock or unlock the security dashboard settings for your device.

Reference: Microsoft.com