How to Enable or Disable SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps on Windows 11
- 4 steps
- Needs administrator rights
- Group Policy needs Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise or Education
- Includes a restart or sign-out
SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps in Windows 11 checks the web content that Store apps load against a live list of reported unsafe sites and downloads. It runs in the background and warns you, or blocks the content, when something looks dangerous. Its job is to protect your PC from malware and unsafe downloads.
Windows 11 turns this filter on by default. You might turn it off if it keeps blocking something you know is safe, and you can switch it back on at any time. This guide covers the Windows Security app first, then the Group Policy and registry options for administrators.
To turn Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps on or off, open Windows Security, select App & browser control, then click Reputation-based protection settings. Under SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps, set the switch to On or Off. The change takes effect immediately, with no restart needed.
How SmartScreen Works
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen checks apps, files and websites against Microsoft’s reputation data before you use them. If an item has a bad reputation, or is new and unknown, you get a warning instead of the item opening straight away. This helps keep you from running harmful software or landing on a malicious site.
The Store apps setting is one of several SmartScreen switches in Windows 11. Changing it does not touch the others, such as the one for Microsoft Edge or the one for downloaded apps and files.
Microsoft’s release notes “What’s new in Windows 11: Everyday experiences, reimagined” (October 15, 2026) describe an update to the Microsoft Photos app. It adds a new Gallery that combines images from your PC and connected libraries, a new Editor with tools such as crop, color, object removal and Relight, and a redesigned Viewer. Microsoft says the app launches up to 20% faster.
Microsoft is rolling this update out gradually, so some PCs will get it later than others. The release notes do not mention any change to SmartScreen, so the steps in this guide stay the same.
Managing SmartScreen for Microsoft Store Apps
For a single PC, the Windows Security app is the quickest route. You open the reputation-based protection settings and find the toggle for Microsoft Store apps. The steps are the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro.
- Click the search box on your taskbar, type Windows Security, and click Windows Security in the results. The Windows Security window opens, with a list of protection areas on the left and tiles on the right.
- Click the App & browser control tile, or choose it from the left menu. The settings for app and browser protection appear.
- Under Reputation-based protection, click the Reputation-based protection settings link. A page opens with several SmartScreen switches, such as Check apps and files, SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge and Potentially unwanted app blocking.
- Scroll to the section labeled SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps. Set the switch to On or Off, depending on what you want. If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes. The switch now shows the state you chose.
The change applies straight away, so you do not need to restart. If you turn the switch off, Windows may show a notification saying the device is vulnerable. That is normal, and it goes away when you turn the switch back on. To undo the change, return to the same page and flip the switch back.
If the switch is greyed out, or the page says some settings are managed by your organization, a policy is controlling it. This is common on work or school PCs. In that case your administrator has to change the setting, or it has to be changed through the policy itself.
Enterprise Management via Group Policy
Network administrators can use the Group Policy Editor to enforce Microsoft Defender SmartScreen settings across many machines at once. The Group Policy Editor is only included in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education. On Home, use the registry method below.
A setting enforced by policy also locks the toggle in the Windows Security app. That is the greyed-out switch described earlier.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
To undo the change, set the value back to 1. If the Windows Security toggle does not reflect your change right away, sign out and back in, or restart the PC.
Troubleshooting and False Positives
Sometimes Microsoft Defender SmartScreen flags a safe app as dangerous. This is called a false positive. Before you turn SmartScreen off, check that the app really comes from a source you trust.
Summary
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a security feature that protects Windows computers by checking apps and websites for safety. For most people, the best choice is to leave the Store apps setting on. If you turn it off for a specific reason, turn it back on when you are done.
Frequently asked questions
How to pin apps to 🪟 Windows 11 taskbar efficiently?
Open Start and type the app's name. Right-click the app in the results and select Pin to taskbar. To pin a running app quickly, right-click its icon on the taskbar and choose Pin to taskbar. To remove it later, right-click the icon and select Unpin from taskbar.
How to enable mobile hotspot in 🪟 Windows 11?
Open Settings, select Network & internet, then select Mobile hotspot. Turn on the Share my Internet connection with other devices switch. Select Edit to set a network name and password, then connect your other device using those details. Your PC needs an active internet connection to share.
How to disable automatic updates in 🪟 Windows 11?
Turning updates off leaves your PC open to security risks, so pause them instead. Open Settings, select Windows Update, then choose Pause updates and pick a date. You can pause for up to five weeks in total, after which you must resume updates before pausing again.
How to turn off Microsoft defender smartscreen?
Turning this off lowers your protection against unsafe downloads and sites, so only do it for an item you trust. Open Windows Security, select App & browser control, then select Reputation-based protection settings. Turn off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps and confirm the prompt.
How to disable Microsoft defender smartscreen?
Lowering this filter exposes you to unsafe downloads and sites, so switch it off only when you are sure an item is safe. Open Windows Security and go to App & browser control. Select Reputation-based protection settings, then turn off SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps. Windows will ask for confirmation.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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