This post shows students and new users steps to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Potentially Unwanted Apps in Windows 11. Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are a category of software that can cause your machine to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or, at worst, install other unwanted spy tools.
When Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is turned on, it can help block PUA apps and files and any attempts to download, run, or install them. In addition, if you try to download a suspicious app, SmartScreen will show you a warning screen, identify the suspected threat, and give you a chance to stop before anything wrong can happen.
These protections are built into Windows and work with Microsoft Defender Endpoint on your device and in the cloud. In addition, Microsoft Security includes additional pIn protection such as Controlled folder access, Real-time protection, Tamper protection, ransomware protection, and Phishing protection.
Below is how to turn off or on Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Potentially Unwanted Apps blocking in Windows 11
How to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Potentially Unwanted apps in Windows 11
As mentioned above, Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are a category of software that can cause your machine to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or, at worst, install other unwanted spy tools.
Turn on or off SmartScreen for Potentially Unwanted Apps:
In the search box on the taskbar, type Windows Security and select Windows Security in the results list.
Select the App & Browser control tile in Windows Security, as highlighted in the image below.
On the App & browser control settings page, under Reputation-based protection, click the Reputation-based protection settings link as highlighted below.
On the Reputation-based protection settings page, under Potentially unwanted app blocking, toggle the button to On or Off to enable or disable PUA with Microsoft Defender.
Also, turn on both the Block apps and Block downloads settings.
You can close the Windows Settings app when done.
Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for PUA in Edge
When you are done with turning on Defender SmartScreen PUA in Windows Security App, go to your Edge browser and also turn on Defender SmartScreen PUA in Edge.
Below is a post that shows you how to do that.
How to turn On or Off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for PUA in Edge
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to enable or disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for potentially unwanted apps in Windows 11. Please use the comment form below if you find any errors above or have something to add.
