Turn Off Microsoft Verified Apps on Windows

Microsoft’s Smart App Control (or the related “Microsoft verified apps” setting in some Windows versions) is designed to block untrusted or potentially malicious apps from running. However, it can also block legitimate software you need, especially if you frequently install portable tools or niche applications. This guide shows you how to turn off Microsoft verified apps enforcement on Windows 11 and Windows 10, restoring the ability to run any app you choose.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access to the Windows PC (you’ll need to confirm a UAC prompt).
Internet connection (only if you need to re-enable later—disabling is offline).
Knowing whether you’re on Windows 11 or Windows 10, as the steps differ slightly.

Step-by-Step

Open Windows Security. Click the Start button, type “Windows Security,” and press Enter. Alternatively, open it from the system tray (shield icon).
Go to App & browser control. In the left sidebar, click the shield with a checkmark labeled “App & browser control.”
Find the Smart App Control section. Scroll down until you see “Smart App Control” (on Windows 11) or “Microsoft verified apps” (on Windows 10, under “Reputation-based protection”).
Click “Smart App Control settings” or the toggle. On Windows 11, click the text link under the status. On Windows 10, click the “Microsoft verified apps” toggle to turn it off.
Choose “Off”. A dialog will appear warning that turning it off may make your device more vulnerable. Select “Off” and confirm any UAC prompt.
Restart your PC (recommended). Some changes take effect immediately, but a restart ensures all components stop enforcing the policy.

After restarting, you can install and run any app without Microsoft’s verification block. Note that on Windows 11, Smart App Control is a one-way switch: once you turn it off, you cannot turn it back on without reinstalling Windows. On Windows 10, you can toggle it back on anytime.

Common Mistakes

Turning off the wrong setting. On Windows 10, there’s also “Check apps and files” under Reputation-based protection. That’s a separate setting—turning it off only disables the SmartScreen check for downloaded files, not the verified apps enforcement. Make sure you’re toggling “Microsoft verified apps” specifically.
Expecting to re-enable on Windows 11. As mentioned, Smart App Control cannot be turned back on after being turned off. If you think you might want it later, consider leaving it on and instead adding exceptions for specific apps (though Windows 11 doesn’t offer a per-app exception list—you’d need to use the “Allow” option when prompted).
Not restarting. Some users report that the block persists until a reboot. Always restart to ensure the policy is fully removed.

Tips

Use the Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro/Enterprise). If you prefer a more granular approach, you can disable Smart App Control via Group Policy: run gpedit.msc, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Smart Screen > Explorer, and set “Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen” to Disabled. This achieves the same effect but may be more manageable in enterprise environments.
Keep other protections on. Even with Microsoft verified apps off, keep Windows Defender antivirus and the “Check apps and files” SmartScreen setting enabled. They provide valuable protection without blocking legitimate software.
Use the “Run anyway” option. If you only need to run a specific blocked app occasionally, you can right-click the file, select Properties, and check “Unblock” under the General tab. This bypasses the SmartScreen warning without disabling the entire feature.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t work or you encounter issues:

Check if Smart App Control is actually on. In Windows Security, the status will show “On” or “Off”. If it shows “Evaluation”, it’s still learning your usage—you can turn it off during evaluation, but after evaluation ends, the one-way switch applies.
If the toggle is grayed out. This usually means your PC is managed by an organization (e.g., work or school). Contact your IT admin—you won’t be able to change it yourself.
If you still get “Microsoft verified app” errors after turning off. Clear the Windows Defender cache: open Command Prompt as administrator and run del %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service\DetectionHistory\* (be careful—this deletes detection history). Then restart.
If you’re on Windows 10 and the toggle doesn’t stick. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter, as a pending update may be resetting the setting. Also, check that you have the latest Windows 10 updates installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn Smart App Control back on after turning it off?

On Windows 11, no. Once you turn it off, you cannot re-enable it without reinstalling Windows. On Windows 10, yes—you can toggle it back on anytime.

What is the difference between Smart App Control and SmartScreen?

SmartScreen is a reputation-based filter that warns you about unknown apps. Smart App Control is a stricter, always-on security feature that blocks apps that aren’t signed by Microsoft or trusted publishers. Disabling Smart App Control doesn’t disable SmartScreen.

Will turning off Microsoft verified apps make my PC less secure?

Yes, it removes a layer of protection against malicious or untrusted software. However, you still have Windows Defender antivirus and other security features. Only disable if you understand the risk and need to run specific apps.

Does this affect Microsoft Store apps?

No. Microsoft Store apps are always allowed. This setting only affects apps downloaded from the internet or installed from external sources.

Why is my app blocked even though I turned it off?

If you turned off the setting but still see blocks, ensure you restarted. Also, check if the app is being blocked by SmartScreen (“Check apps and files”) rather than Smart App Control. You may need to disable that separately or unblock the file.

Can I disable this via registry?

Yes, for advanced users. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CI\Policy and set VerifiedAndReputablePolicyState to 0 (off). Reboot. This is the same as the toggle and also irreversible on Windows 11.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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