Windows SmartScreen Filter - What is it? What is "SmartScreen" and how to disable it? Smartscreen useful program or not.

I am sure that 90% of ordinary computer users have no idea what Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter what it is for, how it works and how to turn it off.

You don’t have to go far - just a couple of days ago I wrote about the purpose and principle of operation of the smart screen filter in the comments to the next new review of a free interesting computer program.

That is why I decided to enlighten my site readers in this regard, so that you do not panic and stop being nervous in vain when a “terrible” warning appears before installing any software on your computer - “Windows Defender SmartScreen filter prevented the launch of an unidentified application that could put your computer at risk. "...

What is Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter

I must say right away that the SmartScreen filter is not an antivirus and it does not detect malware at all! Many readers are now struck by such a statement, but it is a harsh fact.

This is just a preventive computer protection tool based on online verification of program installers, downloaded files and sites we visit on the Internet with such a Microsoft database collected on the basis of user reviews, and not on the work of anti-virus algorithms and their detection of viruses by signatures.

Of course, I didn’t come up with it myself or some Vasya Pupkin - the support of the corporation writes about it, for example, here ...

... "checks ... files against a list of ... files, downloaded by many users internet explorer » - and if no one has downloaded my file through this misunderstanding, the Internet Explorer browser? No comment…

Windows Defender SmartScreen - Do I need it?

Let's simulate the situation - you downloaded some installation file of an interesting program from the official site, after reading a lot of positive reviews about this software before, and trying to install it into the operating system, and Smart Screen shows you a warning that he knows nothing about this installer.

You, like most users in a similar situation, simply click on "More" ...

The program does absolutely no harm to your computer, even after a long time - do you report this to Microsoft? Of course not! You need it, don't you? So how does the filter know about the harmlessness of the file?

We add to the dubious definition of threats a slowdown in the launch of program installers or the opening of a downloaded file, extra outgoing and incoming traffic, the load (albeit minimal) on the processor and RAM, and we independently conclude that this SmartScreen filter needs to work in your computer.

Naturally, you want to hear my personal opinion on whether SmartScreen is needed, based on many years of experience of actively surfing the Internet and daily installation, often dubious, of various computer programs for testing before their reviews.

So, when a warning from Smart Screen appeared, I ALWAYS pressed the “Run anyway” button and one day a natural question arose - why do I need it at all? Of course, I turned it off and ... as expected - nothing terrible happened, absolutely. My computer is not teeming with viruses, oddly enough, and also it, even though it is a hundred years old at lunchtime.

In addition to all of the above - each is correct and in any case scans (verifies) everything you downloaded, installed and visited. Everyone joins this process with their protective scanners and screens. Let's not forget about.

Let's summarize SmartScreen in a nutshell:

does not detect viruses
creates extra Internet traffic and load on the processor with RAM
slows down the first launch of programs, opening files and displaying sites in the browser
duplicates one of the functions of almost any antivirus and firewall
really irritates users with meaningless warnings
does not perform its function without the Internet

In no way am I forcing or persuading you to stop using Windows Defender SmartScreen - everyone has their own head on their shoulders.

How to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10

If you enter the name of the hero of this article into the search box of your favorite Internet browser, you will immediately see the opinion of users about him in the "sheet" of the issue - almost all answers will be devoted to the question "how to disable SmartScreen".

Previously, before the release of the latest update package at the moment, in order to disable the SmartScreen filter, you had to “wander” to different places in the operating system - the built-in browser, control panel, Windows store, and even sometimes look into the system registry.

Now, thank God, all the SmartScreen filter "disablers" are in one place. If you use the built-in Windows Defender to protect your computer, as I do at the moment, then simply click on its tray icon, and in the window that appears, go to the "Application / Browser Control" category, where we disable the SmartScreen filter in three sections ...

You can also access these items from the start menu or through Settings / Update and Security ...

This way you can disable SmartScreen in Windows 10, but get very little inconvenience as a result - a permanent exclamation mark in a yellow triangle on the icon of the built-in antivirus ...

... and you can "overlook" other secondary warnings of the defender.

After the article was published, one of the readers of the site (Arseniy) suggested how to get rid of this problem - you just need to click on "Close" after disabling the filter...

Disable SmartScreen in Windows 7

In old Windows 7, the SmartScreen filter is disabled a little differently. I do not have this version of the system, due to its antiquity, in my three home computers and therefore I will use the help of an unknown user from the Internet ...

USEFUL VIDEO

In addition, the SmartScreen filter in Windows 7 must also be disabled in the built-in system browser, if you use it, along the path "Security" or "Service" - "SmartScreen Filter" - "Disable SmartScreen Filter" ...

Windows 10 includes SmartScreen, a feature that helps protect your PC from downloaded malware and malicious websites. The SmartScreen process - called "smartscreen.exe" - that you see in Task Manager is responsible for this feature.

The amount of CPU and memory used should be fairly low and the whole process should be very fast, although larger files will take longer to process than smaller files. This check is only performed the first time you open a downloaded program or file, so it doesn't waste resources every time you open an application.

Is it possible to turn off SmartScreen

You cannot disable the SmartScreen process completely. Even if you disable the SmartScreen feature in Windows, the SmartScreen process will still start when you log on to your computer. However, it does not use any CPU resources and only a few megabytes of memory. You can force quit this process from Task Manager, but Windows will start it again automatically when needed.

To prevent the SmartScreen processor from using CPU and memory resources in the background, disable the SmartScreen feature.

We do not recommend doing this! SmartScreen is a useful security tool that helps protect your computer from malware. Even if you have other security software installed, SmartScreen can protect you from something that your main security program might miss. Either way, it uses a small amount of system resources.

SmartScreen is a virus

We have not seen any reports of malware imitating SmartScreen or smartscreen.exe. This process is part of Windows 10 and helps protect your PC from malware, although no security solution is perfect.

An ordinary Windows user may not be aware of the existence of the SmartScreen security option on his PC until he encounters a notification on a blue background that this option has blocked the download or launch of the file that the user needs. What is this protective function? How can I turn it off in Windows 10 so that it does not interfere with working on a PC?

SmartScreen filter: how it works and why to disable it

The SmartScreen component of the Windows system performs a protective function on the PC - it blocks the launch and download of suspicious software. Prior to Windows 8, Smart Screen was only part of the standard Internet Explorer browser. Now it is an important component of the entire system.

This filter works on the basis of a cloud database and a rating of utilities - each program available on the Internet has its own level of trust in accordance with this rating or remains unidentified. If the user wants to download or run a utility (if the file has already been downloaded) that has a low level of trust or if it does not exist at all, SmartScreen blocks the user's action - a blue window appears with a message that the OS has protected the PC.

If SmartScreen finds a file suspicious, it will block access to it

In this case, the user can still force the system to open or download the file using the "Run anyway" button. However, it happens that the protection works constantly. In this situation, you can disable SmartScreen completely - you can freely download and run the files you need.

At the same time, remember that the PC must have an updated antivirus that will neutralize the threat if the virus still penetrates the PC. If you are in doubt about the source from which you are downloading a file, do not force download it. It is also always recommended to download installers from the official resources of developer companies.

Disable via Security Center Systemwide, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store

In the Windows Defender interface, you can disable the filter for the entire operating system as a whole or separately for the Microsoft Edge browser or Microsoft Store:

The Protection Center can be launched through the Windows tray (in other words, the Notification Area), which is located at the bottom right of the Taskbar. Expand it completely - click on the up arrow. Click on the shield icon.
Find the white shield icon in the Windows tray and click on it.
If you did not find the shield in the tray, you can take another method: hold down I and Win to bring up the Windows Settings window. If the combination did not work, go to the Start menu and click on the gear above the key to turn off the PC.
Click on the "Settings" button in the "Start" menu
Click on the Update & Security panel.
In "Settings" open the section "Update and security"
In the second tab on the left "Windows Security" click on the big gray button to launch the center.
In the second tab, click on the button "Open Defender Security Center"
In the very center, we immediately go to the block for setting up application and browser management. In the "Scan applications and files" section, set the value to "Off".
Disable the "Verify applications and files" option
Scroll down the page a little. We also set the round marks to the left of the shutdown item for the Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Store options.
Set everywhere to "Off"

Making changes in the "Registry Editor" Windows 10

This method will allow you to disable the protective option, but only for the entire system, and not for its individual components. Editing the registry is a rather unsafe procedure, so let's take precautions before it:

We launch the editor: click on Win and R, inside the "Run" window, enter the regedit key. For the system to execute the command, click OK.
In the Run window, type regedit and click OK
In the gray-blue system window, we let the system know that we are allowing the built-in utility to change the parameters of the "OS".
Click Yes to allow the editor to make changes to the device
First, let's take all security measures: click on "File", and then on "Export".
Click on "Export" to save a backup copy of the registry
We choose a place to save the file - a backup copy of the registry. We can use it to restore the state of the registry in case of errors after making changes. We give the file a capacious and understandable name - we save and remember the location.
Save a copy of the registry in a convenient location
On the left narrower panel, open the third HKLM catalog.
Open the third HKLM folder
Now go to the subfolders: SOFTWARE - Policies - Microsoft - Windows - System.
Open the System directory
The contents of the System folder will be in the right part of the window - right-click on the empty white field. Move the arrow to the "Create" task. We create a DWORD entry, even if you have a 64-bit system.
Create a DWORD Value
Now we call our new entry EnableSmartScreen.
Name the entry EnableSmartScreen
Let's check what value it has - double-click on the entry. The gray box should be 0.
Put the value 0 in the corresponding field
We close the editor window and all programs in general - we restart the PC to save all changes. After that, SmartScreen will stop working.

Stop SmartScreen in "Local Group Policy Editor"

This method is only suitable for the “tens” options “Corporate” (Enterprise) or Professional (Professional):

Again, launch the "Run" window through R and Win. This time we enter the code gpedit.msc - click on OK.
In the "Open" field, write gpedit.msc
In any of the areas of the editor, open the block with computer configurations.
Open the "Computer Configuration" section
Now we go sequentially to the following sections: "Administrative Templates" - "Windows Components" - "Windows Defender SmartScreen".
Open the "Windows Defender SmartScreen" folder
In the folder dedicated to SmartScreen, double-click on Explorer to deactivate the component for the entire Windows system as a whole.
Launch the first Explorer folder
Open the first policy to configure the component.
Open the first option to configure the filter
Set the value to "Disabled" and apply the change through the key at the bottom of the gray window.
Set to "Disabled" and save changes
We do the same for the setting in the Microsoft Edge folder. SmartScreen must be disabled immediately. In some cases, you will need to restart your PC.

If you have a build lower than 1703, you can find the option to configure SmartSceen in a different directory in the "Local Group Policy Editor":

Disabling the SmartScreen filter in the Windows 10 Control Panel

This deactivation method is only relevant for versions of Windows 10 below 1703 Creators Update. If you have the option above, you simply cannot find some sections on the Control Panel, because they will not be there. To view the build version, hold down Win and R, and in the Run box, type winver. As a result, a gray window will appear with the OS version number.

Pay attention to the version number of the assembly "Windows" 10

If this disable option suits you, follow these steps:

If you find that on the "Control Panel" all the "Smart Screen" settings are unclickable and gray, use the "Registry Editor" or "Local Group Policy Editor".

Disable in the default Microsoft Edge browser

If you need to deactivate the protection option specifically for the classic Microsoft Edge browser, go to its settings:

We launch a standard browser from Microsoft - we use either a shortcut on the Desktop or the Start menu.
Click on Microsoft Edge in the Start Menu
There will be an ellipsis icon in the right pane of the browser. We click on it.
Click on the three dots on the right side of the window
In the menu, click on the last line "Options".
Select from the menu last paragraph"Options"
Scroll to the bottom of the list again and click on the button to display additional settings. Click on the "View Extras" button. options"
We go down again and find the parameter for configuring SmartScreen. Set the switch to the "Off" position. - it will immediately turn pale.
Enable or disable the filter using the last advanced option in the menu

Disable URL Validation for Windows 10 Store Apps

The filter separately checks the addresses accessed by Windows 10 applications, so errors can often occur in the operation of these programs. To bypass them, deactivate URL scanning:

Video: how to disable SmartScreen in the top ten in different ways

How to prevent the system from sending messages about the need to re-enable the SmartScreen filter

This solution is only relevant for Windows versions lower than 1703. If you have a higher version, you will not be able to disable messages, unfortunately. Follow this little guide:

We use a third-party program Dism ++

In addition to built-in Windows tools, third-party utilities can be used to disable the security feature. One of these is Dism++ from the Chuyu Team developer company. In it, you can change many settings of the "OS". Its interface has been translated into Russian and is conveniently arranged - even a beginner can figure it out. However, it is free. Where to download it and how to use it, we will tell you in a short and understandable instruction:

Run the executable file in the archive and accept the terms of the agreement

In the program window, immediately launch the PC optimization block.

Go to the "Optimization" section

Click on the third menu "Security Settings".

Click on the switch corresponding to the "Turn off SmartScreen" option

Find the third line "Turn off SmartScreen" - move the switch to the "On" position so that it turns not gray, but blue. Close the program - now "Smart Screen" will no longer bother you with blocking messages.

When the option is activated, close the program window

You can only deactivate SmartScreen and open unknown files downloaded from the network if you are sure that they are safe. Otherwise, you risk infecting your PC with a virus. Disabling is possible for the entire system as a whole - through the "Registry Editor", "Security Center", "Control Panel", "Local Group Policy Editor" or a special third-party utility Dism ++. Please note that you need to choose a method based on the version of the "dozens" and its assembly. If you want to turn off the filter for Microsoft Edge only, go to the settings in its interface.

In operating systems from Microsoft, starting with Windows 8, there is such a technology that, in theory, should protect us from malicious software, but in practice, malware passes - but this same SmartScreen can significantly add problems to us. In such cases, a natural question is brewing, but in fact, how to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10? In this note, we will look at four proven methods that will save you from this occasions.

If you look into this issue, it turns out that SmartScreen is a new technology from Microsoft that scans downloaded information from the Internet, and blocks it if there is the slightest doubt about its origin. On the one hand, the service is useful, but the number of false positives just rolls over and I don’t see much practical sense in it (especially if you use a high-quality commercial antivirus). What is the annoying message that the service is temporarily unavailable - if you do not have an Internet connection, Windows cannot check the program and constantly notifies you about it, which is inexpressible infuriates.

How to disable SmartScreen via Control Panel in Windows 10

The simplest, and probably familiar to everyone, option is to disable the SmartScreen filter using the Control Panel. To get there, in Windows 10 you need to click the "Start" button and select the item you are looking for there. (The easiest way is to start typing what interests you, in which case it will appear in the search results - be sure to try it, it's incredibly convenient)

In the Control Panel, select System and Security. Please note if you have appearance different from the picture below and you cannot find the item you need - check that the "Category" option is selected in the "View" line

... and we get to the cherished item "Changing Windows SmartScreen settings" (how far it was hidden, probably so that we would suffer and could not find it)

Here we have a small choice (before, by the way, there were as many as three options, but now it either works or not - there is no third)

The window tells us that the SmartScreen filter protects us and they say, choose from two options, which is more suitable for you.

To warn before executing an unidentified application is to bug us at the first opportunity.
Do nothing (disable Windows SmartScreen) - this will allow us to work normally and calmly run any applications without being paranoid (but if you download a program of unknown origin and you do not have an antivirus, then no offense)

Most likely, this method will be quite enough for you - as you can see, all problems are solved with a few mouse clicks.

Disable SmartScreen via Group Policy

I warn you right away that this method can be used only in professional edition of Windows 10 , for home languages and for one language, this option is not applicable. To disable the filter, we need to open the "Local Group Policy Editor", this is done by calling the "Run" window (by keyboard shortcut Windows + R) and then entering the gpedit.msc command

On the left side of the local group policy editor, find the item "Explorer" (it is located in "Computer Configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - "Windows Components"), but in the adjacent, right side of the window, find the item "Configure Windows SmartScreen"

At first glance, everything is simple here, but this is only a cursory examination - carefully read the help, which I see no reason to publish. If you select the item "Disabled" - by this we do not turn off SmartScreen , but we give the opportunity to do this through the control panel. You need to select the "Enabled" option and check the "Disable SmartScreen" option. Click "OK" and enjoy life.

Again, please note that this method only works on Windows 10 Professional, on the home version you will not be able to open the Local Group Policy Editor. Of course, this feature can be added, but without modifying the OS, this is impossible.

Disable SmartScreen for Windows 10 Store Apps

Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft added the App Store. So, you can disable SmartScreen specifically for applications from the Store, without disabling it completely. I don’t know who it might be useful to, but since there is such an opportunity, it should be considered.

Open the "Start" menu, go to "Settings" - "Privacy". On the left side, select the "General" option and move the slider to the "Off" position on the right side in the line that is responsible for the SmartScreen filter

There is another way which uses the editor Windows Registry, but I doubt its convenience and see no reason to talk about it in detail - let's not create unnecessary problems for ourselves.

Disable SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge browser

If you, despite numerous reviews, prefer to use the latest browser from Microsoft - EDGE, then the SmartScreen filter can be disabled specifically for it. To do this, in the program menu, go to "Options"

Scroll to the very bottom and look for “Show advanced options” there, scroll down again to the very bottom and find the item we need “Help protect your computer from malicious sites and downloads using the SmartScreen filter”. We move the slider to the "Off" position and on this our quest with the search for a place to turn off the filter can be considered passed.

Well, here we are with you and figured out how to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10. Whatever raw it was not, but if possible, if you are not an advanced user, do not disable it. It is worth ignoring it if you are sure of those programs and applications that the SmartScreen filter does not allow you to run. In my practice, the filter creates huge problems when installing programs that have not been updated for a long time and have long been forgotten by developers ... do not forget that even in the absence of an Internet connection (and in Russia this is not so rare) The SmartScreen filter constantly tries to check applications and writes an error connecting to the server, which can be very annoying.

Windows Smartscreen is an important Windows feature that helps protect your computer from suspicious software. Previously, the filter was only built into the Internet Explorer browser, but since Windows 8 it has become an integral part of the operating system. For the time being, the user may not be aware of the existence of a smartscreen, but at one point, when trying to install some program, a message will appear warning about a possible threat. What is this Windows filter, can it be disabled, and what is the risk of such deactivation?

How Smart Screen Works

As we have already noted, the smartscreen functionality is integrated into the Internet Explorer browser. After the appearance of the new Microsoft Edge browser, it was also provided with similar protection. So downloading software through any of these browsers can be blocked if the smartscreen suddenly considers it potentially dangerous.

If the executable file is already on your computer, then the filter will make itself felt when you try to run it. A pop-up window with a warning message will give the user the option to either refuse the execution or continue despite some risk.

And here the question arises, by what criteria does the filter classify applications as unwanted and should the notification be ignored?

During its Windows work Smartscreen accesses a cloud database that stores a list of programs and their rating. Information here comes from the computers of users who have enabled smartscreen filter and the corresponding option is active, allowing Microsoft to send information about all installed software products. Based on the collected data, a trust score is generated, and if the downloaded application has a low security score or is not in the store at all, the above message is displayed.

What happens if you disable Windows Smartscreen?

Very often, the filter mistakenly blocks applications that do not pose any threat to the user. In such cases, you should simply use the button that allows you to continue the program. If the protection works constantly, then it can be completely disabled. But in this case, a good antivirus with constantly updated databases must be installed on the computer without fail. Otherwise, the possibility of launching malware is not ruled out. Let's say you are completely sure that you do not need a Smartscreen. What are the ways to turn it off?

How to disable SmartScreen in Explorer and Edge browsers

In Internet Explorer, to disable checking websites, first click on the gear in the upper right corner of the window, then select the "Security" line and the "Disable SmartScreen filter ..." item.

Select the appropriate item in the window and save the settings.

To remove protection in the Microsoft Edge browser, click on the ellipsis button in the upper right corner, and then go to Options - View add. options. Scroll down and switch the desired option to the "Off" position.

Deactivating a filter using the Control Panel

To turn off the Smartscreen feature in Windows 10, go to the Control Panel and then to the "Security and Maintenance" section.

If the filter is enabled, then in the window that opens, the switch will be in the position "Request administrator approval before launching an unrecognized application from the Internet (recommended)". There are also two more items:

Warn before running an unrecognized application, but do not require administrator approval.
Do nothing (disable Windows Smartscreen).

To completely disable Smartscreen, select the last option and save the changes with the OK button.

How to configure Windows Smartscreen through Group Policy

A trickier way is to use the Local Group Policy Editor. To run it, enter the command in the "Run" line (Win + R) gpedit.msc. In the editor window, go to the branch Computer Configuration - Administrative Templates - Windows Components - File Explorer. On the right we find the parameter "Configure Windows Smartscreen" and click on it.

Disabling SmartScreen in the registry

Windows Smartscreen settings can be changed using the Windows registry. Open the registry editor ( win+R ->regedit) and go to the section HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Here we find the parameter SmartScreenEnabled, which takes one of three values:

RequireAdmin - request administrator confirmation;
Prompt - display a warning, but do not require administrator confirmation;
Off - disable the filter.

Set it to "Off" and Windows will no longer monitor application launches.

That's all we wanted to tell about Smartscreen in Windows system. Think and decide for yourself whether you need this feature or your computer is already well protected.