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Disable SmartScreen

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Impact: Medium

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • 28 scripts
  • 5 categories
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This category focuses on disabling the SmartScreen and its features and components.

SmartScreen is known also as "Windows SmartScreen" 1, "Windows Defender SmartScreen" 2, "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen" 3, "Phishing Filter" 4, and "SmartScreen Filter" 4.

It protects users from phishing attacks, malware websites, and potentially harmful downloads by assessing webpage safety and comparing sites and downloads against lists of known threats 3. However, it also sends URLs and file information to Microsoft servers 4, which raises significant privacy concerns.

Disabling SmartScreen through this category can enhance your privacy by stopping these data transmissions 5. However, be aware that this action may compromise your security by removing the protections that SmartScreen provides against malicious sites and downloads.

Caution

Disabling SmartScreen may reduce your protection against phishing and malware.

  1. Security Trade-off

    This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.

    Increased Privacy

    Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and tracking

    Decreased Security

    Some security features will be disabled or limited

    This script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.

  2. Use with Caution

    This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

    Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

    This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source

High — Advanced Privacy​

  • For advanced privacy-conscious users
  • May affect some features

Read more about High and other protection levels

Help

How to apply or restore "Disable SmartScreen" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 6 instructions
  1. 1

    Choose protection

    Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

    • High

      Some potentially impactful changes with moderate system impact.

    • Maximum

      Some impactful changes with high system impact.
  2. 2

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  3. 3

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  4. 4

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  5. 5

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  6. 6

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Shows the code
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable SmartScreen" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Disable SmartScreen
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

    Applying High to limit the impact.

  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide​

  • 28 Privacy settings
  • 4 Main categories
    • These settings are organized into 4 main categories for easy navigation.
    • Each main category contains subcategories, helping you find specific settings you might want to adjust.
  • 5 Total categories

Choose what to protect based on your needs:

Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Each change can be applied and reversed individually.

Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.

Disable SmartScreen for apps and files

This category includes scripts to disable SmartScreen for apps and files. SmartScreen is a security feature that checks the reputation of apps and files you download or run. It's part of Windows' reputation-based protection system. Key points about SmartScreen for apps and files: It blocks unrecognized apps and files that may be potentially harmful. • It performs reputation checks on downloaded programs and their digital signatures. • If an app, file, or digital signature has an established good...

Disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers

This category provides scripts to disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers. SmartScreen is a security feature in Edge. When you visit websites or download files, SmartScreen checks the reputation of the URL or file. If SmartScreen determines that the site or file is malicious, it blocks access or download. SmartScreen is enabled by default in Microsoft Edge. SmartScreen feature raises privacy concerns because it sends unhashed URLs, downloaded files, applications being run, IP addresses, and th...

Disable SmartScreen system components

This category includes scripts that disable SmartScreen system components. SmartScreen is a security feature in Windows that helps protect your device from potentially harmful applications, files, and websites. Its components run in the background as part of the operating system. Disabling these components may: Improve privacy by reducing data collection used for SmartScreen functionality. • Increase system performance by eliminating background processes. • Enhance security by removing potential...

Disable SmartScreen Enhanced Phishing Protection

This category contains scripts to disable SmartScreen's Enhanced Phishing Protection feature, which monitors password usage and sends data to Microsoft. This feature collects information from suspicious websites or apps to identify security threats when users enter their passwords. It was introduced in Windows 11, version 22H2, and is technically identified as "webthreatdefense" (Web Threat Defense). This feature raises several privacy concerns, including: Monitoring of password entries acro...

Disable outdated SmartScreen settings interface

This script disables the SmartScreen settings interface in older Windows versions. It specifically targets and soft-deletes the "SmartScreenSettings.exe" file. Found only in older Windows versions, including Windows 8. Based on tests, this file does not exist in newer versions such as Windows 11 Pro (23H2) or Windows 10 Pro (22H2) and beyond. The "SmartScreenSettings.exe" is a user interface component that displays settings for the SmartScreen filter. Removing this component may enhance privacy ...

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.

These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

This category offers scripts to disable Windows security components related to Defender. Defender is also referred to as Microsoft Defender or Windows Defender. Al...
Visit category page

Same Goal​

Other guides in Disable Defender 

See settings that are in the same category as this guide.

Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

See all 8 guides

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process