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Disable Edge SmartScreen for potentially unwanted apps

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables Edge's SmartScreen feature that targets potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Edge's SmartScreen PUA feature aims to protect against adware, coin miners, bundleware, and other low-reputation software 1 2 3. This feature warns users about potentially harmful applications 1 2 3.

This feature is off by default 2. This script keeps the feature inactive, preventing automatic or unintended activations.

Disabling this feature reduces potential privacy risks by preventing data sharing. This may also improve system performance by reducing processing workload.

However, enabling it can boost your security by blocking the installation of apps that could harm your system 3. Authorities like DISA 2 and the CIS Center for Internet Security 3 encourage enabling it as a security best practice.

This script applies only to Windows devices within a Microsoft Active Directory domain or managed in similar way 1 2. It is effective only on computers under organizational management, such as those in workplaces or schools. It's not applicable to personal computers that are not managed by an organization.

This script configures the SmartScreenPuaEnabled policy 1 2 3. Changing this policy does not require restarting the browser to take effect 1.

Caution
  • This will display the message "Your browser is managed by your organization" on the settings page.
  • This locks settings and prevents them from being changed on the settings page.
  • Disabling SmartScreen may reduce your protection against phishing and malware.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers category. 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... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

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

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Edge SmartScreen for potentially unwanted apps.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Configure "SmartScreenPuaEnabled" Edge policy
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!SmartScreenPuaEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'SmartScreenPuaEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Restore "SmartScreenPuaEnabled" Edge policy
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!SmartScreenPuaEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'SmartScreenPuaEnabled' /f 2>$null"

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