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To change Windows 11 SmartScreen for downloaded apps and files, open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings, then change Check apps and files. For website and download warnings in Edge, use Edge’s separate Microsoft Defender SmartScreen setting instead.
Change the Windows app-and-file SmartScreen setting
- Open Start > Settings.
- Go to Privacy & security > Windows Security, then select Open Windows Security.
- In the Windows Security app, select App & browser control.
- Choose Reputation-based protection settings.
- Find Check apps and files and switch it on or off.
This setting checks the reputation of apps and files downloaded from the web and can warn about or help protect against unsafe content. It is a reputation check, not a guarantee that a file is safe. Microsoft documents the Windows Security destination and setting purpose in its App & browser control guide; labels or navigation may vary slightly between Windows builds. If the Settings route differs, open Windows Security from Start and go to App & browser control.
Choose the setting that matches the warning
| Protection | What it checks or controls | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Windows SmartScreen: Check apps and files | Reputation of downloaded apps and files as they are handled by Windows | Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings |
| Microsoft Defender SmartScreen in Edge | Protection against suspicious websites and downloads in Edge | Edge > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Security |
| Smart App Control | Can block apps judged untrusted or potentially harmful | Windows Security > App & browser control |
These are distinct protections. Turning off Check apps and files does not change the Edge SmartScreen switch or necessarily turn off Smart App Control. Smart App Control works alongside antivirus software; it is not a replacement for antivirus. Its availability and whether it can be enabled depend on the device’s state. See Microsoft’s Smart App Control FAQ for configuration details.
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Change SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more (the three-dot menu).
- Select Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Security.
- Switch Microsoft Defender SmartScreen on or off.
This controls Edge’s protection, not Windows’ Check apps and files setting. Microsoft notes that an organization may manage the Edge setting. Its Edge SmartScreen guidance describes the browser protection.
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Understand other reputation-based options
The Reputation-based protection settings page also includes potentially unwanted app controls. These can be configured to block apps, downloads, or both. The download-blocking option is Edge-specific in Microsoft’s guidance; potentially unwanted apps are not automatically the same thing as malware. See Microsoft’s potentially unwanted apps guidance for the available controls.
If a setting is missing, greyed out, or locked
- Check whether the device is managed. Work or school policies can control Windows Security pages or Edge settings. If the device belongs to an organization, ask its administrator rather than trying to bypass the policy. Microsoft directs users to their administrator for managed Windows Security pages.
- Check for Windows or Edge updates. Names and page layouts can change between releases, so confirm the software is current before concluding the option is unavailable.
- Use the correct control. Edge warnings are governed by Edge’s SmartScreen setting; Windows checks for downloaded apps and files are governed by Check apps and files.
Microsoft’s Windows privacy settings instructions and Windows Security instructions describe these routes. Avoid registry edits or policy workarounds on a managed device.
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What turning the setting off changes
Turning off a SmartScreen control removes that control’s particular reputation-based check or warning. It does not uninstall Windows Security or Microsoft Defender Antivirus, and other protection controls may remain on. If you switched it off to address a specific warning, re-enable it after resolving the issue unless you have a clear reason to leave that particular check disabled.
SmartScreen in current Windows 11 releases
Microsoft’s notice for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 says SmartScreen is deprecated in Internet Explorer and IE Mode, but continues in Microsoft Edge and Windows Shell. The notice also explains that downloaded files may carry Mark-of-the-Web metadata and be scanned by Windows Shell when opened. This does not mean SmartScreen has been removed from Windows 11. See Microsoft’s SmartScreen deprecation notice, published November 4, 2025.
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