The message “This page has been blocked by Microsoft Edge” normally indicates a Microsoft Defender SmartScreen site block, not a pop-up-blocker problem. SmartScreen checks visited URLs against dynamic phishing and malicious-site records and blocks sites classified as dangerous.
On an unmanaged personal computer, you can turn off SmartScreen locally, but that is a bypass—not a fix that makes the website safe. If the setting is unavailable or turns back on, Edge may be managed by an organization.
Quick fix: turn off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
On an unmanaged personal computer, open Edge’s privacy settings:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Enter edge://settings/privacy in the address bar and press Enter.
- Go to Services.
- Turn off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.
- Return to the blocked address and try it again only if you have independently verified it.
You can also reach the control through Settings and more (…) → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Services → Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. The direct address is often more reliable because Microsoft has changed the visible settings layout between Edge releases.
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Important: Disabling SmartScreen is a bypass, not a repair. It removes local SmartScreen enforcement for that Edge installation; it does not make the destination safe or remove Microsoft’s reputation classification. Only bypass the warning if you have independently verified the address and understand the risk.
What turning off SmartScreen actually changes
SmartScreen is enabled by default. The setting applies to profiles associated with that Edge installation, including InPrivate browsing and Guest mode. It is not synced across devices, so changing it on one computer does not change Edge elsewhere.
A blocked webpage and a blocked download are separate SmartScreen outcomes. Turning off or bypassing a site warning does not necessarily remove a warning for an installer or other downloaded file.
If the SmartScreen switch is greyed out or keeps turning on
Your browser may be managed by an employer, school, or another administrator. Check Edge’s applied policies:
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- Enter edge://policy.
- Look for active policies related to SmartScreen.
Organizations can configure Edge through Group Policy, Microsoft Intune, or another mobile device management (MDM) system. They may allow a warning page with a continue option or block the site completely.
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These are the main policies involved:
| Policy | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SmartScreenEnabled | Configures Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. |
| PreventSmartScreenPromptOverride | Prevents users from bypassing SmartScreen prompts for sites. |
| SmartScreenAllowListDomains | Lists domains where SmartScreen warnings should not be triggered. |
| SmartScreenDnsRequestsEnabled | Controls SmartScreen DNS requests. |
| SmartScreenPuaEnabled | Configures SmartScreen blocking for potentially unwanted apps. |
If a legitimate company site is incorrectly classified, the safer administrator remedy is to add the required domain to SmartScreenAllowListDomains, rather than disabling SmartScreen for every user. If PreventSmartScreenPromptOverride is enabled, Edge will not offer a usable bypass even when it normally would.
On a managed Windows computer, a Group Policy refresh can restore the administrator’s configuration:
gpupdate /force
This command refreshes policy; it does not remove or override an administrator-configured Edge policy. Contact your organization’s IT team if the setting changes back.
Clear Edge data if the warning may be stale
Clearing the browsing cache removes locally stored SmartScreen URL data, and clearing download history removes locally stored SmartScreen data about file downloads. This may help if Edge has cached an old result, but it will not remove a current reputation classification, an organization policy, or a site’s malicious reputation.
To clear the relevant data:
- Open Settings and more (…) → Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
- Choose a time range, then select Cached images and files.
- If the problem involves a download, also select Download history.
- Select Clear now.
Close and reopen the tab, then test the address again. Avoid deleting passwords or cookies unless you specifically want to remove them; they are not required for this SmartScreen cleanup.
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When the warning is about a downloaded file
SmartScreen also evaluates downloads and application installers. A known-malicious file can receive a malicious warning, while an unknown file may receive an unknown-reputation warning. Unknown reputation does not by itself prove that a file is malicious, but it means Edge has less evidence to trust it.
For an unknown download, Edge may show this sequence:
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- Select the … button beside the file.
- Select Keep.
- Select Show more.
- Select Keep anyway.
The final option may be missing when PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles is enabled by an administrator. Download behavior is controlled separately from website blocking. Relevant policies include:
- PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles — prevents bypassing SmartScreen download warnings.
- ExemptSmartScreenDownloadWarnings — disables AppRep-based warnings for specified file types on specified domains.
- SmartScreenForTrustedDownloadsEnabled — forces SmartScreen checks for downloads from trusted sources.
Before keeping an installer, verify its publisher, download it from the vendor’s genuine domain, compare its checksum if the vendor provides one, and scan it with your security software. Do not bypass a malicious-file warning merely because the download is inconvenient.
Make sure it is actually a SmartScreen block
Not every Edge security page is controlled by the ordinary SmartScreen switch. Edge has separate protections for typo-squatted domains, risky browsing modes, and technical-support scams.
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| Possible protection | Related policy |
|---|---|
| Edge Website Typo Protection | TyposquattingCheckerEnabled |
| Enhanced Security Mode | EnhanceSecurityMode |
| Scareware Blocker | ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled and ScarewareBlockerBlocksDetectedSitesEnabled |
These protections may have their own warning and bypass controls, including PreventTyposquattingPromptOverride and EnhanceSecurityModeAllowUserBypass. If turning off SmartScreen makes no difference, inspect the exact wording and design of the warning, then check edge://policy for these policies.
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Do not turn off the pop-up blocker for this error
Edge’s pop-up blocker handles windows, tabs, or smaller windows that a site tries to open automatically. Its setting is located at Settings and more → Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Pop-ups and redirects → Block (recommended).
That setting does not remove a full-page SmartScreen warning saying that Microsoft Edge blocked the page. Change it only when the problem is genuinely a blocked pop-up.
Report a legitimate site that was blocked
SmartScreen warning pages allow users to report a site as safe or unsafe. Reporting submits the address for Microsoft’s reputation review; it does not immediately unlock the page.
For a false positive, the practical solutions are:
- Wait for Microsoft to correct the site’s reputation.
- Ask an organization administrator to add the domain to SmartScreenAllowListDomains.
- Disable SmartScreen locally, if the device is not managed and you accept the risk.
Why old instructions mention “SmartScreen filter”
“SmartScreen filter” is the historical name used for the browser feature before Windows 10 version 1703. Current Microsoft Edge documentation calls it Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. If an older guide tells you to find “SmartScreen filter,” look for the current Microsoft Defender SmartScreen switch instead.
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Recommended order of fixes
- Check the domain carefully for misspellings and unexpected subdomains.
- Do not mistake a full-page block for a pop-up-blocker issue.
- Verify the site through an independent source before bypassing anything.
- Clear cached data if you suspect an old local result.
- Check edge://policy if the setting is locked or reverts.
- Report a legitimate false positive to Microsoft.
- Use the local SmartScreen switch only on an unmanaged device and only when you accept the security trade-off.
FAQ
Is “This page has been blocked by Microsoft Edge” caused by the pop-up blocker?
Usually no. The full-page warning normally indicates Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. The pop-up blocker controls automatically opened windows and tabs, not SmartScreen site-reputation blocks.
How do I unblock a page in Microsoft Edge?
On an unmanaged device, open edge://settings/privacy, go to Services, and turn off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. Verify the website first because this removes a security check rather than proving the site is safe.
Why can’t I turn off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen?
The browser may be controlled by Group Policy, Intune, or another device-management system. Open edge://policy to see applied policies. An administrator may need to allow the domain or change the policy.
Will clearing Edge’s cache remove the blocked-page warning?
It can remove locally stored SmartScreen URL data, which may help with stale information. Clearing download history removes locally stored SmartScreen download data. Neither removes a current Microsoft reputation classification or an administrator policy.
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SmartScreen checks downloads separately from websites. An unknown-reputation file may produce a warning even when its webpage opens. Download policies such as PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles can also prevent the Keep anyway option.
Can I bypass SmartScreen at work or school?
Not reliably or appropriately if the device is managed. Policies can remove the bypass and restore settings during a policy refresh. Ask the administrator to review the site or add a narrowly scoped allowlist entry.
The Bottom Line
For a personal, unmanaged computer: verify the address, then open edge://settings/privacy and turn off Microsoft Defender SmartScreen if you accept the risk. If the switch is locked, the warning returns, or a download is involved, check the separate policy and download controls instead. Clearing the cache can remove stale local data, but it cannot make a dangerous site safe or override Microsoft’s current classification.
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