How to Turn "Windows SmartScreen" On or Off in Windows 8

   Information

Windows SmartScreen, like the SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer, can help keep your whole computer safer by warning you before running unrecognized programs downloaded from the internet in Windows 8.

This tutorial will show you how to turn Windows SmartScreen on or off in Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you allow a downloaded program that has been filtered by Windows SmartScreen to Run Anyway, then this specific downloaded program will always be allowed to run without getting a SmartScreen warning message for it again afterwards. If you were to download the same program again and try to run it, then you would get a SmartScreen warning message again since it's a new download.

EXAMPLE: A "Windows SmartScreen" Warning Message

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Action Center icon.

2. In the left pane of Action Center, click on the Change SmartScreen settings link. (see screenshot below)

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.


4. Select (dot) the option for how you want Windows SmartScreen to handle unrecognized programs, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The default option is to Get administrator approval before running an unrecognized app from the internet.

5. When finished, you can close the Action Center.



That's it,
Shawn