How to Disable SmartScreen Using Regedit

This guide explains how to disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for both Microsoft Edge and system-level file downloads using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). Modifying these registry keys allows system administrators and advanced users to bypass SmartScreen warnings and automatic file scanning across the operating system.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative permissions.

Step 2: Disable SmartScreen for System Downloads (Explorer)

To disable SmartScreen for files downloaded across the operating system:

  1. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

  2. Check if the System key contains a DWORD value named EnableSmartScreen.

    • If it does not exist, right-click the System folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it EnableSmartScreen.

  3. Double-click EnableSmartScreen and set its Value data to 0.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 3: Disable SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge

To disable the built-in SmartScreen filter specifically for the Microsoft Edge browser:

  1. Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft

  2. Check if a key named Edge exists under Microsoft.

    • If it does not exist, right-click Microsoft, select New > Key, and name it Edge.

  3. Select the Edge key.

  4. Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it SmartScreenEnabled.

  5. Double-click SmartScreenEnabled and ensure its Value data is set to 0.

  6. To disable SmartScreen specifically for potentially unwanted apps and downloads in Edge, create another DWORD (32-bit) value named SmartScreenPProtectionEnabled and set its Value data to 0.

  7. Click OK.

Step 4: Apply the Changes

  1. Close the Registry Editor.
  2. Restart your computer or restart the explorer.exe process via Task Manager to ensure the new registry policies take effect immediately.

How to Revert Changes

To re-enable SmartScreen in the future, navigate back to the modified keys and delete the created DWORD values (EnableSmartScreen, SmartScreenEnabled, and SmartScreenPProtectionEnabled), or change their values from 0 to 1.