Windows Defender Blocking Installations of Downloaded Apps

Question

I recently installed Windows 10 Fall Creators Edition...Did it by making a dvd iso using the Media Creation Tool and did a clean install...

Ever since, when I download a program (ex: VLC MEDIA PLAYER or GOOGLE CHROME) as soon as I double click it, this message pops up:

"YOUR ORGANIZATION USED WINDOWS DEFENDER CONTROL TO BLOCK THIS APP"

I have Windows 10 home edition installed...How can I get it to stop blocking these legitimate apps?

Answer 1

When your computer starts up. go to your boot menu.

(Keep pressing F11 - or F10 or tab) when your computer starts

You should  find a Secure boot option. (I have a gaming mother board Msi z170a Gaming pro) and had the option in advanced setting - configure windows or something like that.  it can also be in boost options or something else depends of the bios.

Disable it.

If it is enabled. you can override it with the option explained in the other posts. with the save mode

But every start up you get the same problem. because you boot again.

The old override option i have copied from the other posts.

• Hit Shift+Restart (hold down the shift key and click the windows icon on the left side of the lower task bar, then click the little circle with a line through the bottom part, the power icon, and while still holding the shift key select RESTART)
• Hit Troubleshoot
• Hit Advanced Options (hit means Click, only with a little grunt like you're Maria Sharapova serving at Wimbledon. It's the only way.)
• Hit Startup Settings
• Hit Restart
• Wait
• Windows will give you a list of options
• Hit #7 DISABLE DRIVER SIGNATURE ENFORCEMENT and grunt like you mean it.

This was a good help for my problem at first . But found now one that sticks till today.

I hope it helps other people.

Answer 2

I also recently bought windows 10 and defender is on a rampage blocking anything from being installed. I've tried to disable the smart screen options and anything else that I can think of and no luck. The only fix is the temporary workaround mentioned. 

Any word on a permanent solution? This is a huge pain in the ass. My welcome to windows 10 experience has been absolutely brutal.

Answer 3

Hi Craig,

There's a possibility that the SmartScreen option is on that's why you're unable to install downloaded apps. Let's try to turn it off and see if it helps. See the steps below:

1. Open Windows Defender Security Center from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
2. Click on the App and browser control button on the left side of the window.
3. Click on Off in the Check apps and files section.

Let us know if the suggestion helps you out.

Did not resolve with Citrix app

Answer 4

defender blocks all - even MS Office install!!

hahahaha

what to do?

I bought a $350 monitor and cannot load the drivers...

huh?

You will need to turn Defender or any other antivirus or malware blocker off to install drivers and programs.Make sure all defender settings are toggled off. Especially turn off the controlled folder access . check the properties of the installed program to make sure it does not have a box that is marked block and take the checkmark out if it does. Run the install as admin if you need to by right clicking it and choose run as admin. Go through your settings and make sure under apps >>apps and features>> the dropdown box installing apps >> is not selected on>> install apps from store only>>Then for good measure go to update and security >>for developers >> is selected on anything other than windows store apps. Try just turning off antivirus first and see if that works. If not try the other settings I mentioned to see what is selected for them. Leaving our computers defenseless to install programs and drivers sucks. After you install and turn Defender back on you may need to add exclusions for whatever you are installing. Hope this works for you.

I was having issues with W10 blocking Notepad from saving a file to my Desktop, EA's Origin disapearing and some other random stuff. After I disabled "Ransomware Protection" all seems to be fine. I have Malwarebytes running so I don't think I need another Malware protection layer.

I'm running W10 1803 Compliation 17134.112

Answer 5

Hi guys! I had the same problem and I decided it by disabling Secure Boot in BIOS config. The solution has been found here

So in my case, Windows was innocent:)