"This app has been blocked by your system administrator" error when opening Microsoft Flight Simulator on new PC

Question

I recently purchased a new Windows PC and installed Microsoft Flight Simulator. When I try to open the game, I receive the following error message: This is my personal home computer and it is not connected to a school or work account. I am the only user of the device. I would like to know why this error is appearing and what steps I can take to fix it so I can run the game.

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Answer 1

Hi Raheemi, Iqra,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

This message you're seeing usually appears when Windows security or application control settings prevent certain apps from launching. It can occur even on personal devices and does not indicate a problem with your Microsoft account or your Flight Simulator purchase.

Here are some possible checking steps that you can consider in this situation:

1, Check for device management

• Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school
• If any account is connected, select it and choose Disconnect
• Restart the PC

2, Update required apps

• Open Microsoft Store > Library
• Install all updates, especially for Xbox App and Gaming Services
• Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe, press Enter, then restart

3, Confirm Windows security settings

• Open Windows Security
• Go to App & browser control
• Ensure app reputation settings are not blocking Microsoft Store apps
• Try launching Flight Simulator again

4, Check application control policies

• Press Win + R, type secpol.msc
• Go to Application Control Policies > AppLocker > Packaged app Rules
• If rules exist, ensure Microsoft Store apps are allowed

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

The error message "This app has been blocked by your system administrator" typically occurs due to an application control policy known as AppLocker, which is often deployed by administrators to restrict the use of certain applications. Even if you are using a personal home computer, there might be a configuration or policy applied that is causing this issue.

To resolve this, you can try the following steps:

1. Check if AppLocker is enabled: If you have access to the Group Policy Editor, you can check if there are any AppLocker policies that are blocking Microsoft Flight Simulator.
2. Edit AppLocker Policies: If you are able to, you can create a default rule that allows all Microsoft Store apps or create specific rules that allow Microsoft Flight Simulator. This typically requires administrative access to the system.
3. Contact Support: If you are unable to resolve the issue yourself, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance, as they may provide specific guidance based on your system configuration.

If your PC is not connected to a domain or managed by an organization, it is unusual to encounter this error, and it may indicate a misconfiguration or a need for system updates.