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How to remove An Administrator Has Blocked You from Running This App?

If you use the Windows 10 OS, then you most likely greatly appreciate its efficiency in guarding against the installation of suspicious software. Sometimes, however, it can be quite aggressive in this function.

So, what does the “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” warning message stand for? You might have encountered it at some point.

The notification comes up when you try launching or installing a new program or hardware driver. It occurs due to the actions of Windows Defender and the User Account Control (UAC) software in trying to keep your PC safe from potential threats.

Therefore, if you are not absolutely certain that the executable file you are attempting to run is safe, it’s important not to try and bypass the “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” message. However, if the message comes up even when you try installing and/or launching trusted software, then you may want to get that fixed. Keep reading to find out how.

How to Get Rid of “An Administrator Has Blocked You from Running This App”

There are a handful of solutions to apply:

  1. Disable Windows SmartScreen
  2. Execute the file via Command Prompt
  3. Install the app using the hidden administrator account
  4. Temporarily disable your antivirus program

Let’s get right to it.

Fix 1: Disable Windows SmartScreen

Windows 10 has the SmartScreen feature, which is a cloud-based component that wards off phishing and malware attacks. It cross-references downloaded files against a list of programs and software websites that have been reported to be unsafe. You are also notified if the file you are trying to execute is not known to be trusted and popular amongst Windows users.

To disable the feature and see if it is behind the setback you are facing, here’s what you have to do:

  1. Press the Windows logo key to bring up the Start menu.
  2. Type ‘Smartscreen’ in the search bar and click on ‘App and browser control’ from the results.
  3. In the Windows Defender Security Center that opens, go to ‘Check apps and files’ and select ‘Off.’
  4. Now, try running your file again. See if the issue has been circumvented.

To avoid exposing your PC to malicious items, please ensure that you re-enable Windows SmartScreen after you’ve succeeded in running your file. Simply follow the steps indicated above, but select ‘Warn’ or ‘Block’ instead of ‘Off’ when you get to Step 3.

If you would rather not disable SmartScreen, there’s another option:

  1. Right-click on the file you want to run and click on ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
  2. In the ‘General’ tab, unmark the checkbox for Unblock.
  3. Click Apply > OK. Once you’ve done this, the file will be recognized to be safe and will bypass SmartScreen. You can then try running it again.

Fix 2: Execute the File via Command Prompt

You can get through the error message by using an elevated Command Prompt to run your installation file. Simply follow these easy steps:

  1. Right-click on the file you want to install and select Properties from the context menu.
  2. In the General tab, highlight and copy the entry under Location. For example, ‘C:\Users\test\Downloads.’
  3. Now, press the Windows logo key + X and select ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ from the menu.
  4. Paste the file location you copied in Step 3 in the elevated Command Prompt window.
  5. Minimize the elevated Command Prompt and go back to the file’s Properties window (as shown in Step 1). Copy the name of the file (It is the entry in the box at the top of the page. It has a .exe extension at the end. For example, ‘wlsetup-all.exe’).
  6. Maximize the elevated Command Prompt. Type ‘\’ and then paste the entry you copied in Step 5. You will now have the location and name of the file. It should be something like this: “C:\Users\test\Downloads\wlsetup-all.exe.”
  7. Press Enter on your keyboard to execute the command. See if the error message will still appear.

Fix 3: Install the App Using the Hidden Administrator Account

Using the hidden administrator account might enable you to successfully install your application. Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Press the Windows logo key to open the Start menu and then type ‘Command Prompt’ in the Search box.
  2. Right-click on the option from the results list and click on “Run as administrator.”
  3. Copy and paste the following command in the elevated Command Prompt window and press Enter to execute it:

net user administrator /active:yes

Once you’ve done so, the “The command completed successfully” confirmation should appear.

  1. Sign out of your current user account. To do this, simply click the Windows icon displayed in the lower-left corner of your screen. Now click on your user logo and select ‘Sign out.’
  2. Now, sign in to the administrator account.
  3. Try installing the file you were having issues with.

If you wish to disable the hidden administrator account after you’ve successfully executed the file, open an elevated command prompt. Copy and paste the following entry into the window and then press Enter:

net user administrator /active:no

Fix 4: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Program

It may well be that it is the third-party antivirus program on your PC that is throwing up the “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” message.

So, the first thing you have to do is to add an exception for the application you are trying to launch. To find this setting, we suggest consulting your antivirus program’s user manual or simply look it up on the web.

You also have the option of completely disabling the antivirus software if you are unable to find a way of adding an exception for the problematic app. But keep in mind that it is important to have a strong and trusted security program active on your PC at all times to keep you safe from potential threats. In this regard, we recommend Auslogics Anti-Malware.

We hope that this guide on how to fix the “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error on Windows 10 has proven useful to you.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to drop them in the section below.

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