How to prevent downloading software on an HP Laptop

"... I would like to prevent her from downloading software/programs ..."

When you are on the internet, everything you see is being downloaded from somewhere. This page that you are reading now was downloaded from a Microsoft server. The only way to prevent someone from downloading is to disconnect them from the internet, which I don't think you want to do.

If your goal is to prevent your daughter from installing software, a partial solution is to make sure she is using a standard user account, which doesn't have the necessary permissions on the machine to install software. But that's only a partial solution because not all software requires permission to be installed in the first place. In fact, very many apps can be installed by a standard user account. (And teenagers know where to find them.)

There is no easy solution for you and me and every other parent, and so far no one has found a truly satisfactory answer.

"... she is an impulsive clicker ..."

That is by far the bigger problem. Impulsive clicking can bring all sorts of malicious software onto her computer that will harm not only her computer but her reputation for years to come. This is not limited to teenagers, and there's no surefire way to stop it.

Hi, I'm Bernard. I'm happy to help!

I understand the issue you have. There is nothing to worry about. I am here to assist. What I can suggest is to create a standard user for her. She can still download anything, but she cannot install any apps or software, as it requires admin privileges. To do that, kindly follow the steps below:

Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account

Follow the prompts to create an account.

Restart the PC and log in to the new account

For reference: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-signin/manage-user-accounts-in-windows

Hi Andrea,

Yes, you can do this with Windows settings, and you don’t need extra software. Here are the steps, starting with the one that makes the biggest difference.

1. Make sure your daughter’s account is a Standard user (not Administrator)

• Sign in with your admin account.
• Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users (on some versions it’s Family & other users).
• Select her account, choose Change account type, and set it to Standard User.

With a Standard account, installing most programs triggers a prompt asking for an administrator’s password or PIN. She can’t continue without yours, so you effectively approve every install.

2. Limit app installs to the Microsoft Store

• Go to Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings.
• Under Choose where to get apps, select Microsoft Store only.

Windows will then block installers from outside the Store. She can only change this setting if she’s an administrator, so step 1 matters here too.

3. Use Microsoft Family Safety for Store approvals (optional)
At family.microsoft.com you can set age limits for apps and games and require approval for Store purchases and downloads.

Things to be aware of

• Don’t turn on Family Safety’s web filtering. It only works in Microsoft Edge and blocks other browsers, including Chrome, which her school needs.
• Chrome is managed by her school’s Google account, so Windows settings can’t control Chrome extensions or what the school allows. Standard-user restrictions still stop her from running installer files she downloads.
• A few small portable apps run without installing and may not be blocked. That’s rare, but it’s a reason to keep the conversation with her going alongside the settings.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes!