Windows Smart App Control is preventing me from opening a program I've used for years

Vince Cavaseno 0 Reputation points
2026-10-30T13:29:21.38+00:00

I've been using a program for years, and now, Windows Smart App won't let me open it. It says if I turn off Smart App Control, I open up my computer to the possibility of rogue apps getting into my computer, yet to turn it back on would involve completely reinstalling Windows.

Is there a work around, or should I contact the program developer and tell him to apply for Windows Smart App?

Vince Cavaseno

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-30T13:29:38.8433333+00:00

    There is no per-app workaround in Smart App Control. It cannot be told to allow one specific app while continuing to block others.

    Supported options are:

    1. Check Smart App Control status
      • Go to Settings > Windows Security > App and Browser Control.
      • If it shows Evaluation, Smart App Control is only evaluating and does not block apps.
      • If it shows On, it is in enforcement mode and can block untrusted apps.
      • If it shows Off, it is not running on the device.
    2. If Smart App Control is On, either:
      • Turn it off in Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control settings.
      • Or contact the app developer and ask them to sign the app with a valid certificate issued by a certificate authority in the Trusted Root Program.
    3. If the app is older and the issue is app compatibility rather than Smart App Control alone, run the compatibility troubleshooter:
      • Go to Find and fix other problems.
      • Select Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.
      • Select Run the troubleshooter and complete the prompts.

    Important points:

    • Smart App Control blocks malware, potentially unwanted apps, and unknown unsigned code by default.
    • If Microsoft’s app intelligence service cannot determine the app is safe, Smart App Control allows it only if the app has a valid signature.
    • There is currently no way to bypass Smart App Control for one specific app.
    • Turning Smart App Control off reduces protection against untrusted or malicious apps.
    • Recent Windows updates allow Smart App Control to be re-enabled in Windows Security without requiring a clean installation, but some documentation still notes that on devices that received it through an update, turning it back on may require a reset or reinstall.

    So the practical path is:

    • If keeping Smart App Control is important, contact the developer and ask for proper code signing.
    • If the app is trusted and needed immediately, turn Smart App Control off, understanding the security tradeoff.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. DaveM121 948.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-30T14:05:26.5566667+00:00

    If Smart App Control is blocking an older app, Microsoft indicate the only option you have is to either disable Smart App Control, which will lower the security on your PC, but if you only install official apps from the Developers website or from the Microsoft Store, then your PC would still be safe, or the other option is to contact the developer of that app on their website to ask them if it is possible to update the digital signature on their app and provide you with the updated version.

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  3. Ryezen 0 Reputation points
    2026-11-12T14:41:26.44+00:00

    This is ridiculous. Before, I at least had the option to bypass it, which I appreciate MS letting me know it has concerns, but if I -know- the app is from a secure source, I (as the freaking sys admin) should be able to bypass it without having to completely disable smart app control. Who decided this was the way forward? It's literally MS saying users are too stupid to know whether an app should be safe or not.

    Please stop taking steps in the wrong direction, MS.

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