Block launching desktop apps associated with a file.: registry value BlockFileElevationUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations

Policy ID: AppxRuntimeBlockFileElevation
Scope: Computer Configuration, User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › App runtime

Registry

BlockFileElevation

REG_DWORDUserComputer

…\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\AssociationsHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations Current key
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

UserPer-account setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"BlockFileElevation"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"BlockFileElevation"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations" /v "BlockFileElevation" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations" /v "BlockFileElevation" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Name 'BlockFileElevation' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Name 'BlockFileElevation' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

ComputerMachine-wide setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"BlockFileElevation"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"BlockFileElevation"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations" /v "BlockFileElevation" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations" /v "BlockFileElevation" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Name 'BlockFileElevation' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations' -Name 'BlockFileElevation' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null