Configure detection for potentially unwanted applications: registry value PUAProtectionComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
- Policy ID
- Root_PUAProtection
- Scope
- Computer Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Registry
PUAProtection
-ComputerPUAProtection
REG_DWORDComputer- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- -
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Disable (Default) | 0 |
| Block | 1 |
| Audit Mode | 2 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender] ; Options (use only one) ; Disable (Default) "PUAProtection"=dword:00000000 ; Block "PUAProtection"=dword:00000001 ; Audit Mode "PUAProtection"=dword:00000002
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Disable (Default) reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PUAProtection" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Block reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PUAProtection" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Audit Mode reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PUAProtection" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Disable (Default) New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PUAProtection' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Block New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PUAProtection' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Audit Mode New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PUAProtection' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null