Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen: registry value EnableSmartScreen and 1 more (EnableSmartScreen)ComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

Policy ID: EnableSmartScreen
Scope: Computer 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 › File Explorer

Registry

EnableSmartScreen

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]

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

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

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

PowerShell

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

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

ShellSmartScreenLevel

REG_SZComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Pick one of the following settings:

Options
Item	Stored value
Warn and prevent bypass	Block
Warn	Warn

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]

; Options (use only one)
; Warn and prevent bypass
"ShellSmartScreenLevel"="Block"
; Warn
"ShellSmartScreenLevel"="Warn"

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Warn and prevent bypass
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v "ShellSmartScreenLevel" /t REG_SZ /d "Block" /f
:: Warn
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v "ShellSmartScreenLevel" /t REG_SZ /d "Warn" /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Warn and prevent bypass
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'ShellSmartScreenLevel' -PropertyType String -Value 'Block' -Force | Out-Null
# Warn
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'ShellSmartScreenLevel' -PropertyType String -Value 'Warn' -Force | Out-Null