Block launching desktop apps associated with a file.
- 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
Description
This policy setting lets you control whether packaged Microsoft Store apps can open files using the default desktop app for a file type. Because desktop apps run at a higher integrity level than packaged Microsoft Store apps, there is a risk that a packaged Microsoft Store app might compromise the system by opening a file in the default desktop app for a file type.
If you enable this policy setting, packaged Microsoft Store apps cannot open files in the default desktop app for a file type; they can open files only in other packaged Microsoft Store apps.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, packaged Microsoft Store apps can open files in the default desktop app for a file type.
Registry
ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- BlockFileElevationREG_DWORD
UserHKEY_CURRENT_USER
- BlockFileElevationREG_DWORD