Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge Description
This policy setting lets you decide whether employees can override the Windows Defender SmartScreen warnings about downloading unverified files. If you enable this setting, employees can't ignore Windows Defender SmartScreen warnings and they are blocked from downloading the unverified files. If you disable or don't configure this setting, employees can ignore Windows Defender SmartScreen warnings and continue the download process.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter Value name: PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown
Enabled: PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown = 1
Disabled: PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
CSP values
-
0 (Default)- Allowed/turned off. Users can ignore the warning and continue to download the unverified file(s). -
1- Prevented/turned on.
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter]
"PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/PreventSmartScreenPromptOverrideForFiles
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter' -Name 'PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter' -Name 'PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent bypassing Windows Defender SmartScreen prompts for files
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1511 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PreventOverrideAppRepUnknown' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.