The error message “This file came from another computer and might be blocked” often pops up due to Windows’ security measures aimed at protecting your system from potentially harmful files. While these mechanisms are essential for security, they can sometimes block legitimate files you need for work or personal use, causing inconvenience. This guide will walk you through various methods to resolve this issue without compromising your system’s security. Kindly see, How to Fix Windows 11 File Explorer Lags and Freezes Issue.
Please see these related guides: How to reset folder view settings on File Explorer for Windows 11 and 10, Change the default start page for File Explorer on Windows 11, Fix the application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000135) error, and Perform BitLocker Recovery Password Rotation in Active Directory.
Solutions to Fix the “File Came from Another Computer and Might Be Blocked” Error
1. Adjusting Group Policy Settings
One effective way to resolve this issue is by modifying the Group Policy settings. Here’s how you can do it:
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment ManagerIn the right pane, double-click on “Do not preserve zone information in file attachments”.
Select “Enabled” and click “Apply”, then “OK”.
Restart your computer to apply the changes.
After restarting, try accessing the files again to see if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists or you don’t have Group Policy Editor, proceed to the next method.
Also, see how to Allow and Disallow Simultaneous Connection to Domain and Non-Domain network, How to Unblock Microsoft Store on Windows 11, and how to Create Azure Container instance to deploy your image to Azure using Azure CLI.
2. Using Registry Editor to Unblock Files
If you’re comfortable using the Registry Editor, follow these steps to unblock files:
Press the Windows button, search for Registry Editor, and then run it as an administrator.
Navigate to:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PoliciesRight-click on the “Policies” folder, select New > Key, and name it Attachments.
Inside the “Attachments” key, right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it SaveZoneInformation.
Double-click on SaveZoneInformation and set its value to 1.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Here is How to Hide or Block Wi-Fi Networks on Windows, How to Block ZIP/RAR Attachments in Outlook, and “Allow a blocked app: Application blocked unable to run and apply settings“.
3. Deleting Data Streams with Streams Tool
You can also use the Streams tool from Microsoft to remove alternate data streams associated with files:
Download and install “Streams” from the Microsoft official website.
Open Streams and navigate to the folder containing the problematic files.
Run the scan and locate entries like Zone.Identifier:$DATA. Right-click on these entries and select “Delete Selected Streams”. Close Streams and restart your computer.
4. Unblocking Files with PowerShell
PowerShell provides a quick and efficient way to unblock files:
Open PowerShell as an administrator by pressing Windows + X and selecting “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
Run the following command, replacing C:\Documents with the path to your folder:
dir C:\Documents -Recurse | Unblock-FilePress Enter to execute the command.
Once the process is complete, close PowerShell and restart your computer.
Conclusion
The “This file came from another computer and might be blocked” error can be frustrating, but it’s manageable with the right approach. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can unblock your files while maintaining system security.
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