Unable to run downloaded Programs due to Defender SmartScreen

In this article, we will learn how to fix ‘Unable to run downloaded Programs due to Defender SmartScreen”. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a security feature in Windows 10 and 11 that checks every download from trusted sources. Please, see How to Manage Microsoft Defender Antivirus with Argon ACMP, and How to apply and install Veeam NFR License.

Defender SmartScreen actively warns users about websites that may engage in phishing attacks or attempt to distribute malware. SmartScreen also protects against phishing, malware websites, and the download of potentially malicious files as shown in the image below.

Upon clicking on more info in the above image. We will have access to more details about the program and the publisher. As you can see, this is an unknown publisher as shown in the image below. Therefore, it is considered an untrusted source.

Please, see how to Disable Open File Security Warnings on Windows, and how to enable Smart App Control on Windows 11. Here is “All available Policies for the latest version of Microsoft Edge“.

Why are programs considered untrusted?

The following factors contribute to a program being flagged as untrusted to help protect your system from potential harm. This is only but a few and not an exhaustive list.

• Origin and Source: If a program is downloaded from an unknown or unverified source. It it may be classified as untrusted. Trusted sources are typically well-known developers or official app stores, while unknown sources may harbor malicious software as shown in the image above.
• Digital Signature: A lack of a valid digital signature or certificate can make a program seem untrusted. Digital signatures verify the authenticity and integrity of the program. Thereby, ensuring it hasn’t been tampered with.
• Reputation: New or rare programs that have not been widely downloaded or reviewed may be flagged as untrusted. This is because, they have not established enough reputation or user feedback to validate its security.
• Suspicious Behavior: If a program exhibits behavior similar o that of a malware such as modifying critical system files or making unusual network requests. SmartScreen may flag it as untrusted to protect the user..
• Reported of Malware or Phishing: If a program has been reported by users or security systems as potentially harmful. Microsoft Defender might mark it as untrusted to prevent any risk of infection.

As mentioned earlier, the list is endless. Please, see how to “Enable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen: How to prevent Exe files from getting deleted randomly in Windows 10 and 11“, and “How to Fix SmartScreen can’t be reached right now on Windows 10 and 11“.

How to fix unable to run downloaded Programs: Bypass SmartScreen for the Program

There are various ways to sole this issue and one of them is by ‘Bypass SmartScreen for the Program”. To do this, right-click the program you’re trying to run and select Properties.

Under the General tab, check the box next to Unblock at the bottom. Click Apply and then OK

For more on Windows security features, read: How to restore quarantined files in Microsoft Defender Antivirus, How to find and remove Malware with Microsoft Defender Offline, how to remove Microsoft Defender update on Windows 10 and Windows Server image.

Run Program Again

Next, you have to try running the program again, and accept UAC if configured.

As you can see below, we have bypassed the SmartScreen defender and we can now run our program.

As you can see below, we have successfully installed the program unto our PC.

Note: I will not recommend Disabling SmartScreen temporarily as a workaround. Alternatively, you could add the Program to the Exclusion List

I hope you found this article on “how to fix Unable to run downloaded Programs due to Defender SmartScreen” useful. Please, feel free to leave a comment below.