Prevent users from bypassing SmartScreen warning in Microsoft Edge

Although the security warning can be ignored by default, you can prevent users from bypassing the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warning in the Microsoft Edge Chromium browser. You can set the restriction with the Local Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor on a Windows 11/ 10 computer.

At, times, when you try to download a file from the Internet, your Ege browser, may stop it from being downloaded. This is the SmartScreen Filter in action, trying to protect you. SmartScreen offers protection from phishing attacks, socially engineered malware, and drive-by-download attacks too. If you do not wish to use this feature or if you find that your SmartScreen feature is disabled, then this post will show you how to enable or disable SmartScreen Filter. It is a great feature to keep your computer protected and secure, and it is best always to keep it turned on.

Whenever you visit an unsafe website, Microsoft Edge shows a message saying This site has been reported as unsafe to protect you from unwanted problems. However, if you know that it is a false warning, you can continue to the website by clicking the Continue to the unsafe site. If you do not want other users on your computer to do the same because of the possible inconveniences in the future, you can block them from doing so.

Note: As GPEDIT doesn’t allow you to configure Edge browser’s settings by default, you must integrate Group Policy Templates for Edge first.

Prevent users from bypassing SmartScreen warning in Edge

To prevent users from bypassing SmartScreen warning in Edge browser using Group Policy , follow these steps-

1. Search for gpedit.msc in the Taskbar search box.
2. Click on the Edit group policy search result.
3. Navigate to SmartScreen settings in Computer Configuration.
4. Double-click on the Prevent bypassing Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prompts for sites setting.
5. Select the Enabled option.
6. Click the OK button.

Let’s check out the detailed version of these steps.

To start with the process, search for gpedit.msc in the Taskbar search box and click on the Edit group policy search result to open the Local Group Policy Editor on your computer. After that, you have to go to the following location-

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Classic Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge > SmartScreen setting

Double-click on the Prevent bypassing Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prompts for sites setting that you can find on your right-hand side. Choose the Enabled option, and click the OK button to save the change.

After that, you/other users cannot bypass the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen filter or warning on any potentially harmful website in the Edge browser. In case you want to allow users to bypass the warning, you can set either the Not Configured or Disabled option.

Read: SmartScreen filter warning messages explained.

Prevent users from ignoring SmartScreen filter in Edge

It is also possible to create the restriction using Registry Editor. If you use the REGEDIT method, don’t forget to create a System Restore point first. To prevent users from ignoring SmartScreen filter in Edge using Registry Editor, follow these steps-

1. Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
2. Type regedit and press the Enter button.
3. Click the Yes option.
4. Navigate to Microsoft in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
5. Right-click on Microsoft > New > Key.
6. Set the name as Edge.
7. Right-click on Edge > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
8. Name it as PreventSmartScreenPromptOverride.
9. Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1.
10. Click the OK button.

To find more, keep reading.

At first, press Win+R, type regedit and press the Enter button. If it shows the UAC prompt on your screen, click the Yes option to open Registry Editor. Once it is opened, you have to navigate to this path-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft

In the Microsoft key, it is required to create a new sub-key. To do so, right-click on Microsoft and choose the New > Key option. Following that, name it Edge.

Now, to allow or block users from bypassing the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen filter, you need to create a REG_DWORD value. To do so, right-click on the Edge key, and select the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

Name it as PreventSmartScreenPromptOverride and double-click on it to set the Value data. It is required to set the Value data as 1 to prevent users from ignoring the SmartScreen warning message while opening a potentially harmful website on Edge.

At last, click the OK button.

In case you want to allow users to ignore the warning, you can either set the Value data as 0 or delete the REG_DWORD value.

That’s all! I hope this tutorial helps.

Read: How to prevent users from importing data from other browsers into Edge.