For users who frequently download files from the internet, it’s not uncommon to encounter issues when attempting to open these files on a Windows 10 computer. Windows 10, as part of its security measures, tags files downloaded from the web as attachments in its NTFS file system. This classification is essentially a protective layer, ensuring that potentially malicious files don’t run without user knowledge. When you try to open or execute such files, Windows SmartScreen steps in, displaying a warning to caution you. While this feature was designed with user safety in mind, it can sometimes become a hindrance, especially if you’re sure of the file’s authenticity. If you’re looking for a way to bypass this protective mechanism and want uninterrupted access to your downloaded files, you’ve come to the right place. This risewindows article will guide you on how to prevent Windows 10 from blocking your downloaded files, allowing you to work seamlessly with your downloads.
After you disable the smart screen, a message will appear on your screen that says:-
In this risewindows article, we are going to discuss the following ways that you can use to completely stop Windows 10 from blocking downloaded files:-
- Using Local Group Policy Editor
- Via Registry Editor
How to Stop Windows 10 from Blocking Downloaded Files Using Local Group Policy Editor?
Gentle reminder: Local Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 10 Home Edition; if you’d like to enable it, see our detailed instructions for doing so in Windows 10 (gpedit.msc).
Step 1: Open Local Group Policy Editor on your computer.
Step 2: Now, in the following screen, type the following and press Enter:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager
Step 3: Locate the policy titled “Do not preserve zone information in file attachments” on the right side of the screen. Double-click the policy to see its attributes.
Step 4: Select the Enabled option.
Step 5: Click on Apply.
Step 6: Click on OK.
Once you complete the above steps, You would be able to open downloaded files on your Windows 10 computer.
Choose the Not Configured option in step 3 above in case you change your mind and want to go back to the default settings.
How to Stop Windows 10 from Blocking Downloaded Files via Registry Editor?
Use the following steps to prevent blocking Windows 10 from opening downloaded files:-
Step 1: Open Registry Editor on your computer.
Step 2: In the next window, type the following and press Enter:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
Step 3: Ignore this step if you see an Attachments folder under Policies; if not, you must create a new key.
Select New from the context menu of the Policies folder, and then select Key. Change the key’s name to Attachments.
Step 4: Next, use the right-click menu to select the Attachments key in the left pane. Next, click on New, followed by DWORD (32-bit) Value. The newly formed DWORD should now be called ScanWithAntiVirus.
Step 5: Double-click on ScanWithAntiVirus in the Attachments‘ right-side pane to override its default setting. Value data should be changed from 0 to 1.
Step 6: Click on OK.
Step 7: Close the Registry Editor after completing the above steps.
Step 8: Reboot your Windows 10 computer finally.
After completing the above steps, warnings will show up on your screen when you open the downloaded file on your Windows 10 computer.
Navigate to the following in case you change your mind and want to enable the Attachment Manager policy again:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments
Double-click on the ScanWithAntivirus DWORD (32-bit) value, which is located on the right side of the Attachments folder, and set its value data to 0.
Conclusion
While Windows 10 aims to provide users with a secure environment by defaulting to block certain downloaded files, it’s imperative that users have the flexibility to override these settings when necessary. Especially for those who are frequently downloading and working with files, the continuous warnings and blocks can become cumbersome. Thankfully, Windows offers mechanisms through which this blocking feature can be disabled, ensuring a smoother workflow for users confident in their downloads’ safety. This risewindows guide detailed steps using both the Local Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor to adjust these settings. However, as with any changes made at such a system level, it’s essential to proceed with caution and understand the implications of each modification. Always ensure you have backup measures in place, like system restore points, before making significant changes to the operating system. If, in the future, you decide to revert these settings for added security, the steps are easily reversible, ensuring that you always have control over your system’s protective measures.
