Windows 7 - User Account Control - UAC - Change Notification Settings

   Information

When turned on, User Account Control helps prevent potentially harmful programs from making changes to your computer in Windows 7 by notifying and asking you for permission before letting the program run or install.



This will show you how to change the User Account Control (UAC) for when to be notified about changes to your computer. For more detailed information about UAC, see:

• User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide
• Mark Russinovich on Windows 7 UAC - Windows Security Blog - The Windows Blog
• User Account Control: Inside Windows 7 User Account Control

   Warning

Turning off UAC by setting it to the lowest bottom level will also disable Protected Mode in Internet Explorer.

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).

2. Click on the User Accounts icon.

3. Click on the Change User Account Control settings link. (See screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

5. Adjust the slider to the level of protection of how much you want to be notified from UAC. (See screenshots below)

6. Click on OK when done.

7. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to approve.

8. If you have just turned UAC off, then you will need to click on restart the computer to apply the changes. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Simply turning on UAC or changing the UAC level without turning it off will not require a restart.

1. To Have UAC Always Notify You -
NOTE: This is level 1. See the first screenshot under step 6 in METHOD ONE. This will notify you of all changes made by programs to your computer, and changes you make to Windows 7 settings.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the
UAC_Level-1.zip file below.

B) Go to step 5.

2. To Have the Default UAC Notification -
NOTE: This is level 2. See the second screenshot under step 6 in METHOD ONE. This will only notify you when programs try to make changes to your computer, and not when you make changes to Windows 7 settings.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the
UAC_Level-2_Default.zip file below.

B) Go to step 5.

3. To Have UAC Notify without Dimming Desktop -
NOTE: This is level 3. See the third screenshot under step 6 in METHOD ONE. This will only notify you when programs try to make changes to your computer without dimming the desktop, and not when you make changes to Windows 7 settings.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the
UAC_Level-3_No_Dim.zip file below.

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Turn Off UAC Notifications Completely -
NOTE: This is level 4. See the fourth screenshot under step 6 in METHOD ONE. This will disable (turn off) UAC completely. You will not be notified of any changes made by programs to your computer, or that you make to Windows 7 settings.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the
UAC_Level-4.zip file below.

5. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

6. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

7. Right click the .reg file (On Desktop) and click on Merge.

8. Click on Run, Yes, and OK when prompted.

9. Restart the computer to apply the changes to UAC.

10. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like.