Open File - Security Warning : Unblock File

How to Unblock a File to Stop "Open File - Security Warning" and "Windows 8 SmartScreen" Prompt​

   Information

This will show you how to unblock a file that you have downloaded or copied from the internet or external source to no longer get the "Open File - Security Warning" or "Windows 8 SmartScreen" prompt when you open or run the file.

The Open File - Security Warning prompt is a security measure in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 to ask for your permission (like UAC) before allowing a downloaded or copied file from the internet or another computer to be opened or run on your computer.

Windows SmartScreen, like the SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer, can help keep your whole computer safer by warning you before running unrecognized programs downloaded from the internet in Windows 8.

   Warning

You should only unblock files that you trust.

EXAMPLE: "Windows protected your PC" from Windows 8/8.1 SmartScreen


EXAMPLE: Open File - Security Warning

• Do you want to open this File? Unknown Publisher
• The Publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software? Unknown Publisher
• Do you want to run this file? Application

OPTION ONE

To Unblock the File Through Properties Page

NOTE: This option can only be done when the file or folder is still in one of your C:\Users\(user-name) folder locations. For example, your Desktop or Downloads folder. If it's not, then you will need to move the file to this location first, unblock it, then move it back.
1. While the file is on your desktop or in one of your user folders, right click or press and hold on the file, and click/tap on Properties.

2. Under the General tab, click/tap on the Unblock button, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not see an Unblock button, then the file has already been unblocked.

3. You will now no longer get a Open File - Security Warning prompt when you try to open or run this specific file.

OPTION TWO

Unblock File when you Open or Run it and get "Open File - Security Warning"

NOTE: This option will unblock the file no matter where it's located.
1. Open or Run the file to trigger the Open File - Security Warning prompt.

2. In the Open File - Security Warning prompt, uncheck the Always ask before opening this file box, then click/tap on either the Open or Run button. (see screenshots below)

3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista), or enter the administrator's password (standard user).
NOTE: You will only be prompted by UAC if the file is not in one of the C:\Users\(user-name) folder locations, and in a system folder (ex: C:\Windows) instead.

4. The file will now open or run, and you will now no longer get a Open File - Security Warning prompt when you try to open or run this specific file next time.

OPTION THREE

Unblock File when you Open or Run it and get "Windows 8/8.1 SmartScreen"

NOTE: This option only applies to Windows 8 or 8.1. Doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above will also unblock the file to no longer get the "Windows protected your PC" prompt from Windows 8/8.1 SmartScreen.
1. Open or Run the file to trigger the Windows protected your PC prompt.
NOTE: If you do not get this prompt, then the file has already been unblocked, and there's nothing else that needs to be done.

2. Click/tap on the More info link. (see screenshot below)

3. Click/tap on the Run anyway button. (see screenshot below)

4. The file will now open or run, and you will now no longer get a Windows protected your PC prompt when you try to open or run this specific file next time.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Disable Downloaded Files from being Blocked in Windows
• Allow or Prevent to Unblock a File to Stop the "Open File - Security Warning" Prompt
• How to Disable the "Open File Security Warning" in Windows
• How to Change UAC Notification Settings in Windows 7
• How to Change User Account Control (UAC) Settings in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn "Windows SmartScreen" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[maciacia1]

you could also just simply disable the UAC by just typin uac in start menu search thing simple as

 

[Brink]

Hello Maciacia,

Yes, you could just turn off UAC, but this shows you how to stop this warning message for a file without disabling UAC protection for the entire computer.

 

[Mikke]

Same problem, but no tick box

Hello!

I've got the same problem, but my dialog do not have the tick-box saying "Always ask before opening this file", nor do I have the button saying "Unblock" in the file properties dialog. What can I do?

 

[Brink]

Hello Mikke, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post a screenshot of what you are getting?

In addition, what file is this for, and what is it's location?

 

[Mikke]

Hello!

In this case it is shortcut on desktop for photoshop CS4.

 

[Brink]

Right click on the shortcut, and click on Properties, Shortcut tab, Open file Location button. Next, check that program's exe file to see if it's unblocked.

If the exe file is still unblocked after you unblocked it and checked again, then move the file to the desktop, unblock it at this location, and move it back.

 

[Mikke]

I've tried that now, but don't see the "Unblock"-button in either case,

 

[Brink]

Um, ok. Give this a try to see if it may help. It will reset the Internet Security Zone settings back to default.

• Open a elevated command prompt (right click - Run as administrator)
• Copy and paste the comand below and press Enter.

reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones" /f

• Close the command prompt, and restart the computer to apply.

 

[Mikke]

Hello!

I've run the reg delete.
Sorry, no changes in either of the above methodes.

 

[Brink]

It would be hard to believe if they didn't digitally sign the exe file, but check the Properties page of the exe file again to see if has a Digital Signatures tab with one in it something like the one for CCleaner below. If not, then there's not much you can do to prevent getting this warning each time you run it without disabling it for everything. You wouldn't want to do that though since it lowers security on your system.

 

[Mikke]

I'm sorry but the file is signed.

Can it be that my version of windows 7 (home premium 64 bit) dont let me unblock files?
My wife have the same problem on hers Win7 home premium pc.

 

[Brink]

You might check using the tutorial below to make sure that it's not set to prevent you from unblocking them somehow.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...urity-warning-allow-prevent-unblock-file.html

 

[Mikke]

Soory nothing helps! I suspect that since Windows 7 home premium do not support Local Group Policy Editor (see MStechnet here, read Additional considerations), it will not allowe me to mark spesific files unblocked.

 

[Brink]

I'll look into it tonight to see if there may a group policy option for this, and a manual way of doing it in the registry if so. I'll update the tutorial if so.

 

[Cman]

There is a tool you can use to selectively unblock files. The tool is called Streams and can be downloaded here:

Streams

Lykke til!

 

[idoru]

The file for that matter must only be executable, not a shortcut or something.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Typo:

Do you want tio run this file?

should be

Do you want to run this file?

 

[Brink]

Thank you sir.

 

[UsernameIssues]

You are welcome. I stumbled across that while dealing with this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...en-file-we-can-t-verify-who-created-file.html