Programs and Features - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable "Programs and Features" in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable all or specific users from being able to access Programs and Features in the Control Panel to view, uninstall, change, or repair programs that are currently installed in Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: Programs and Features Enabled and Disable

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable "Programs and Features" Using REG Download

NOTE: This option will affect all users on the computer. 1. To Enable Programs and Features A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Enable_Programs_and_Features.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Disable Programs and Features A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Disable_Programs_and_Features.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable "Programs and Features" in Group Policy

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Programs. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Hide "Programs and Features" page and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Programs and Features A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
B) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable Programs and Features A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Uninstall or Change a Program in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Uninstall Entry in Programs and Features for Vista and Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Programs and Features Shortcut
• How to Enable or Disable Uninstalling Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to Uninstall a Windows Update in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable "Windows Features" in Windows 7
• How to Restore the Uninstall Confirmation Prompt in Programs and Features

 

[XavierDery]

Yes, easy to follow instructions, but wouldn't that disable control panel for ALL users, INCLUDING the admin?

If the previous is true, that's not very practical for what I have in mind. I want to prevent the Guest account from making any modifications to the computer. And I cannot use Parental Controls on a Guest account.

 

[Brink]

Hello Xavier, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Option One yes, but you could use OPTION TWO (if available in your edition of Windows 7) will allow you to specify.


By default, a guest account cannot make changes that affect the computer anyways. When they log out, any changes they made to the guest account itself are automatically undone. There's really not any need to do anything else though.

To continue at your existing thread for this issues below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...st-account-making-modifications-computer.html

 

[JTBlack]

I've tried doing this both ways, but guest can still access programs and features, I'm the only one locked out and I have no idea why.

 

[Brink]

Hello JT, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Did you use step 3 in OPTION ONE, approved all prompts while merging the .reg file, and restart the computer afterwards?

 

[JTBlack]

Yes, I did that, and it's only locking me out, when I log in via the guest account, it's still able to view programs and features just fine, while I remain locked out.

*EDIT* I used method two and applied it to non Admin users and now guest can't view it. Turned out I wasn't doing method two correctly. Problem solved.

 

[Brink]

Great news.

OPTION ONE sets the same thing in the registry as OPTION TWO, so I'm not sure what went wrong unless a step was missed by mistake.