Latest Windows update disables key security setting – but there’s a workaround

ZDNET’s cardinal takeaways

• The October Windows update disables Smart App Control.
• You’re incapable to crook connected the diagnostic if it’s turned off.
• You tin temporarily squash the bug done a Registry hack.

Microsoft’s monthly Windows updates ever look to sneak successful immoderate caller bug that impacts an important diagnostic oregon setting. And that’s the lawsuit with this month’s update.

Also: 5 apps I ever instal connected caller Windows PCs – and astir are free

Rolled retired connected October 13, the latest Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 has a glitch that disables a information mounting for Smart App Control. Added to Windows 11 successful 2022, Smart App Control blocks perchance malicious oregon suspicious apps and files from infecting your computer. Stronger and stricter than immoderate of the other built-in information settings, this is designed to support you against caller and emerging threats.

How to cheque if you’re affected

Microsoft says that it’s moving connected a hole for this bug and volition supply an update successful a aboriginal release. In the meantime, you tin get past the glitch by adding 2 keys to the Windows Registry. Microsoft has provided the steps for doing that.

Also: This escaped Windows 11 instrumentality tin rescue your PC erstwhile things spell wrong

First, though, you’ll privation to spot if you’re affected. Go to Settings, prime Privacy & security, and past click Windows Security. In the conception for Protection areas, prime the 1 for App & browser control. In the caller model that pops up, click the nexus for Smart App Control settings. If the enactment is presently acceptable to Off and the 1 for On is grayed out, past you’ve been deed by the bug.

Lance Whitney/ZDNET

To get past this, benignant cmd successful the Search container to unfastened a bid punctual window. But take the enactment to tally arsenic administrator; otherwise, you won’t beryllium capable to modify the Registry.

At the bid prompt, benignant the pursuing commands 1 aft the other:

reg adhd “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides” /v 2883193997 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg adhd “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides” /v 2850574478 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

After each command, you should person a confirmation that the cognition completed successfully. In that case, adjacent the bid punctual and reboot your PC. Log backmost successful and caput to the aforesaid Smart App Control settings screen. You should present spot that the On enactment is erstwhile again available, allowing you to activate the feature.

Also: My 5 favourite Windows Insider features

In general, I deliberation it’s a bully thought to alteration Smart App Control to support you from perchance malicious apps and files. The lone downside is that it tin get successful your mode if you download oregon instal a batch of files from unfamiliar sources. In that case, you tin ever crook it off. But effort it for a portion to spot if you tin unrecorded with it, arsenic it tin forestall chartless malware from infecting your system.

Lance Whitney is simply a exertion writer with an IT background. He's written for TechRepublic, PCMag, Macworld, and Time, among others, He besides teaches classes successful AI, cybersecurity, and societal media. See afloat bio