[Fix] “This App has been Blocked for Your Protection” Error Message in Windows
Today I faced this strange and very annoying problem in Windows 10 computer. I was trying to open Task Scheduler (Taskschd.msc) and when I executed taskschd.msc command using RUN dialog box (WIN+R), Windows showed following error message:
[User Account Control]
This app has been blocked for your protection.
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An administrator has blocked you from running this app. For more information, contact the administrator.
mmc.exe
Publisher: Unknown
File origin: Hard drive on this computer
Program location: “C:\Windows\system32\mmc.exe” “C:\Windows\system32\taskschd.msc”
Show information about this publisher’s certificate
[Close]
“Show information about this publisher’s certificate” was a hyperlink but when I clicked on it, nothing happened. It didn’t open any webpage or window.
Following screenshot shows the actual error message:
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When I saw “mmc.exe” executable listed in the error message, I tried to open mmc.exe and other MMC programs such as Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), Computer Management (compmgmt.msc), Services Manager (services.msc), Local Security Policy (secpol.msc), Device Manager (devmgmt.msc), etc. All MMC programs threw same error message.
So basically all MMC snap-ins programs which have .msc extension, were not working in my Windows 10 device. All were showing “This app has been blocked for your protection” error message upon launch.
After some troubleshooting, I was able to fix the issue. In this tutorial, I’m going to list all tried solutions to fix this problem.
If you also face this issue in any Windows version while trying to launch a .msc program or a normal program/app or setup installer, try following solutions one by one and it’ll solve your problem:
Table of Contents
- SOLUTION 1: Open Program from Command Prompt as Administrator
- SOLUTION 2: Turn Off User Account Control Notifications
- SOLUTION 3: Turn Off SmartScreen Feature
- SOLUTION 4: Use Hidden Secret Built-in Administrator Account
- SOLUTION 5: Disable Admin Approval Mode
- SOLUTION 6: Copy Catroot Folder from Other Machines or Setup ISO
SOLUTION 1: Open Program from Command Prompt as Administrator
This is not a solution but a workaround. If you need to open the program urgently, you can try this 100% working workaround:
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator using any method given in following tutorial:
[Guide] Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows
2. Now type the program executable name in Command Prompt window such as gpedit.msc, taskschd.msc or any other EXE file.
Press Enter key and the program will open successfully without any error message.
PS: You can get the program’s executable name or path using its shortcut’s properties.
SOLUTION 2: Turn Off User Account Control Notifications
Since the error message was shown by User Account Control feature, first try to disable UAC.
1. Open Start Menu and type UAC. Windows will show “Change User Account Control Settings” in search results. Click on it.
Alternatively, you can open it using “Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Change User Account Control Settings” option.
2. Now set the slider to “Never Notify” and click on OK button.
Now try to open the program and it should now open without any error message.
SOLUTION 3: Turn Off SmartScreen Feature
Sometimes SmartScreen filter feature can also cause this issue. Disabling SmartScreen can help in fixing this error message.
Following tutorials will help you in disabling SmartScreen filter in Windows:
[Tip] How to Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter in Windows 10
How to Disable SmartScreen Filter in Windows 8 and Later
It should fix the error message issue.
When we install Windows, it creates a default Administrator account which is disabled by default. You can consider it as Super User or Root account. You can activate it and use it to launch programs without any error message.
Following tutorial will help you in activating and enabling built-in Administrator account in all versions of Windows:
How to Enable / Activate Hidden Built-in Administrator Account in Windows
Once you sign in using built-in Administrator account, try to launch the program and it’ll open without any error message.
SOLUTION 5: Disable Admin Approval Mode
1. Open Secpol.msc using Command Prompt as Administrator (as mentioned in Solution 1) or using built-in Administrator account (as mentioned in Solution 4).
2. Now go to “Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options“.
3. In right-side pane, scroll down to bottom and double-click on “User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode” option.
4. Select Disabled option and apply changes.
Restart your computer and the error message should disappear.
Thanks to our reader “Arif034” for sharing this solution…
SOLUTION 6: Copy Catroot Folder from Other Machines or Setup ISO
This is the final solution which should work 100%, if the above mentioned solutions don’t work for you. Sometimes this error message might show due to missing or corrupted digital signature certificates database.
Windows stores the digital signatures certificates in C:\Windows\system32\catroot folder and if this folder is corrupted or a digital signature certificate is missing in this folder, you’ll get the above mentioned error message.
To fix this issue, you’ll need to copy Catroot folder from another working Windows computer and paste in your computer. Make sure the Windows version and edition must be same in both computers.
You can also copy Catroot folder from Windows setup ISO. Just extract the ISO using 7-Zip program and copy Catroot folder and paste in C:\Windows\System32 folder. If Windows asks for permission to overwrite existing files/folders, accept it.
Following tutorial will help you how to extract files from Windows setup ISO:
How to Extract Original (Default) System Files from Windows Setup ISO / Disc
Once you copy default Catroot folder to your computer, try to launch the program and it’ll open without any error message.
I had the same problem with Group Policy Editor but I found a fix:
1. Sign out your current account, then sign in to Windows built-in Administrator account.
2. Open gpedit.msc.
3. Go to “Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options”.
4. Find “User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode”.
5. Double-click it & tick “Disabled”, apply & restart your computer.
6. Sign in to your desired account & the problem should be gone.
^^ Thanks for sharing. Added to the main article.
I recently installed re-released version of Windows 10 October Update 2018. My problem is I am receiving notifications of available applications, but when I click notification icon (available in right down corner) then notification window slides but showing blank, I mean no messages are showing.
Many people says think happen when you disable an option ” Let apps run in the background ” in setting > privacy > background apps but I disabled this because of performance reason.
Any solution available to fix this problem?
I also reported this problem in Microsoft Community, but I got no responce.
Please add a post later if any solution available.
^^ Yes. It is a known issue:
https://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-10-action-center-not-showing-notifications/
Solution 5 work. However, windows 10 non longer ask for permission if running other programs.
I found if I restored to previous working windows 10 version and try to install SEP (14.2). this problem come back. Seem the cause is from SEP.
I tried to use Solution 6, However, windows refuse me to write anything into Directory “catroot”
Solution #5 worked for me.
Other sites recommended reinstalling the whole operating system!!!
Thanks a lot!