Other causes of the issue include Microsoft Defender’s SmartScreen blocking your app and your antivirus recognizing the app as a potential threat.
Restart Your Windows 10/11 PC
When you get the “This App Has Been Blocked by Your System Administrator” error, you should reboot your PC. Doing so allows you to fix many minor problems on your computer, some of which may be causing your application not to open. Make sure to save your unsaved work before rebooting your PC, or you risk losing your work.
Unblock the App
Windows’ security feature blocks certain files, especially the ones downloaded from the internet. In this case, you’ll have to unblock your app file before the app can launch. You can do that using a Windows option, as explained below.
Run the App Using Command Prompt
If you have trouble launching your app from File Explorer, try accessing the app via Command Prompt. This method uses your app’s path and allows you to access the app.
Run the App as an Administrator
One reason Windows displays a “This App Has Been Blocked by Your System Administrator” error is that the app doesn’t have required admin rights. Some apps need those permissions to function fully. In this case, you can run the app as an admin and see if that fixes the issue. If your app launches successfully in admin mode, make Windows always launch this app shortcut with admin rights as follows: From now on, Windows will always launch your specified app shortcut with administrative privileges. If yours isn’t an administrator account, ask your PC’s admin to turn your ordinary account into an admin one using the following steps:
Disable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
Microsoft Defender’s SmartScreen feature screens your apps and files for various threats. The feature may have identified your app as a potential threat, preventing you from launching the app. If you’re sure your app’s source is trustable, you can disable Windows SmartScreen and allow your app to open.
Turn Off Your Antivirus Software
Your antivirus program (Microsoft Defender or a third-party one) may have recognized your app as a virus or malware, preventing the launch of that app. If you’re sure your app isn’t a virus or contains malware, you can temporarily disable your antivirus protection and access your app. If you use Microsoft Defender, here’s how to turn off this program’s protection:
Launch “Blocked” Apps Successfully on Your Windows Computer
Windows blocks the launch of your apps for various reasons, including security ones. You can use one or more of the methods outlined above to bypass those restrictions and launch your app. If your app still doesn’t open, uninstall and reinstall it, and that should work.
