How to Fix the "This Publisher Has Been Blocked From Running Software" Error in Windows 10 & 11

If Windows is blocking a legitimate app from installing, there are ways to get it on your system regardless.

When you try to install a new application, Windows verifies the file certificate to validate its authenticity. If the application is considered unsafe, it will block the installation and show you the "this publisher has been blocked from running software on your machine" error.

Another reason for this error includes your system administrator blocking the installation of certain apps on your PC. Irrespective of the reason, if you know the application is genuine, here we show you how to unblock and install blocked apps in Windows.

1. Unblock the Application Using File Properties

You can change the security attributes of executables using the File Properties tool. Windows can detect unsafe files coming from another computer as a threat and block them to protect the user from malicious threats.

You can manually unblock such files using File Properties. Here’s how to do it.

1. Right-click on the blocked setup file and select Properties.
2. In the Properties dialog, open the General tab.
3. Next, click the Unblock button under the Security section.
4. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

If Windows continues to flag download files as a threat, here is how you can stop Windows from blocking your downloaded files. If there is no Unblock option in File Properties, proceed to the next step.

2. Manage and Unblock the Publisher

You can remove the publisher of your application from the untrusted certificates list to facilitate the installation of the blocked file. You can do this using the Internet Properties dialog via the Control Panel. Here’s how to do it.

To remove the publisher from the untrusted certificate list:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
2. Type control and click OK to open Control Panel.
3. Next, click on Network and Internet.
   
4. Then, click on Internet Options.
   
5. In the Internet Properties dialog, open the Content tab.
   
6. Next, click on the Certificates button under the Certificate section.
7. In the Certificate dialog, click the small right-arrow button (top-right) until you see the Untrusted Publishers tab.
   
8. Here you will see a list of blocked publishers. Go through the list and locate the publisher you want to unblock. Explore the Friendly Name column to find the publisher name.
9. If found, select the publisher you want to remove and click the Remove button.
10. Click Yes to confirm the action.
11. Next, click Close and then click Apply to save the changes.

Now try to run the installer and check if the "this publisher has been blocked from running software on your machine" error is resolved.

3. Install the Application Using the Command Prompt

If the publisher is not listed in the untrusted list, you can try to force install the application using Command Prompt. To install apps using cmd, you need to execute the file path of the setup file with administrative privilege. This is one of the many useful things you can do using Command Prompt.

To install the app using Command Prompt:

1. First, you need to find the file path. That is the directory where the installer (setup file) is located. So, open File Explorer (by using Win + E) and navigate to the folder where your setup file is located.
   
2. Next, right-click on the file and then select Copy as path. This will copy the file path to your clipboard.
3. Next, press the Win key, type cmd, and click on Run as Administrator for Command Prompt.
   
4. In the Command Prompt window, press Ctrl + V to paste the file path.
   
5. Hit Enter to run the executable.
6. Wait for the installation wizard to appear and follow on-screen instructions to install the app without the error.

4. Disable SmartScreen Filter Temporarily

SmartScreen Filter is part of Microsoft Windows’s security solution. When enabled, it protects you against harmful websites and applications.

However, at times, it can also block genuine apps after incorrectly identifying them as malicious. If you trust the publisher and the app, you can temporarily disable SmartScreen Filter to complete the installation.

The steps below are for Windows 11; if you use Windows 10 or an older version, the steps may vary a little.

To disable SmartScreen Filter in Windows 11:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Open the Privacy & Security tab in the left pane.
   
3. Click on Windows Security.
4. Next, click on Open Windows Security.
5. Open the App & browser control tab in the left pane.
   
6. Click on Reputation-based protection settings under the Reputation-based protection section.
   
7. Toggle the switch for Check apps and files to disable SmartScreen Filter for offline app installation. Click Yes to confirm the action.
   
8. Next, toggle the switch for Potentially Unwanted app blocking to turn it off. Click Yes to confirm the action.

Now you can run the installer and complete the installation. Once done, make sure to turn on SmartScreen Filter in Windows Security.

Bypass the Publisher Blocked Restriction in Windows

Windows uses multiple layers of security to protect your computer from malicious applications. However, these protective measures can also lead to false positives and prevent you from installing a genuine app.

Fortunately, you can change the file properties or disable the SmartScreen filter temporarily to bypass these restrictions and complete the installation successfully.