Is Microsoft Windows Smart App Control driving you mad?

Smart App Control is a new feature that has been in development for some time. New Windows Updates may change the behaviour of this feature. Starting April 2026, Smart App Control interferes with the working of several applications.

Smart App Control is not a Defender anti-virus feature, instead it falls under Microsoft’s classification of Privacy and Security.

Unfortunately, like so many Microsoft tools, it is clumsy and cumbersome, with no level of granularity.

The good news, is that a good Anti-Virus product should provide all the security you need, and the heavy handed approach of Smart App control is not essential.

To deactivate Smart App Control

• Search Windows for Settings
• Privacy & Security
• Windows Security
• App & Browser Control
• Smart App Control
• Set Smart App Control to OFF

Based on your version of Windows 11, the screen layout may look different.