How to block potentially unwanted apps on Windows 11

Are you wondering how to block apps on your Windows 11 PC? Some of our readers have also recently expressed interest in learning how to block certain apps as part of new features for Windows 11 PCs.

So, this article will highlight some of the reasons and simplified steps to block potentially unwanted apps on your Windows 11 PC.

Why do you need to block applications on your computer?

Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) are a type of software that can cause multiple problems on your computer. So, here are some reasons why you need to block certain apps on your Windows 11 PC:

• PUA Can Cause Your PC to Run Slowly – Potentially Unwanted Applications It can cause serious problems such as making your computer lag or run slowly, so the application needs to be detected and blocked.
• Displaying Unexpected Ads – Some users have also reported certain apps as PUAs because they display unexpected ads that can sometimes be very malicious.
• Install other harmful software and malware – You can easily determine whether downloaded apps or app installers are by comparing them to a list of known unsafe websites and programs Safe or potentially dangerous.

The above are some of the few reasons why you need to block potentially unwanted applications on your PC. Here are simplified steps on how to block them on Windows 11.

How to block potentially unwanted apps on Windows 11?

1. Block potentially unwanted applications in Windows Microsoft Defender

Left-click the "
1. Start" button and type Windows Security in the search box center and start it.
Select
2. "Application and Browser Controls" from the search results. Now, click on Reputation-based protection settings.
If
3. UAC prompts you, please select "Yes" to continue.
Now you can find a control that allows you to
4. turn on or turn off blocking of potentially unwanted apps.
Now, click on the button to
5. open the "Potentially Unwanted App Blocking" setting.

You can manage this setting to protect your computer from malicious or potentially unwanted apps, files, and websites. However, if your Windows Microsoft Defender is missing or won't open, you can browse our dedicated guide here to help you resolve the issue.

Also, it is recommended that you keep this feature and enable Block Apps and Block Downloads at the same time.

2. Use PowerShell to enable PUA blocking

Click the "
1. Start" button, type PowerShell in the search box, and then click " to Run as administrator".
When
2. UAC is prompted, click "Yes".
Type the following command and press to install this package:
3. EnterPowerShellGet –: WindowsDefender_InternalEvaluationSettings<strong></strong>

If you encounter a Windows PowerShell error, check out this article to learn how to fix PowerShell if it isn't working properly or won't open.

3. Use a dedicated PUP removal tool

PUPs are dangerous because sometimes you don’t even know you have them installed. They sneak into other software or disguise themselves as friendly applications.

However, we have a list of specialized software that have specialized tools to automatically detect and remove PUPs from your PC.

Also, the best antivirus software for Windows 11 can identify and block such PUPs, but the best barrier against them is your vigilance.

Be careful not to install apps from untrusted sources, and pay attention to the installation process of any new apps. If it is recommended to install other components or software, make sure you do not allow them.

Windows is also known for installing a ton of tools it finds useful. We recommend reading our guide on how to stop Windows from installing apps without your permission. This guide is for Windows 10, but all solutions apply to Windows 11 as well.

You can also decide to disable background apps in Windows 11 to avoid unnecessary errors.

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