Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are a category of software that can cause your device to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or at worst, install other software which may be more harmful or annoying.

How do I protect my PC from potentially unwanted? What is Potentially unwanted apps are blocked by default? Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are a category of software that can cause your machine to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or at worst, install other software which may be more harmful or annoying.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Smart App Control, a Windows feature designed to block malicious, untrusted, or potentially unwanted apps from running on your device.

If a desktop app can’t be installed, uninstalled, or updated in Windows 11, built‑in recovery options and troubleshooting steps can help resolve common issues such as incomplete installs or corrupted app data. Note Use these steps for Windows programs. If the app was installed from Microsoft Store, see Fix problems with apps from Microsoft ...

The App & Browser Control page in the Windows Security app provides essential security settings that protect your Windows device from unsafe apps, files, websites, and downloads. By combining reputation‑based protection with exploit mitigation, it helps prevent malware, phishing attempts, and other security threats from compromising your system.

This app has been blocked Microsoft Defender SmartScreen has the ability to block potentially unwanted apps before they're installed and if that happens you'll see a blocked event in the Protection History. If you believe the block was a mistake and you want to allow the file to run you can select Actions, then Allow.

For the potentially unwanted apps, Windows can let you know that we have concerns, and let you decide if you want to proceed with installing them or not. For more information about turning on protection from potentially unwanted apps see Protect your PC from potentially unwanted applications.

Here's a list of additional settings available in the firewall and network protection page: Allow an app through firewall: If the firewall is blocking an app you need, you can add an exception for that app, or open a specific port. Learn more about that process (and why you might not want to) at Risks of Allowing Apps Through Windows Firewall.

This article explains how to repair apps and programs in Windows 10 and use Settings to fix common app issues without reinstalling. You can repair some apps and programs if they're not running correctly.

How can I fix problems with apps from Microsoft store? What if I can't get updates for apps and games? Show me how to turn on automatic app updates.