How to Disable Open File Security Warning Windows

Here’s a step-by-step guide to disable the “Open File Security Warning” in Windows, which appears when opening files downloaded from the internet (e.g., “This file came from another computer…”):

Method 1: Unblock Individual Files via Properties

1. Right-click the downloaded file (e.g., a .exe, .ps1, or .docx file).
2. Select Properties from the context menu.
3. At the bottom of the General tab, check the box labeled Unblock.
4. Click Apply > OK.

• This removes the security warning for that specific file.

Method 2: Disable for All Files via Registry Editor

Warning: Editing the registry can cause system issues. Back up your registry first.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments  

3. Right-click the right panel > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it SaveZoneInformation.
5. Double-click the new entry and set its value to 1.
6. Restart your PC.

• This prevents Windows from marking downloaded files as “blocked.”

Method 3: Use Group Policy (Windows Pro/Enterprise)

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:

   User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager  

3. Double-click Do not preserve zone information in file attachments.
4. Select Enabled > Apply > OK.
5. Restart your PC.

Method 4: Disable via PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run this command to unblock all files in a folder:
   powershell Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Your\Folder\Path" | Unblock-File
   Replace C:\Your\Folder\Path with your actual folder location.

Notes and Warnings

• Security Risk: Disabling this warning removes a layer of protection against malicious files. Only disable it if you trust the source of your downloads.
• Browser-Specific: Some browsers (e.g., Chrome) may still flag files as unsafe. Use browser settings to adjust this behavior.
• Temporary Fix: For one-time use, click Run anyway when the warning appears.

Alternative: Use Third-Party Tools

Tools like Unlocker or Streams (Microsoft Sysinternals) can bulk-remove the “blocked” flag from files. By following these steps, you can suppress the security warning for downloaded files. Always ensure files are from trusted sources before disabling these protections! 🔒🛠️