Best Ways to Turn off Microsoft-Verified Apps in Windows 11

To turn off Microsoft-Verified apps in Windows 11, you can use several methods depending on your preference and whether you have administrative privileges:

1. Group Policy Editor (for Windows 11 Pro):

   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender SmartScreen > Explorer.
   • Double-click "Configure App Install Control" and select "Not Configured" or "Disabled". Click "OK" and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

2. Registry Editor:

   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer.
   • Create a new String value named AicEnabled and set its value to "Anywhere". Click "OK" and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

   Alternatively, you can use Command Prompt (as an administrator):

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Run the following command and press Enter: reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer /v AicEnabled /t REG_SZ /d Anywhere

3. Settings App:

   • Press Win + i to open Settings.
   • Select "Apps" in the left sidebar, then click "Advanced app settings" on the right.
   • Scroll down to "Choose where to get apps" and select "Anywhere".

4. Command Prompt (as an administrator):

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Run the following command and press Enter: reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer /v AicEnabled /t REG_SZ /d Anywhere

Remember to restart your PC after making these changes for them to take effect. Please note that disabling Microsoft-Verified apps might expose your system to potential security risks, so proceed with caution.