Windows 11 introduces several advanced security mechanisms designed to protect users from malicious software. Among these is Smart App Control, a security feature that builds upon Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to prevent untrusted or potentially dangerous applications from executing. Unlike traditional antivirus software that relies heavily on scanning for known threat signatures, Smart App Control utilises a cloud-backed AI model and application signing certificates to evaluate the safety of an executable before it is allowed to run.
For enterprise environments, developers, and power users who frequently compile their own code or run unsigned niche software, the default behaviour of Smart App Control can sometimes be overly restrictive. Understanding how to properly configure, evaluate, and manage Smart App Control is essential for maintaining robust system security without crippling productivity.
Understanding Evaluation Mode
When Windows 11 is cleanly installed, Smart App Control begins in a state known as Evaluation Mode. During this period, the feature operates passively in the background. It monitors the applications you run, the scripts you execute, and your overall computing habits.
The purpose of this mode is to allow the Microsoft cloud AI to determine whether enforcing Smart App Control would cause excessive disruption to your workflow. If the system detects that you frequently rely on unsigned applications, custom scripts, or niche developer tools, Smart App Control will automatically turn itself off at the end of the evaluation period. Conversely, if your usage consists primarily of signed, trusted applications, it will silently transition to the ‘On’ state, actively blocking untrusted executables moving forward.
Manually Configuring Smart App Control
While the automated transition from Evaluation Mode is convenient for general users, system administrators and advanced users often require explicit control over the feature’s status.
To manually configure Smart App Control, navigate through the Windows Settings interface:
- Open the Windows Start menu and launch the Windows Security application.
- Select App & browser control from the left-hand navigation pane.
- Under the Smart App Control section, click on Smart App Control settings.
Here, you are presented with three distinct states:
- On: The feature is actively enforcing application control policies. Untrusted and unsigned applications will be blocked from executing.
- Evaluation: The passive monitoring state. Note that if you manually switch away from Evaluation Mode, you cannot return to it without performing a complete reinstallation of Windows 11.
- Off: The feature is completely disabled, allowing all executables to run subject only to standard Windows Defender antivirus scans.
The Implications of Disabling the Feature
If you choose to manually switch Smart App Control to the ‘Off’ state, you must understand the permanence of this decision. Once disabled, the underlying WDAC policies are permanently removed from the active system state. Microsoft designed the feature this way to prevent malicious software from simply toggling the security feature off and on again to bypass restrictions.
If you disable Smart App Control to run a specific unsigned application, you cannot simply turn the feature back on afterwards. Re-enabling Smart App Control requires a full system reset or a clean installation of Windows 11, ensuring that the system starts from a known, secure baseline before enforcing application control policies again.
Managing Developer Workflows with Smart App Control
For software developers, having Smart App Control actively enforcing policies can present immediate challenges, as locally compiled executables will not possess a trusted digital signature. When the feature is turned on, attempting to run a newly built application will result in an immediate block.
If you wish to maintain the high security posture of Smart App Control while developing software, the official workaround is to digitally sign your executables locally before running them. By generating a self-signed certificate and adding it to your system’s Trusted Root Certification Authorities store, you can sign your development builds during the compilation process. Smart App Control will verify this signature against the trusted store and allow the application to execute, providing a secure environment that accommodates active software development.
Integrating with Enterprise Security Policies
In managed IT environments, relying on individual users to manage Smart App Control is not viable. System administrators should instead utilise Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, such as Microsoft Intune, to deploy comprehensive Windows Defender Application Control policies across the fleet.
While Smart App Control is highly effective for consumer and small business devices, enterprise WDAC policies provide granular control over execution rules, allowing administrators to explicitly allowlist specific unsigned legacy applications, define trusted publishers, and manage deployment without requiring clean installations across the network.