[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "how%20do%20i%20turn%20off%20smart%20app%20control"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "If you're using Windows 11 and want to turn off Smart App Control (SAC), here\u2019s how you can do it \u2014 plus what you need to know before making the change. SAC is a security feature that blocks or warns about apps that aren\u2019t recognized or trusted by Microsoft. Disabling it lowers your device's protection. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/windows-security/app-browser-control-in-the-windows-security-app?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 How to Turn Off Smart App Control\n\n1. Open **Settings**.\n2. Select **Privacy & Security** \u2192 **Windows Security**.\n3. Click on **App & browser control**.\n4. Under that section, choose **Smart App Control settings**. ([atera.com](https://www.atera.com/blog/how-to-turn-off-smart-app-control-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))\n5. If available, change the mode to **Off**. Confirm the change if prompted. ([atera.com](https://www.atera.com/blog/how-to-turn-off-smart-app-control-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0\ufe0f Important Details & Limitations\n\n- Windows will show you three modes: **On**, **Evaluation**, and **Off**. Evaluation mode is a trial period where Windows monitors your usage to determine if SAC is a good fit for your PC. Once this ends, you\u2019ll usually either get SAC turned on or off. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/windows-security/app-browser-control-in-the-windows-security-app?utm_source=openai))  \n- Before recent updates, turning SAC off was a permanent change\u2014you couldn\u2019t turn it back on without reinstalling or resetting Windows. That restriction has been lifted in many systems with the **April 2026 cumulative update** (e.g., patch KB5083769). On updated systems, you should be able to toggle SAC back on. ([computerworld.com](https://www.computerworld.com/article/4043925/windows-11-smart-app-control-explained.html?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d Additional Tips\n\n- If the SAC toggle is **grayed out or missing**, it could be because:\n   - Your PC isn\u2019t a fresh or clean install of Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/windows-security/app-browser-control-in-the-windows-security-app?utm_source=openai))\n   - The system is still in Evaluation mode and hasn\u2019t made a final decision. ([atera.com](https://www.atera.com/blog/how-to-turn-off-smart-app-control-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n- For advanced users or for use across multiple computers, there are **registry tweaks** that let you manually change SAC\u2019s state. This method involves setting the `VerifiedAndReputablePolicyState` value in the registry. Use with caution, and back up your system first. ([elevenforum.com](https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-smart-app-control-in-windows-11.4996/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you tell me your Windows version (like \u201c22H2\u201d or \u201c23H2\u201d) or whether you've recently applied updates, I can give you exact steps and double-check if your system supports toggling SAC off (and back on) freely."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "i%20recently%20applied%20updates"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "That\u2019s helpful \u2014 if you recently updated, there\u2019s a good chance your Windows 11 version includes recent changes to Smart App Control (SAC) behavior. Here\u2019s what I found out and what you can do now.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d What Changed with Recent Windows Updates\n\n1. Prior to April 2026, turning off SAC was a one-way street: once you disabled it (or it got disabled automatically after the evaluation period), you needed to reset or reinstall Windows to turn it back on. ([itechguides.com](https://www.itechguides.com/how-to-turn-smart-app-control-on-or-off-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. With the **April 2026 update** (notably patch **KB5083769**), Microsoft changed that policy. Now, on many systems, administrators and elevated users *can* disable and later re-enable SAC without needing to reinstall Windows \u2014 **as long as the setup conditions are met** (device eligibility, having the updates installed, etc.). ([computerworld.com](https://www.computerworld.com/article/4043925/windows-11-smart-app-control-explained.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. One major thing that was lifted: the \u201cclean install\u201d requirement. Before, SAC was only fully available (including being able to turn it on/off) on fresh installs of Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. Now that\u2019s no longer necessary on many updated systems. ([kartikmehtablog.com](https://kartikmehtablog.com/how-to-set-up-smart-app-control-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What This Means for You\n\nSince you said you *just* applied updates, here\u2019s what to check and do:\n\n1. **Navigate to SAC settings**  \n   Go to:  \n   `Settings \u2192 Privacy & Security \u2192 Windows Security \u2192 App & browser control \u2192 Smart App Control settings`  \n   From there, see if you have an option to switch SAC to **Off**. If so, you should be able to turn it off temporarily and then back on again. ([atera.com](https://www.atera.com/blog/how-to-turn-off-smart-app-control-in-windows-11/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Verify your system is up to date**  \n   Make sure both Windows updates and Microsoft Defender updates have been successfully installed. Some users noted you need the April 2026 updates in place (e.g. KB5083769) before the reversible toggle is available. ([computerworld.com](https://www.computerworld.com/article/4043925/windows-11-smart-app-control-explained.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **Check the evaluation status**  \n   SAC has three modes: **Evaluation**, **On**, or **Off**. If your PC is still in evaluation mode, you might see a toggle. If evaluation has ended and SAC is off (or automatically determined to be off), sometimes toggling back on isn\u2019t guaranteed unless those recent updates are correctly applied. ([computerworld.com](https://www.computerworld.com/article/4043925/windows-11-smart-app-control-explained.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Use with caution**  \n   If you turn SAC off, Windows will reduce its protection against untrusted or unsigned apps. Microsoft and guides recommend only turning it off temporarily \u2014 for example, to install necessary software \u2014 and then turning it back on. ([technobezz.com](https://www.technobezz.com/how-to-turn-off-smart-app-control-in-windows?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can walk you through checking your Windows version/build number and confirming whether your system is eligible to safely toggle SAC off and on. Do you want me to pull that up for your machine?"
    }
]