Published 2024-03-20 by TechNet New England
When Windows shows "This app has been blocked by your system administrator" or "Your IT administrator has limited access," it means a policy on your computer is preventing the application from running. ## Why This Happens In managed work environments, IT administrators use policies (Group Policy, Intune, AppLocker, or Windows Defender Application Control) to control what software can run on company computers. This is a security measure that prevents: Unauthorized software from running. Malware disguised as legitimate applications. Unlicensed software from being installed. Software conflicts that could destabilize the system. ## What You Can Do ### Option 1: Request the Application Through IT This is the correct approach. Contact your IT help desk and: Explain what application you need. Explain why you need it (what work task it supports). Provide the download link or installer name. Your IT team will review the request, verify the software is safe and compatible, and either install it for you or add it to the approved list. ### Option 2: Use the Web Version Many applications have browser-based alternatives that do not require installation: Microsoft Office: office.com Google Workspace: workspace.google.com Zoom: zoom.us/join Slack: app.slack.com Trello, Asana, Monday, Notion: All have web versions. ### Option 3: Check If an Approved Alternative Exists Your organization may already provide a tool that does the same thing. Ask IT before downloading third-party software. ## What NOT to Do **Do not try to bypass the restriction.** Attempting to disable security policies, rename executables, or use portable versions to work around the block may violate your organization's acceptable use policy and could result in disciplinary action. **Do not ask a colleague with admin rights to install it.** This creates a security audit trail that leads back to both of you. **Do not use personal devices for work data as a workaround.** Moving company files to personal devices to use unsanctioned software creates data security risks. ## If This Is Your Personal Computer If you own the computer and you are getting this message: 1. Make sure you are signed in as an administrator. 2. Right-click the application and select **Run as administrator**. 3. If that does not work, check Windows Security > App and browser control > Smart App Control. Smart App Control may be blocking the application because it is not commonly used. 4. Check if Windows Defender SmartScreen is blocking it. When the SmartScreen popup appears, click **More info > Run anyway** (only if you trust the source of the application).