▷ How to fix “Unable to access Windows Smartscreen

Some Windows users have asked us for advice after the Windows SmartScreen feature apparently blocks Microsoft's own applications from opening.. Affected users report that Windows SmartScreen cannot be accessed at this time, an error occurs when they try to open applications from the built-in Windows suite (Maps, Alarms, Photos, Mail, etc.).

SmartScreen cannot be accessed at this time

What is Windows Smart Display?

SmartScreen is a cloud-based antiphishing and antimalware component that is included in all versions of Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 10. This security component is also used with Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Outlook.com.

While SmartScreen is idle or inaccessible on an end-user PC, the machine will not be able to download anything through official and unofficial channels.

What Causes The Windows Smart Display Cannot Be Accessed? error

After researching the topic and examining various user reports, we got a pretty good idea of ​​the factors that could lead to this problem. Here is a list of the culprits that are likely responsible for the Windows SmartScreen error not being accessible:

• Damaged Windows account: certain inconsistencies with your Windows account could trigger this problem. Users who are in a similar situation have solved the problem by creating a new Windows account

• SmartScreen is disabled from Windows Defender Security Center: this particular error can occur if the user or a third party app has disabled the SmartScreen filter.

• SmartScreen is down due to an MS problem: how SmartScreen is a component of the cloud, there have been cases in the past where this security component was down for all users for a couple of hours until maintenance was completed.

• The error is caused by a proxy entry: multiple users have reported that the issue was resolved as soon as they disabled their proxy from network settings.

How To Fix Windows Smart Display Can't Reach Error

If you are currently having difficulty solving the same problem, This article will provide you with a couple of verified troubleshooting steps. Then, You have a collection of methods that other users in a similar situation have used to resolve the error Windows SmartScreen cannot be accessed right now.

For best results, follow the methods in the order they are presented until you find a solution that successfully solves the problem for your particular scenario. Let us begin!

Method 1: make sure SmartScreen is turned on

Before exploring additional repair strategies, let's make sure the SmartScreen filter is enabled on your particular machine. You can easily verify this by going to Windows Defender's built-in Security Center.

Here is a quick guide to make sure SmartScreen is activated on your machine:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open a Run dialog. Then type »ms-settings: windowsdefender »and press Enter to open the Windows Security tab of the Settings application Run dialog: ms-settings: windowsdefender

2. Click the Open Windows Defender Security Center button under Windows Security.

3. Inside the Windows Defender Security Center, click on Application and Browser Control. Select Application & Browser Control

4. Make sure the Check apps and files toggle option is set to Warn. Then, check if the same is true for SmartScreen apps for Microsoft Edge and SmartScreen for Microsoft Store. Flip the switch to Warn

5. If SmartScreen was disabled, restart the computer after making the changes and see if the error is resolved on the next startup.

If Windows SmartScreen cannot be accessed at this time, the error persists, continue below with next method.

Method 2: check if SmartScreen is down for maintenance

Another possible scenario is that the SmartScreen component is scheduled for maintenance. When this happens, the SmartScreen component will be inaccessible to many users at the same time.

Before taking some potentially unnecessary steps, take some time to check Microsoft communication channels or forums to see the announcement of a scheduled maintenance session (the unexpected). Good places to start are the Microsoft Answers forum or the Windows Twitter account.. You can also do an online search to see if recent SmartScreen topics have come up.

If you confirm that SmartScreen is not turned off for maintenance reasons, continue with next method.

Method 3: disable proxy server (if appropriate)

Multiple users have reported that the issue was fixed as soon as they disabled the use of a proxy server via the built-in path. Apparently, certain proxy servers can interfere with the SmartScreen component and render it unusable.

Note: If you are not using a proxy server, ignore this method and proceed to the next.

To disable proxy server entry on your particular machine, follow the guide below:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. They, write or paste »ms-settings: network-proxy »and press Enter to open the Proxy tab of the Settings application. Run dialog: ms-settings: network-proxy

2. Inside the Proxy tab, scroll down to Manual proxy configuration and make sure the switch associated with Use a proxy server is disabled.

   

3. Reboot the machine and check if the problem is resolved on the next boot.

If the problem is still not resolved, proceed to the next method below.

Method 4: create a new Windows user account

Some affected users have reported that the problem was fixed after creating a new Windows user account. Although this procedure will cause you to lose a couple of settings applied through your user account, generally effective to avoid the error Windows SmartScreen cannot be accessed at this time.

If you decide to create a new Windows user account, follow the instructions below:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Then type or paste »ms-settings: otherusers »and press Enter to open the Family and other tab of the Accounts menu. Run Dialog Box: ms-settings: Other users

2. Then, click Add someone else to this PC and then click I don't have this person's login information.

3. Enter user credentials (email, password, country and date of birth) and click the Next button again. Insert user credentials

   Note: If you want to create a new local user account, click Add a user without a Microsoft account.

4. Once you have finished creating your new Windows account, click the Start icon, click the account icon and choose Exit.

   

5. Now, from the login screen, select your newly created account to log in with it.

6. Once you have logged in, see if the problem was resolved when trying to open a native Windows app.