If you are getting “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error on your Windows 10 PC then it may be a matter of concern. Users report that even when you are logged in to the Administrator account, Windows 10 still throws the same error and blocks you from accessing many system and third-party apps. There have been instances of mmc.exe blocking access to system apps like Device Manager and Disk Management. So if you are facing these issues on your Windows 10 computer then follow our four-point guide below.

Here, we have mentioned four different methods and each has its own application. Some are workarounds, others give you instant access and one method gets to the root of the problem. So to find the solution to “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error, let’s go ahead and learn about all the methods.

  • Turn Off Windows SmartScreen

  • Scan Your PC

  • Force Open the Program with Command Prompt

  • Disable UAC

  • Turn Off Windows SmartScreen

You should use this technique when you are trying to open a third-party program such as a game or a utility app and experience “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error. This will disable the unverified publisher popup when you try to access the file.

Turn Off Windows SmartScreen

  1. Next, open “Reputation-based Protection” in Windows Security.

Scan Your PC

It may sound like a bit of common advice, but trust me, if you are unable to open system programs like Device Manager or Disk Management then your PC has most likely been compromised by malware. Windows 10 usually throws “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error when it’s unable to verify the digital signature of such programs. Basically, the integrity check is failing and that’s why your system is not allowing you to run the program, even when you are the administrator.

In case, it’s still not working then you should clean install Windows 10 on your PC to completely remove the virus from the system. You can also reset your PC through the cloud to clean install Windows 10.

Force Open the Program with Command Prompt

If you are hit by “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error then this method will act as a temporary solution. You will be able to access system programs like Device Manager or execute any third-party app from the Command Prompt. That said, you should still clean install Windows 10 if you want the problem to go away completely.

Disable UAC

This is our last solution to overcome the “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error. This method works really well as you are essentially disabling the whole User Account Control (UAC) system on your PC. However, I won’t really recommend this process unless you have an urgent need to access a program. I still hold that if the antivirus does not solve the problem then clean installing Windows 10 is the only secure option out there.

  1. Once you have done that, you will now be able to execute all sorts of programs from system apps to third-party programs.

So that is how you can fix “An administrator has blocked you from running this app” error on your Windows 10 PC and resolve the mmc.exe dialog that keeps popping up. As I repeated above, this error most likely occurs when a system is compromised so you are recommended to back up your files and clean install Windows 10.