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Smart App Control

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2026 10:30 am
by Chalee
Hi

I've been using MMEX for many years and have always been happy with it.

A couple of months ago I bought a new Windows 11 laptop which is now blocking access. I understand that something called Smart App Control (SAC) runs for an evaluation period where any program is allowed then switches to enforcement status without any warning and the starts denying access. Running as administrator, using a shell command doesn't work so the only options I can see are to report this to Microsoft and wait for who knows how long or to disable SAC seemingly permanently.

Does anyone have a possible alternative solution?

EDIT: I sent a report to Microsoft without much hope but while I haven't had any feedback I thought I'd have another try before disabling SAC. Well the good news is that I'm back in so hopefully this problem won't come up for anyone else.

EDIT 2: SAC won't install the update that was released today!

Re: Smart App Control

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 5:01 pm
by frankieorabona
At the moment, Windows Smart App Control (SAC) does not allow excluding or whitelisting individual applications.
If an application is flagged as a false positive, there’s unfortunately no way to create an exception for it. This behavior is enforced by Windows itself.

MMEX is a legitimate open-source application, but it is not code-signed with a Microsoft-trusted certificate, which means SAC may block it.
The only available options are:
  • using MMEX on a system where SAC is not enforced.
Personally, I also find this functionality rather inconvenient. For this very reason, for the past few years, whenever I reinstall Windows, I choose not to enable optional diagnostic data during the initial setup process.

Unfortunately, this is a Windows security policy decision, and there’s nothing the application itself can do to work around it.