Windows Smart App Control blocking Positron executable file?

[ayee21]

I have Positron downloaded on my personal Windows 11 Pro desktop updated to the latest version (2025.10.1-4). I attemped to open it through the desktop shortcut but I get this error:

I uninstalled the app and attempted to redownload. After the installation was finished, I checkmarked the "Launch Positron" box within the Completing the Positron Setup Wizard menu and clicked Finish on the bottom right, but then I get this error:

Opening the desktop shortcut and through the Windows search bar results in the same message in the first image. I tested this on the system level install (images above are from system install), and user level install and I get the same results.

I know that from researching online the best thing to do is to just disable the Windows Smart App Control since you can't unblock an app (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/smart-app-control-frequently-asked-questions-285ea03d-fa88-4d56-882e-6698afdb7003), but before doing this I am wondering if anyone has ran into this issue before and has found a fix other than disabling smart app control? I am asking because I also have Positron downloaded on my work machine and never had any issues.

Here is my windows version for more info:
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 24H2
Installed on ‎2025-‎09-‎06
OS build 26100.6899
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

[nstrayer]

Thank you for reporting this issue, @ayee21!

Because Smart App Control uses AI-based predictions to determine if an app is safe to run it can be difficult to know exactly why it chooses to block an app.

The fact that Positron works on your work machine but not your personal machine suggests that either:

1. Your work machine has Smart App Control disabled or set to a less restrictive mode
2. The specific Positron build/version on your work machine passed Smart App Control's checks

This issue is likely related to how Positron's Windows installer is signed. While our installers are code-signed, Smart App Control may want more or different kinds of signing.

Related Issues

This appears to be part of a broader pattern of Windows security software interacting with Positron:

• #5905 - Windows Defender blocking the kernel supervisor component
• #5208 - Windows installer signing process improvements

Converting to an Issue

Since this affects the ability to install and run Positron on Windows 11 systems with Smart App Control enabled, would you mind creating a formal issue for this? This would help us track and investigate the signing requirements. Please include:

• Your system details (which you've already provided - thank you!)
• The Positron version you're trying to install
• Whether this is the first time installing Positron on this machine
• Screenshots (which you've already included)

This is something the build/infrastructure team should be aware of as it impacts Windows 11 deployments with default security settings.

[ayee21]

Thank you for the reply @nstrayer!

I just attempted to reinstall Positron on my desktop and it now seems to be working properly. I have also tested this with older versions (2025.10.0-199) and (2025.09.0-139), and had no issues with those versions as well. The only thing I did differently from last time was restarting my setup (which I did the first time I had this issue, but came across the same error over and over again from my screenshots above).

Because Smart App Control uses AI-based predictions to determine if an app is safe to run it can be difficult to know exactly why it chooses to block an app.

This would be my initial guess as to why it was blocked in the first place, maybe all of a sudden the Smart App Control AI checks passed and it allowed me to finally run Positron, but I'm not an expert on this program so I won't speculate more on it (note that I still have Smart App Control ON with my setup).

I will close this discussion for now and hold off on creating a formal issue since I can't seem to recreate this error any more.