Stop Programs from Running using the Registry in Windows

Sometimes telling someone not to run an application on your computer isn’t good enough, you have to take drastic measures. Like this one! Here is how to stop programs from running using the registry in Windows.

Stop Programs from Running using the Registry

First log in to your Windows Machine as an Administrator. Then open the Run window by pressing the Windows Key + R and then typing in regedit. This will open up the registry where we can stop applications from running.

Then navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

Then add a new Key and call it “Explorer”.

Here is what the Policies will look like after you created the new key.

Under Explorer  key, you will need to add a DWORD Value called DisallowRun and set it to 1. This is the right side of the registry key.

Then add another Key under Explorer called “RestrictRun”

Under RestrictRun add a New String Value by Right Clicking and selecting String Value.

Just name the String value of any EXE that you don’t want to run, for example I’m going to restrict Google’s Chrome by adding the string chrome.exe.

Then restart. The next time I try to run Chrome I get this nice little error message.

You can add any number of programs under the registry key. Once you have them all added, nobody will have access unless you delete the keys. If you have any questions or comments please post them below. What are some of your favorite ways to stop certain people from accessing files or programs?