User Account Control (UAC) - Blacking Out of Screen

How to Enable or Disable User Account Control (UAC) Blacking Out of Screen in Windows


information   Information
This is when the screen goes dark when the User Account Control prompt displays. This is called Secure Desktop mode. It is enabled by default in Windows.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Secure Desktop mode when the screen dims for a UAC prompt in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be to do this tutorial.

Note   Note
This is the same security mode used when you log on or press CTL+ALT+DELETE.
Tip   Tip
Disabling the UAC Secure Desktop will allow you to take screenshots of the UAC prompts, and will not freeze the whole computer screen while it waits for you to answer the UAC prompt.
warning   Warning
If you disable the Secure Desktop, you will be making your computer less secure. Displaying User Account Control elevation prompts on the Secure Desktop helps protect the user from unknowingly allowing a program to run with elevated privileges without their consent. Without this protection, it is much easier to create malware that tricks the user into approving an elevation request prompt that they really wanted to deny. The Secure Desktop helps protect against this because other software running on the machine is blocked from interacting with the user's interface. It is your computer and your choice.

EXAMPLE: UAC Secure Desktop Enabled in Vista

Example.jpg





METHOD ONE
Enable or Disable UAC Secure Desktop in Local Security Policy

1. Open the Local Security Policy editor.​
2. In the left pane, click on Local Policies to expand it. (See screenshot below)​
3. In the left pane, click on Security Options.​
4. In the right pane, right click on User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation and click Properties.​
Security_Policy.jpg

5. To Enable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Dot Enable and click on OK. (See left screenshot below step 6)​
NOTE: See the right screenshot below for a explanation of this.​
B) Go to step 7.​

6. To Disable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Dot Disable and click on OK.​
NOTE: See the right screenshot below for a explanation of this.​
Settings.jpg
Explain.jpg


7. Close the Local Security Policy window. Your done.​




METHOD TWO
Enable or Disable UAC Secure Desktop using a REG File

1. To Enable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​
Enable_Secure_Desktop.reg
download

B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Disable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​
Disable_Secure_Desktop.reg
download


3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click Merge.​
5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​
6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​




METHOD THREE
Enable or Disable UAC Secure Desktop in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then Click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7/8).​
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below)​
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

4. In the right pane, right click on PromptOnSecureDesktop and click on Modify.​
Registry.jpg

5. To Enable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 6)​
B) Go to step 7.​

6. To Disable UAC Secure Desktop
A) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK.​
Modify.jpg

7. Close regedit.​




METHOD FOUR
Enable or Disable UAC Secure Desktop in User Account Control Settings
NOTE: This method is only available in Windows 7 and Windows 8, and not in Vista.​
1. In Windows 7, change the UAC settings to the level 3 setting of Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my deskop), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)​
2. In Windows 8 and 8.1, change the UAC settings to the level 3 setting of Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my deskop), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
UAC_Settings.jpg

3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

That's it,​
Shawn​

 

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