# \[SOLVED\] Windows 11 Blocking SpikeRecorder Install ("System administrator has set policies...")

**URL:** <https://forum.backyardbrains.com/t/solved-windows-11-blocking-spikerecorder-install-system-administrator-has-set-policies/128>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [February 25, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/t/solved-windows-11-blocking-spikerecorder-install-system-administrator-has-set-policies/128 "2026-02-25T15:58:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![marija](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/user_avatar/forum.backyardbrains.com/marija/32/57_2.png) [@marija](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/u/marija)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/t/solved-windows-11-blocking-spikerecorder-install-system-administrator-has-set-policies/128/1 "2026-02-25T15:58:27Z")

</div>

# Hey fellow Backyard Brains users! 🧠

If you’re trying to install the latest version of **SpikeRecorder** on a new **Windows 11** machine and hitting a brick wall, you’re not alone. I recently ran into this and wanted to share the fix.

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## 🚫 The Problem

When trying to run the `SpikeRecorder.msi` installer, Windows throws a popup error that says:

> **“The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation.”**

 ![](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/uploads/default/original/1X/2d63556612cde6f70e8700c8535484aa71a055f0.jpeg)

If this is your personal PC, this error is _really_ confusing.

The actual culprit is a relatively new Windows 11 security feature called **Smart App Control** , which will usually pop up a tiny notification in the bottom right corner of your screen at the same time.

 ![](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/uploads/default/original/1X/61110531de9bed86084ddfb37d38394183bbf276.jpeg)

Because **SpikeRecorder** is a specialized educational tool (and not a massive commercial app), Windows Smart App Control sometimes flags it simply because it doesn’t recognize it yet. It blocks the file, which causes the Windows Installer to throw that generic _system administrator_ error.

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## ✅ How to Fix It

You can manually bypass this block.

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### 🛠 Solution 1: Unblock the File (_Highly Recommended_)

Windows usually just flags the installer because it was downloaded from the internet. You can easily unblock it from the file’s properties.

1. **Right-click** on the SpikeRecorder installer file you just downloaded.
2. Select **Properties**.
3. Look at the very bottom of the **General** tab.
  - If you see a security warning that says:  
_“This file came from another computer and might be blocked…”_  
check the box next to **Unblock**.

4. Click **Apply** and **OK** , then double-click the installer again.

 ![](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/uploads/default/original/1X/ada9a031eaa2373cc71f94a6cfd40a0cdea13ba7.png)

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### ⚠ Solution 2: Turn Off Smart App Control (_Use with extreme caution_)

If Solution 1 doesn’t work, you can turn off the Smart App Control feature. However, if you’re using a school or university computer, you probably won’t be able to do this.

> 🚨 **IMPORTANT MICROSOFT WARNING:**  
> Microsoft designed Smart App Control so that if you turn it off, it **cannot be turned back on** unless you completely reinstall Windows from scratch.

Steps:

1. Go to **Windows Settings** → **Privacy & Security** → **Windows Security**.
2. Click **App & browser control**.
3. Click **Smart App Control settings**.
4. Change the toggle from **“Evaluation”** or **“On”** to **Off**.

 ![](https://forum.backyardbrains.com/uploads/default/original/1X/21cb80285e1f886e4e968184f46235980d087bfc.png)

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Hope this helps you get back to recording those spikes and experimenting!

Let us know if you run into any other weird Windows 11 quirks.