windows defender is blocking installation

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Jesse Prowisor

When I download and try to install the Windows client, Microsoft Defender Smartscreen pops up a warning about an unknown app.  It has never done this before...  Any thoughts why Windows is flagging your installer?

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Jesse,

    we may need to update our certificate... I think that is in process. However, there is no security risk whatsoever... so you should be able to click on "More information" or the equivalent and install quite safely!

     

     

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    Jesse Prowisor

    Hi Frank and team - any update on this?  It concerns me - have been using the web client...  can you let me know if/when you will update the client?

    Thanks again!

    JP

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Jesse,

    You are welcome to try and install again:

    https://workflowy.com/downloads/

     

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    Randy Miller

    Unfortunately, this is still an issue, and there is no option to proceed with the installation after clicking through the 'More information'; the only choice is the 'Don't run'  option. Any potential fix on the drawing board?

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Randy,

    We are very much still trying to resolve this. We kind of have our hands tied. We've reached out to Microsoft. Would you paste a screenshot after you've clicked on "More information"?

    Also, could you try removing all traces of WorkFlowy using the free Revo Uninstaller software and then installing the desktop app again?: https://www.workflowy.com/downloads/ 

     

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    Randy Miller

    Thank you for quick response, Frank!

    Here's a screenshot after executing the EXE:

    And here's the screenshot after clicking 'More info':

    I've not yet had an opportunity to uninstall / reinstall; that's next on the list. I'll report back.

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.

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    Randy Miller

    Frank,

    I just uninstalled Workflowy using the Revo Uninstaller, downloaded Workflowy again and tried to install, but was met with the same Windows Defender window.

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    What do you see after clicking on "More info"? Normally you should be able to power through it and install...

     

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    Randy Miller

    Frank,

    After clicking 'More info', the App name and Publisher name is shown:

    Only options are 'Don't run' in lower right or 'X' in upper right.

    I see no other options ...

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Aah, ok. Would you try uninstalling via Revo Uninstaller when you get the chance?... and I'll wait for your response...

     

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    Randy Miller

    Frank,

    Already tried that, please see above.

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Ok... so would you check what programs defender is blocking and put WorkFlowy on the whitelist?:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/add-an-exclusion-to-windows-security-811816c0-4dfd-af4a-47e4-c301afe13b26

     

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    Randy Miller

    Frank,

    Unfortunately I do not access to this page; our IT Department has blocked access to the Windows Defender Security Center Virus & Threat Protection. 

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Randy, aaah, ok, you may need help from your IT Department to install the desktop app. It's definitely an access issue that needs resolving on your end. In the meantime, you can try loading WorkFlowy in your browser at workflowy.com 

     

     

     

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    Randy Miller

    Frank,

    Thank you for your help; with the assistance of my IT Department I now have the Workflowy app up and running. :)

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    Richard Russell

    Same problem happens to me, and it's complicated by the fact that every so often, Workflowy disappears from my pinned apps on the taskbar, so I can't start it, and then stops working at all and needs re-installing. I worked around it by downloading with Chrome and accepting the "risk", and it's all OK - but I think this has happened a few times over the past few months.

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    yt

    Could it be because.... they view Workflowy as a big threat to OneNote?

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    Jesse Prowisor

    Workflowy team -- have you guys contacted Microsoft?  Your app is blocked on all installs.  I am trying to introduce your tool to the clients I work with (they always ask me "what are you using?") -- and when we try to install it is throwing up warning from windows. It's embarrassing.

    For the record - a few folks started using competition instead...  Workflowy is better.  Can we get this resolved?

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Jesse,

    Yes... we have reached out to Microsoft. They're not easy to communicate with. I've asked the team to persist in this...

    Ref: https://workflowy.phacility.com/T905

     

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    Jesse Prowisor

    Thank you!  In the meantime I'm showing folks how to use the "app" function in Edge and Chrome.  ;-)

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Hi Jesse,

    This is not happening to all users... just a lucky few users... but what should be possible immediately is to power through the install by clicking on "more information" or something to that effect. Not ideal when installing and showing others the WorkFlowy ropes simultaneously :-(

     

     

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    Miquel

    Just for you guys to know, the issue is at least not fully resolved. The warning appeared to me as well. I did install workflowy anyway after reading this thread, but it is not nice and many will just not bother.

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    Atle
    • Edited

    Just got this issue as well. It's of course bypassable, but looks sketchy (even if it isn't). Enough for me to Google it and end up here.

    Win11

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    If anyone has contacts at Microsoft we can speak to, that would be amazing. We have had no luck in speaking to them...

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    Jason Pratt

    This seems to lay out the problem and options for overcoming it from the developer side pretty well: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48946680/how-to-avoid-the-windows-defender-smartscreen-prevented-an-unrecognized-app-fro

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    Frank (Workflowy Support)

    Thank you Jason. I'll get that to the team.

    Internal link

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