The Run Command box has been part of Windows operating systems for a long time, and Windows 11/10 is not an exception. Using Run, you can directly open several applications, such as Registry Editor, Notepad, Computer Management, Local Group Policy Editor, etc. However, it is possible to stop opening the Run command on Windows 11/10 if you want.
Once you restrict the Run box using Registry Editor or Group Policy, when someone tries to open it using any method, they will see, “This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.” Please refer to the below screenshot:-
In this gearupwindows article, we will guide you on enabling and disabling the Run Command box (Windows + R) in Windows 11. We will review both the methods Local Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor.
How to Turn On or Off the Run Command box using Local Group Policy Editor?
Gentle Reminder: Group Policy is available in only Windows 11/10 Enterprise and Pro editions. If you use Windows 11 Home Edition, you’ll need to add Group Policy on your computer.
To enable or disable the Run Command box on Windows 11 using Local Group Policy Editor, do the following:-
Step 1. First, launch Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. When the Local Group Policy Editor window appears on your computer, navigate to the following path in the left side pane:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
Step 3. Then, on the right-side pane of the “Start Menu and Taskbar” folder, double-click the “Remove Run menu from Start Menu” policy.
Step 4. Select Enabled.
Step 5. Next, click Apply.
Step 6. After that, click OK.
Step 7. Finally, reboot your computer to apply the policy.
That’s all. You should fail when you try to access the Run command box by pressing Windows + R hotkey or any other method.
To enable the Run Command box again, repeat the above steps, and in step 4, select the Not Configured option. Click Apply/OK button.
How to Enable or Disable Run Command box through Registry Editor?
Gentle Reminder: Unknown editing Windows Registry may damage your Windows installation; hence, we recommend taking a full backup of the Windows Registry and creating a system restore point.
To enable or disable the Run Command box through Registry Editor, use the following steps:-
Step 1. At first, launch Registry Editor.
Step 2. When Registry Editor appears on the screen, browse to the following key from the left side pane:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Step 3. Then, right-click on the Explorer folder and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. After that, name it as NoRun.
Step 4. Now, double-click on the NoRun REG_DWORD and Set “Value data” to 1. Then, hit the OK button.
Step 5. Now reboot your computer to apply the changes.
To enable the Run command box again, repeat the above steps, and in step 4, set the Value data to 0. That’s all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Run Command box has been a useful feature in Windows operating systems for a long time, and it is still available in Windows 11/10. However, if you want to disable it, you can do so using either Local Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. The steps for enabling and disabling the Run Command box are explained in detail in this gearupwindows article. It is important to note that editing the Windows Registry can be risky, and it is recommended to take a full backup of the Windows Registry and create a system restore point before making any changes.
