How to Fix Bitcoin Core’s Installation Error “This app has been blocked for your protection.”

When you try to download the Bitcoin Core to run a node, you get this error on Windows and it blocks you from installing.

This app has been blocked for your protection.

An administrator has blocked you from running this app. For more information, contact the administrator.

bitcoin-0.21.0-win64-setup.exe

The Bitcoin.org instructions are unhelpful, it just says that some Windows users have issues with installing it. The reason is that some nefarious individuals have uploaded code in the blockchain that triggers Antivirus programs. This code is inert and cannot harm your computer, but Windows simply stonewalls you when you try.

Here’s how to fix it:

• Download Bitcoin Core. Run it, get stonewalled. Make sure you remember the folder.
• Click “Search” on Windows taskbar, type “cmd,” and don’t hit enter.
• Right-click on Command Prompt (It’s the old DOS cmd.exe command prompt) and “Run as administrator.” Click allow.
• Type the following command
• net user administrator /active:yes
• Hit enter. It should tell you ‘The command completed successfully.”
• Click the windows button, Click on the Person button with your name, sign out.
• Sign in again with Administrator, there should be an option at the lower left.
• Wait for it to finish, if you haven’t logged in again as admin Windows 10 has to do some inane stuff first. You might be asked to allow tracking and ad permissions, feel free to reject everything.
• You should have a clean desktop. Just go to where you downloaded Bitcoin Core and run it.
• It should allow you to install it as normal. After installation is complete you can log out and log back in your main account. Then you can run Bitcoin Core and let it sync the blockchain etc. Make sure you allow permissions in your firewall when the prompt shows up.