As a computer user, you know that the Command Prompt and PowerShell are two of the most powerful tools in Windows. With these tools, you can execute commands, run scripts and automate tasks with ease. However, there may be situations where you would want to disable the Command Prompt or PowerShell to restrict access for certain users, to prevent accidental system changes, or to block malicious scripts and programs. Here’s how to disable these tools on your Windows PC.

Step 1: Open the Group Policy Editor

In Windows 10, you can quickly access the Group Policy Editor by typing “gpedit.msc” in the search box and pressing Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the Windows Settings

In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows PowerShell (or Command Prompt).

Step 3: Disable the Access to PowerShell (or Command Prompt)

Double-click the “Prevent access to the Command Prompt” (or “Prevent access to Windows PowerShell”) option to open its settings window.

Select the “Enabled” option to disable the Command Prompt or PowerShell.

To further restrict access to these tools, you can enable the “Disable the command prompt script processing also” (or “Turn off PowerShell Script Execution”) option.

Step 4: Apply the Changes

Click the “OK” button to save the changes and close the settings window. The changes will take effect immediately.

Step 5: Test the Disabled Command Prompt or PowerShell

To check if the Command Prompt or PowerShell is disabled, try to open them from the Start menu or by using the shortcut keys (Win + R). You should see an error message that says “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your administrator.”

If you need to re-enable the Command Prompt or PowerShell, simply go back to the settings window and select the “Not Configured” option or “Disabled” option.

In conclusion, disabling the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell can be useful in various scenarios, such as if you want to restrict user access or increase the system’s security. With these simple steps, you can easily disable or enable these tools whenever you need to.