Barry -- so sorry for your troubles. Here are some possible fixes:
When GnuCash gets blocked, it’s almost always one of three things:
AVAST’s Web Shield
AVAST’s File Shield
Windows Defender’s SmartScreen. The good news is that all three have
clean, deterministic fixes.
1. Confirm whether AVAST is the blocker - AVAST usually shows a small
toast notification like “Threat blocked” or “File moved to quarantine.”
If you missed it: Check AVAST’s quarantine - Open Avast -Go to
Protection → Quarantine. Look for anything named gnucash‑setup.exe or
similar. If it’s there, restore it and mark it as Allowed. If it’s not
in quarantine, the block happened earlier in the chain.
2. If AVAST Web Shield is blocking the download, this could be another
cause. Add a temporary exception. Open Avast. Go to Menu → Settings →
Exceptions. Add this URL: Code https://www.gnucash.org. Retry the
download. Once downloaded, you can remove the exception if you want
to.
AVAST sometimes flags open‑source installers because they aren’t signed
with expensive commercial certificates, not because they’re unsafe.
3. If AVAST File Shield blocks the installer - This happens after the
file is downloaded. Allow the file. Open Avast. Go to Protection →
Core Shields Temporarily turn off File Shield. Run the GnuCash
installer. Turn File Shield back on. Add the installed GnuCash folder
to Exceptions if needed.
4. If Windows Defender SmartScreen is the blocker - SmartScreen often
warns about “unrecognized apps.” Bypass SmartScreen safely
When the blue warning appears: Click More info. Click Run anyway.
This does not disable Defender; it just allows this one installer.
5. If Defender is blocking the download outright - Rare, but possible.
Check Defender’s protection history. Open Windows Security. Go to Virus
& threat protection. Click Protection history. Look for a blocked item
related to GnuCash. Choose Allow on device.
Also, make sure to verify the installer is legitimate. Download only
from: https://www.gnucash.org/download.phtml (gnucash.org in Bing)
Checksum verification is optional but reassuring.
Finally, do you have access to a local repair shop? A local repair shop
would be able to diagnose and fix your problem - I am sure of it.
Please understand -- what you are describing sounds like a problem
inherent with your security software. If your AVAST or Windows Defender
have a rule to block GNUcash -- you will not get past it until you
unblock the rule. IMO -- Your computer has been set to NOT accept
GNUcash. GNUcash is open source software -- this is where the rub is.
As an aside, try another open source program (maybe LibreOffice,
Inkscape, or 7-zip). If any of these downloads give you the same issue
-- the culprit is that your computer will not accept any open source
software. Again - a local repair shop would be great assistance.
Best of luck-- and -- Don't be discouraged. There is a logical reason
for this happening -- you just have to find it.
Ken
------ Original Message ------
From "barrym via gnucash-user" <[email protected]>
To [email protected]
Cc [email protected]
Date 1/14/2026 7:45:33 AM
Subject [GNC] Windows 11 security blocker
Hello,
You will have seen a number of messages from me about not being able to
download and install GNUcash.
I have examined all the options I could find for overriding or suspending all
the security systems that were on my Lenovo IdeaPad 1 running Windows 11.
All the advice and suggestions that I found and tried gave me one of two
results, the well known Windows etc cannot run this app, or, it is infected.
I'm not sure if this is a new phenomenon applicable only to Windows 11 or
Lenovo, but it exists.
Apart from installing another OS has anybody any ideas? If not I am left with
trying to do 2025 year end from another app or doing the job by hand.
Barry
-- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com
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