How to Hide or Show Account Protection in Windows 10 Security

Windows Security’s Account Protection section offers several sign-in options and configurations for users. However, this might not fit into an organization’s security goals. If that’s the case, it’s best to keep the section hidden completely to streamline a person’s user experience and minimize confusion. With this expert guide, you’ll learn how to do that and the other intricacies of the matter:

How to hide the Account Protection section in Windows 10

There are a couple of ways you can hide the Account Protection section in Windows Security, depending on the edition of Windows 10 you’re working with. We have a few options available. Check them out and see which one works for you best:

Option 1: Using the Local Group Policy Editor (for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education users)

For most Windows 10 editions, using the Local Group Policy Editor is the easiest and most straightforward way to hide Account Protection in Windows Security. Just make sure you back everything up first before doing anything, just in case any unintended changes are made.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Edit Group Policy and open it.
3. On the left sidebar, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Account Protection.
4. There, you’ll find the policy Hide the Account protection area. Double-click that policy.
5. Set it to Enabled.
6. Click Apply > OK.
7. The Account Protection section will now be hidden when you open Windows Security.

Option 2: Using Registry Editor (for all editions of Windows 10)

Windows 10 Home does not have a Local Group Policy Editor. If that’s the edition you’re using, or if you can’t access the Local Group Policy Editor in your version of Windows 10 for whatever reason, you can use the Windows Registry instead.

*Note: Editing the Windows Registry is an advanced skill. Before following these steps, ensure you create a backup to avoid unintended consequences. 

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Registry Editor and open it.
3. Type this into the address bar: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center
4. Look for the Account Protection key.
   1. If there’s no Account Protection key, right-click the Windows Defender Security Center key > New > Key.
   2. Name the new Key Account Protection.
5. Find the UILock value. If it isn’t there, follow these steps:
   1. Right-click the Account Protection key > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   2. Name the new value UILock.
6. Double-click the UILock value, set the value to 1, then click OK.
7. Restart your computer. The Account Protection section should be hidden in Windows Security when the computer boots back up again.

How to show the Account Protection section again

After you’ve learned how to hide the Account Protection section in Windows Security, it’s important to know how to show it again in case your organization’s sign-in policy changes and you need to use it in the future.

Using the Group Policy editor

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Edit Group Policy and open it.
3. On the left sidebar, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Account Protection.
4. There, you’ll find the policy Hide the Account protection area. Double-click that policy.
5. Set it to Disabled.
6. Click Apply > OK.
7. You can now see the Account Protection section again when you open Windows Security.

Using the Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Registry Editor and open it.
3. Type this into the address bar: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center
4. Double-click the UILock value.
5. Set the value to 0, then click OK.
6. Restart your computer. The Account Protection section can now be seen in Windows Security when the computer boots back up again.

What is Account Protection?

Windows offers different secure sign-in options like Windows Hello or Dynamic Lock. Account Protection is where users can manage these things, set their preferences, and customize their sign-in experience in the way that works best for their workflow.

Why hide it?

Sometimes, the sign-in options found in the Account Protection section don’t align with an organization’s security goals and standards. If the company doesn’t want to use Dynamic Lock or the other options found in that section, or if they have alternative sign-in options for their employees, it’s better to keep the entire section hidden. It streamlines the user experience and minimizes the possibility of users accessing sign-in options that they’re not supposed to.

Troubleshooting issues with hiding account protection in Windows 10

As you follow the guides above, you might run into a few unexpected errors. Here are some issues that people commonly encounter and how you can resolve them:

Issue: Group Policy not available

If you’re using Windows 10 Home, the Local Group Policy Editor isn’t available on your computer. You can use the Registry Editor to hide the Account Protection instead.

Issue: Change not showing up immediately

Try restarting Windows Security or the computer overall to refresh the interface.

Issue: Permissions error in Registry Editor

Make sure you have administrator privileges for the computer you’re using. Here’s a guide to help you find out:

1. Click the Start Menu > Settings.
2. In the left sidebar, select Accounts > Your Info.
3. If you do have administrator privileges, you should find the word “Administrator” under your account name.

If you’re sure you have the appropriate permissions, you can try running the Registry Editor as an administrator. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Registry Editor.
3. Right-click Registry Editor and select Run as administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about hiding Windows Defender Account Protection

Does hiding Account Protection disable its features?

No. It will just hide the interface. If you’ve already configured Windows Hello or Dynamic Lock, it will still work in the same way.

Can I hide other sections of Windows Security, too?

Yes. Just follow the same step-by-step guide, but look for the policy or key for the section you want to hide instead of Account Protection.

Is this reversible?

Yes. Just follow this step-by-step guide to show the Account Protection section again.

Streamline security settings by hiding Account Protection

For certain organizations, hiding the Account Protection section in Windows Security is the best option to streamline the interface and user experience. The task itself is easily done through the Local Group Policy Editor or through the Windows Registry, depending on what edition of Windows 10 you’re working with.

However, keep in mind that any settings and configurations made before the section was hidden still apply. With that said, if you do make new changes to settings found in the Account Protection section, showing the UI again is simple and easily reversible, so there’s no reason to worry. You won’t be making any permanent changes.