How to stop Safe Surfer protection from being uninstalled on Windows computers
This guide will show you how to stop Safe Surfer protection from being uninstalled on a Windows computer.
This guide is designed to be used on a phone—scan the QR code below to get started.
There are two levels of stopping uninstallation: the first is to set a PIN for the Safe Surfer app, and the second is to change the device's user account settings to enforce the protection installation. We recommend performing the first step in all cases, and also the second step if the person who uses this device is tech-savvy.
Due to the new technology that that Safe Surfer for Windows app uses, the app can be uninstalled by the device user. No problem—we've designed the app so that this will not affect the protection installation (and any set PIN) whatsoever. If the app is ever uninstalled, it can simply be reinstalled if you need to manage the protection at a later time.
In the Safe Surfer app, click the Settings icon at the upper-right corner.
Click the "Set up" button found in the PIN section.
Set a PIN, then click the OK button.
Once you have set a PIN, from now on the app will ask for the PIN for sensitive app settings. The Screentime menu can still be accessed without a PIN by design.
This step involves changing the user account settings for this device. This means that the device user will not be able to remove the protection installation without the password of a device administrator (being you). We will now go through the steps to make a new administrator account, then we will set the device user's user account to have standard-level permissions.
Open the Settings app, which can be found by clicking the Start button on the taskbar. Inside the Settings app, click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar, then click the “Other users” menu.
Click the “Add account” button found in the “Add other user” section.
Click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”.
Click “Add a user without a Microsoft account”.
Call the user account “Admin” and enter a password. Make sure to use a memorable password that only you know. Click the Next button.
Click the Admin user account listing, then click the “Change account type” button found in the “Account options” section.
Click the drop-down box, then select the “Administrator” option. Click the OK button. You can now close the Settings app.
Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click the user account at the lower-left corner of the Start menu. Click the Admin user on the options list and log in to it.
Once you have logged in to the Admin user account, click the Start button > Settings app > Accounts > Other users. Click the user account listing that belongs to the person being protected, then click the “Change account type” button found in the “Account options” section.
Click the drop-down box, then select the Standard User option. Click the OK button. Repeat the account type change for any other applicable user accounts. Once you’ve done this, you can now close the Settings app.
Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click the power button icon at the lower-right corner of the Start menu. Click the Restart option.
Great work! This device is now fully protected. To start monitoring protected devices, visit our easy-to-use online dashboard.
If you have any other Windows devices you would like to protect, visit our Windows guides page.
Disclaimer: Safe Surfer Limited is in no way associated with Microsoft Corporation.
This guide is designed to be used on a phone—scan the QR code below to get started.
Step 1: All cases
There are two levels of stopping uninstallation: the first is to set a PIN for the Safe Surfer app, and the second is to change the device's user account settings to enforce the protection installation. We recommend performing the first step in all cases, and also the second step if the person who uses this device is tech-savvy.
Due to the new technology that that Safe Surfer for Windows app uses, the app can be uninstalled by the device user. No problem—we've designed the app so that this will not affect the protection installation (and any set PIN) whatsoever. If the app is ever uninstalled, it can simply be reinstalled if you need to manage the protection at a later time.
In the Safe Surfer app, click the Settings icon at the upper-right corner.
Click the "Set up" button found in the PIN section.
Set a PIN, then click the OK button.
Once you have set a PIN, from now on the app will ask for the PIN for sensitive app settings. The Screentime menu can still be accessed without a PIN by design.
Step 2: Tech-savvy users
This step involves changing the user account settings for this device. This means that the device user will not be able to remove the protection installation without the password of a device administrator (being you). We will now go through the steps to make a new administrator account, then we will set the device user's user account to have standard-level permissions.
Open the Settings app, which can be found by clicking the Start button on the taskbar. Inside the Settings app, click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar, then click the “Other users” menu.
Click the “Add account” button found in the “Add other user” section.
Click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”.
Click “Add a user without a Microsoft account”.
Call the user account “Admin” and enter a password. Make sure to use a memorable password that only you know. Click the Next button.
Click the Admin user account listing, then click the “Change account type” button found in the “Account options” section.
Click the drop-down box, then select the “Administrator” option. Click the OK button. You can now close the Settings app.
Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click the user account at the lower-left corner of the Start menu. Click the Admin user on the options list and log in to it.
Once you have logged in to the Admin user account, click the Start button > Settings app > Accounts > Other users. Click the user account listing that belongs to the person being protected, then click the “Change account type” button found in the “Account options” section.
Click the drop-down box, then select the Standard User option. Click the OK button. Repeat the account type change for any other applicable user accounts. Once you’ve done this, you can now close the Settings app.
Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click the power button icon at the lower-right corner of the Start menu. Click the Restart option.
Protection complete
Great work! This device is now fully protected. To start monitoring protected devices, visit our easy-to-use online dashboard.
If you have any other Windows devices you would like to protect, visit our Windows guides page.
Disclaimer: Safe Surfer Limited is in no way associated with Microsoft Corporation.
Updated on: 25/09/2023
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