Fix Pluely v1 Won't Launch on Windows (SmartScreen)

If Windows shows a blue "Windows protected your PC" screen when you try to open Pluely v1, this is Microsoft Defender SmartScreen — a standard warning for newer apps that haven't yet built up a wide reputation with Microsoft's systems. It doesn't mean Pluely is unsafe; it just means Windows wants explicit confirmation before running it. Occasionally an antivirus product may also flag Pluely incorrectly. Here's how to handle both.

Why SmartScreen blocks it

SmartScreen scores applications partly based on how many Windows users have already downloaded and run them. Newer or less widely distributed apps — even completely legitimate ones — commonly trigger this warning on their first run on a given machine, regardless of the app's actual safety. This is expected for a growing app like Pluely and isn't specific to any problem with your download.

How to run Pluely anyway

1. When the "Windows protected your PC" screen appears, look for "More info" — click it.
2. A new option, "Run anyway," will appear below the app details.
3. Click Run anyway.
4. Pluely will launch, and Windows will generally remember this choice, so future launches shouldn't show the warning again for that same installer/build.

If you don't see "More info," make sure you're looking at the full SmartScreen dialog and not a separate antivirus popup (see below) — they can look similar but require different steps.

If your antivirus flags Pluely instead

Some third-party antivirus tools occasionally flag new or less common desktop apps as suspicious purely based on how new or unsigned-looking the executable is to their heuristics — this is a known type of false positive across the industry for smaller independent apps, not specific evidence of an actual problem.

1. Check your antivirus's quarantine or blocked-items list for Pluely.
2. If found, restore it and add an exception/allow rule for Pluely if your antivirus supports one.
3. Make sure you downloaded Pluely from the official Installation page — always verify the source before overriding any security warning.
4. If you're on a managed work computer, your IT department's policy may block the install entirely; in that case, contact them rather than trying to bypass it yourself.

After launching successfully

Once Pluely opens, grant the microphone and any other permissions it requests so Listen mode and push-to-talk work correctly — see Permissions for what each one does.

Still stuck?

If Pluely still won't launch after using "Run anyway" and checking your antivirus, check the FAQ or reach out from the Pluely website with your Windows version and antivirus product.