Lock Desktop Apps (EXE)
Add desktop EXE programs, shortcuts, browsers, games, finance tools, editors, and admin utilities to the protected app list.
GiliSoft EXE Lock puts you in control of which applications can open on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. Protect accounting software, private browsers, business tools, editors, and games through dedicated lists for desktop EXE programs and supported Microsoft Store/UWP apps.
Choose how your protected apps behave. Password Verification requires the correct password before an app runs, so you can approve access when it is needed. Direct Block prevents protected apps from starting, keeping unwanted programs unavailable on a shared computer.
Use Temporary Unlock for maintenance or supervised access, then restore protection with your app list intact. The App Whitelist keeps trusted applications and essential system items outside the lock list, while the Dashboard and Logs show protection status and recent launch attempts.
EXE Lock helps parents manage family PCs, teachers control classroom apps, and small businesses restrict access to finance and administration tools. Set your management password and recovery email, add the apps you want to protect, and choose a launch policy. Follow the EXE Lock user guide for the complete setup.
Add desktop EXE programs, shortcuts, browsers, games, finance tools, editors, and admin utilities to the protected app list.
Use the Store Apps (UWP) section to find supported modern Windows app targets and apply the same launch-control policies.
Choose Direct Block when selected software should be prevented from starting with no password prompt or extra user interaction.
Require the correct release password before protected apps can run. Allow access when you approve a launch on a family, classroom, or office PC.
Release app protection from the Dashboard for maintenance, demonstrations, or supervised use. Keep the target list in place when normal protection resumes.
Add trusted desktop or Store apps to the whitelist so they cannot be placed on the lock list. Default System Protected Items help keep essential processes available.
Review blocked attempts, launch activity, protected target counts, and service status from the dashboard and logs area.
Configure your password recovery address with Set Email in Settings, giving you a recovery route if the app-lock password is forgotten.
Manage the unified Startup / Release Password in Settings. Use it to enter EXE Lock and approve protected app launches under Password Verification.
Add desktop programs, shortcuts, and supported Store app targets through the app lists. Check each displayed path or identifier to confirm the right target.
We use EXE Lock to protect finance tools with Password Verification and block unrelated apps directly on shared office PCs.
The Desktop Apps and Store Apps lists make it clear which targets are protected, so daily administration is much easier.
Direct Block works well for prohibited software, while Password Verification gives managers a controlled way to approve access.
The whitelist helps us avoid locking trusted system items while still protecting the apps that matter on shared workstations.
Temporary Unlock is useful during maintenance because we can release protected apps briefly without removing the policy.
Recent intercept logs help us confirm when blocked apps were attempted and whether protection is running as expected.
For school lab PCs, EXE Lock helps us block games and admin utilities while keeping approved learning software available.
Password recovery email gives our team a cleaner fallback before deploying app locks on computers used by multiple staff.
On Windows 11 and Windows 10 front-desk machines, the product gives us focused app control without a heavy policy setup.
Preview the main app-lock workflow: monitor protection status, lock desktop EXE apps, manage Microsoft Store apps, choose a launch policy, and maintain whitelist and recovery settings.
Put a password before selected browsers, games, chat tools, and personal apps, or block programs that should stay unavailable on the family computer.
Require password approval before accounting, payroll, reporting, or administration software opens on shared workstations. Review blocked attempts from the Dashboard.
Block distracting software in classrooms, labs, and training rooms. Keep trusted learning apps on the whitelist and use Temporary Unlock when maintenance is needed.
Find the correct executable, add it to Desktop Apps, and require password verification before it runs.
Use one release password to approve app launches on shared Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers.
Use Direct Block for prohibited apps and Password Verification for applications that supervisors may approve.
Use the dedicated Store Apps (UWP) list to find supported modern Windows app targets and apply the same launch policies.
Keep non-work software, games, launchers, and entertainment apps unavailable unless an authorized person approves access.
Explore EXE Lock for local app control with a visual target list, launch policies, a whitelist, and blocked-attempt records.
Add traditional Windows programs in Desktop Apps (EXE), or select supported installed Microsoft Store and UWP targets in Store Apps (UWP). You can protect browsers, games, editors, accounting software, and other desktop tools. Select the executable that actually starts the application and verify its displayed path.
Choose Direct Block to prevent protected apps from starting without a password prompt. Choose Password Verification to show a prompt and allow the app to run after the correct release password is entered. Set the intended behavior in Lock Policy, which applies to the protected target list.
Yes. Use Temporary Unlock on the Dashboard when you need to install updates, perform maintenance, or allow supervised access. This releases protection without deleting the app list. Restore normal protection afterward and confirm that Protection Status is Running.
Apps in the whitelist cannot be added to the lock list. Settings includes default System Protected Items and lets you add custom desktop or Store app entries. Use it to keep trusted applications and essential processes outside launch restrictions.
Yes. The Dashboard shows Blocked Attempts and Recent Intercept Logs. Review the event time, process, action, and status, or open Logs for more records. These records help you check which application was intercepted and whether your protection rule worked.
Check that Protection Status is Running and Temporary Unlock is no longer active. Confirm the target path: a shortcut may launch a helper or launcher before starting the main program. Review the current EXE or Store app target after an application update, then test its normal shortcut again.
Settings uses a unified Startup / Release Password for opening EXE Lock and approving launches under Password Verification. Use Change Password to update it and Set Email to configure the password recovery address. If you forget the password, use the recovery route associated with that email.
Editors highlighted practical EXE launch protection for shared desktops and office environments.
Coverage noted straightforward setup for teams needing app-level access control.
We think its easy-to-use UI and shortcut key supporting also lead
to its great popularity...
Reviewers praised stable password prompting and predictable lock behavior for controlled program access on Windows PCs.
Lab observations mentioned reliable use on repeated open and relaunch attempts.
A perfect solution to solve the permission problem of operating your
apps when you are not around...
Independent write-ups described EXE Lock as a focused utility for app access control on multi-user systems.
Commentary emphasized low learning curve and clear administration flow.
Lock any EXE program in 3 steps to make sure no one can use it without authorization...
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