# Prohibit Software Last Updated On: 10 Jul 2026 12 minutes read When it comes to software management, one integral part is to choose between software that can be used and unused. However, prohibiting a software is dynamic in nature. A software is allowed to use for specific users while the same is restricted for some users. IT admins are now in the state to prohibit certain software however, allow the same for certain users. Endpoint Central's Prohibit Software lets IT admins achieve this with few clicks. Check these steps on how to customize the prohibit software rules for your enterprise needs. > **Note:** Prohibit Software is available only for Windows Desktop Apps. ## Adding prohibited software The first step is to add a software that you wish to prohibit. Once added, during every inventory scan the agent checks for that software and updates the server of the same. If the post configurations are enabled, the configured implementations will take place. To add a software: 1. Navigate to **Prohibit Software** under the Inventory view. This will list the details of all the software that are already prohibited, if configured already. 2. Click **Add Prohibited Software**. This will open the Add Prohibited Software dialog listing all the software detected in the managed computers. You should have [scanned the Windows systems](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/inventory/inventory-scan.html) at least once to have the details of the software here. 3. Select the software that you wish to prohibit and move them to Prohibited List. **Note:** In case you have grouped certain software and you are adding that Software Group under the Prohibited Software List, then the parent software in that group will get added. 4. After adding all the software, click **Update**. The software gets added to the prohibited list. ![Prohibit Software console view under Inventory in Endpoint Central.](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/desktop-central/help/inventory/prohibit-software-1.webp) ## Removing prohibited software To remove a prohibited software, select the software that you wish to remove from the prohibited list and click **Remove Prohibited Software** to eliminate the selected software from the prohibited software list. ## Configuring the Auto-Uninstallation Policy When a prohibit software is added, you can add some auto-uninstallation settings to automatically uninstall that software, when found on the targeted computers. The uninstallation will happen during the subsequent refresh-cycle. Follow the steps given below to configure the Auto-Uninstall Policy: 1. Select the **Auto-Uninstall Policy** tab. 2. Select **Enable Automatic Uninstallation** check box. 3. Specify the Maximum number of Software that can be uninstalled from a computer during the subsequent refresh cycle. **Note:** Increasing this number will cause high CPU usage during uninstallation. If the detected prohibited software count exceeds the limit (maximum number of software to be uninstalled) in a computer, the exceeding numbers of software will be uninstalled during the subsequent startup. 4. Select **Notify User before Uninstalling** check box and specify any custom message in case you want to prompt to the user before the software uninstallation. **Note:** The user will be notified with an Alert message during logon and whenever the agent detects prohibited software. This functionality will be applicable only if the **Notify User Settings** is configured. 5. Specify the wait-window for the software uninstallation. Say if you want to remove the software three days after it has been detected, then mention 3 in the text box provided. 6. Click **Save** to save changes. > Auto-Uninstallation option is available by default for `.msi` applications and for `.exe` applications, silent switches are required for uninstallation. The following steps will guide you through the Auto-Uninstallation of `.exe` based software applications. 1. Select the **Prohibited SW** tab and click on **Not Configured** link under **Uninstall command** against the `.exe` application that needs to be uninstalled. 2. The **Add/Edit Uninstall Command** window pops up. 3. Choose **Pre-fill Uninstall Command** or **I will specify myself** **Pre-fill Uninstall Command** - Selecting this option will fetch the uninstall command of the application from the Add/Remove programs and will be displayed here. Only the silent switch needs to be specified. **I will specify Myself** - Uninstall command and the silent switch should be entered manually. It is recommended to test the uninstallation command manually to verify its correctness. 4. Click **Save** to save the settings. 5. Verify the status in **Auto Uninstallation Status Tab** (This uninstallation will happen based on Auto-Uninstall Policy configured) 6. Under **Auto Uninstallation Status** select **Detailed View** to see the status and remarks. > You can choose to uninstall a software by configuring auto uninstall policy. However, this will not prevent users from installing a software/application. Once this software is installed, it will get uninstalled automatically. ## Excluding Computers from Software Uninstallation Under certain circumstances, a software that is prohibited will be required by a specific department to work on. For instance, when social media applications and software are predominantly restricted, some departments might require that to boost your work. Under such cases, you can configure an Exclusion to allow those specific users to access this software. You can create a [custom group](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/custom-groups/creating_custom_groups.html) comprising specific computers or can add individual computers to the Exclude list. The following steps will help you exclude groups: 1. Navigate to **Prohibit Software** under Inventory view. This will list the details of all the software that are already prohibited. 2. Select the checkbox corresponding to the specified software and click the link under Exclusions column. This opens the **Add Exclusions** dialog. 3. Select whether to exclude custom groups or computers and select the groups/computers and move it to the **Excluded** list. 4. Click on **Save** to save changes. ## Approving requests to use prohibited software This feature is supported only for customers who use Endpoint Central version (10.0.192) or above. 1. From the agent tray icon, end-users can find the list of prohibited software in their network and choose to raise requests to use specific prohibited software based on their needs. 2. These requests can be handled from the product's web console -> Inventory -> Prohibit Software -> User Requests. 3. **If you have integrated Endpoint Central with ServiceDesk Plus (Version 9203 or above),** - The requests to use prohibited software can be resolved only from ServiceDesk Plus console. Know how to resolve requests in ServiceDesk Plus [here](https://help.servicedeskplus.com/requests/submit-for-approval.html). - To associate the requests to use prohibited software to ServiceDesk Plus templates, from Endpoint Central navigate to admin tab -> under integration settings, ServiceDesk Plus -> Select the "Send requests for using Prohibited Software as tickets to ServiceDesk Plus for approval" option and provide the ServiceDesk Plus template name. 4. Once the technician approves the request, users will be allowed to install and use the requested software. ## Configuring Global Exclusion Similar to excluding computers and custom groups for individual software, you can create a global exclusion list of computers. Computers that are added to the Global Exclusion list, either manually or via custom groups, applies to all the software. This means all these computers can have any of the software that have been marked as prohibited. To configure global exclusion, click the **Configure Global Exclusion** button and select the required computers/custom group of computers and save.