DeskWarden v1.2.0 · Application Security for Windows

Lock any app.
Your PC.
Your rules.

Protect any application the moment it opens. Instant lock, password protection, and brute-force defense — free, with no accounts, no subscriptions, and no telemetry.

Download for Windows Star on GitHub
Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) Open Source Private by Design
Google Chrome
BitTorrent
⊞
🔍 📁
10:24 AM
DeskWarden ✕
Google Chrome
Authentication required
Enter master password Show
Press Enter ↵ Forgot password?
Secure Password Protection
DeskWarden ✕
BitTorrent.exe
Permanently blocked
Access Denied
This application is permanently blocked.
Change the mode in Control Panel to unblock.
Permanent Restriction · DeskWarden
🔒 deskwarden.netlify.app
Interactive preview of the DeskWarden lock screen
Try it yourself
Instant
Pre-launch Lock
Locked the moment an app opens
Lightweight
No Electron
Runs quietly in the background
Private
By Design
No accounts, no telemetry
Free
No Subscriptions
No paywalls, no hidden costs
Core Protection

Built for Serious Windows Security

Instead of simply hiding windows, DeskWarden locks the application itself.

🧊

Instant Lock the Moment an App Opens

Protected apps are locked behind a full-screen password gate. Nothing is accessible until you authenticate.

🔑

Flexible Password Recovery

Recover access with your Emergency Recovery Key or Email OTP verification.

💾

Encrypted Backup Vaults

Export and migrate your complete setup into an AES-256 encrypted .deskwarden backup in seconds.

🛡️

Always-On Protection

Runs quietly in your system tray, starts with Windows, and resumes protection on login. Session unlocks reset after every restart.

How It Works

How DeskWarden Protects Your Apps

How DeskWarden detects, verifies, and unlocks protected apps — instantly.

STEP 01

App Launch Detected

DeskWarden notices the moment a protected app starts.

STEP 02

Instant Lock

Access is restricted immediately and the lock screen appears.

STEP 03

Secure Verification

Your master password is verified locally on your PC.

STEP 04

Unlock or Terminate

The correct password unlocks the app; repeated failed attempts close it.

Customized Enforcement

Four Flexible Protection Modes

Assign different security rules to different software based on your workflow.

Ask Always (Maximum Security)

Prompts for your master password every single time the application opens. Ideal for browsers, messaging apps, and private tools.

🔒 Pre-launch Verification ⚡ Instant Lock 🛡️ Brute-force Lockout
🔁
Continuous Prompt on Every Launch
Closing the app immediately re-engages protection.
Head-to-Head Comparison

Why DeskWarden Stands Out

See how DeskWarden compares to default Windows and typical commercial app lockers.

Feature Capability
🛡️ DeskWarden
 Built-in Windows Security Traditional App Lockers
Pre-Launch Native Process Freeze ✓ Instant lock on launch Not available Often window-hiding
Offline & Zero Telemetry ✓ No telemetry, no account N/A Varies
Pricing ✓ Free N/A Often subscription-based
Resource Footprint ✓ Lightweight, no Electron N/A Often heavier
Code Transparency ✓ Open source Closed source Often closed source
⚡ Pre-Launch Process Freeze
🛡️ DeskWarden ✓ Instant lock on launch
Built-in Windows Not available
Traditional Lockers Often window-hiding
🔒 Offline & Zero Telemetry
🛡️ DeskWarden ✓ No telemetry, no account
Built-in Windows N/A
Traditional Lockers Varies
💎 Pricing
🛡️ DeskWarden ✓ Free
Built-in Windows N/A
Traditional Lockers Often subscription-based
⚡ Resource Footprint
🛡️ DeskWarden ✓ Lightweight, no Electron
Built-in Windows N/A
Traditional Lockers Often heavier
🔍 Code Transparency
🛡️ DeskWarden ✓ Open source
Built-in Windows Closed source
Traditional Lockers Often closed source
Interface Experience

Modern, Clean, Focused

A clean Control Panel and an immersive lock screen designed for Windows 10 & 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need To Know

Clear answers to security, installation, and privacy questions.

Does DeskWarden require admin privileges? +
The installer needs one-time administrator approval to set up DeskWarden and its startup protection.
Does DeskWarden transmit any telemetry or passwords to the cloud? +
No. DeskWarden collects no telemetry. Your password, recovery key, and app rules stay on your PC, and your password is never stored in plain text. The internet is used only for optional features like update checks and email OTP.
What happens if my computer is abruptly rebooted? +
DeskWarden starts with Windows and resumes protection automatically on login. Session Once unlocks reset after every restart.
What if I forget my master password? +
During setup, you can create an Emergency Recovery Key and set up Email OTP reset, so you can regain access on your own.
What is the security scope of DeskWarden? +
DeskWarden is designed to prevent unauthorized access to your applications. It complements, but does not replace, Windows account security and disk encryption.
Why does Windows SmartScreen show a prompt during install? +
Windows may show a security prompt for new software. Verify the SHA-256 checksum on GitHub before installing.

Take Control of Your PC Today

Extract the zip file, right-click install_deskwarden.bat, and run as administrator. DeskWarden automatically handles Python runtime setup and launches protection.

Download DeskWarden
DeskWarden-v1.2.0.zip · ~860 KB
 View All Releases on GitHub
Verify Download Integrity
Verify on GitHub Release
# Quick Installation Steps:
1. Download & Extract ZIP
2. Right-click install_deskwarden.bat
3. Click "Run as administrator"
4. Set your master password & enjoy!
Requires 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11
Open Source Creator

Built In The Open

Development happens on GitHub.

Tahasinur Rahman Muntasir

Tahasinur Rahman Muntasir

@muntasir018 · Creator & Developer

Independent software developer dedicated to building practical, private, and reliable Windows security tools. Community feedback shapes every release.

GitHub Profile Source Code

Contribute or Report Issues

Have an idea for a new lock mode or discovered a bug? Join the discussion on GitHub and help shape the next versions of DeskWarden.

Submit an Issue GitHub Discussions