This method is perfect for the situation when you need to access important files on external storage and don’t want the risk of data loss because of the files being wrongly identified as a threat.ġ) Open Settings and choose Update and Security optionĢ) Left-click on Windows Security in the left panelĤ) In the new window, click on Manage Settings under Virus and Threat Protection Settingsĥ) Turn off the Real-time Protection switch After a reboot, it will go back to normal functioning. This method will let you turn off Windows Defender for once. To enable Windows Defender again, set the Value Data to “0” or delete the DisableAntiSpyware DWORD file. Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows DefenderĤ) Right-click Windows Defender folder and click on New -> DWORD (32-bit) Valueĥ) This will create a new file in the right panel, rename it to DisableAntiSpywareĦ) Double click to open the DisableAntiSpyware DWORD fileħ) In the Value Data text field, enter “1”, then click OKĨ) Restart your PC Enable Windows Defender again.Methods to disable Windows Defender Disable Windows Defender Permanentlyįirst, you need to disable tamper protectionģ) Copy and paste this directory in the text field at the top and press ENTER or manually locate it yourself The following methods will help you disable Windows Defender according to your need (Permanently or temporarily).
We don’t recommend disabling Windows Defender permanently if you don’t have third-party antivirus software installed. This can infect your PC and will lead to data loss, system instability, and errors. If that’s not the case, disabling Windows Defender can expose your system to viruses and malware from across the internet and external storage devices. Also sometimes, Windows Defender falsely identifies a file as a threat, so it is safe to temporarily disable it. Disabling Windows Defender is the right thing to do in that case, as both programs running simultaneously will eat up resources (processor and memory) and provide no purpose.
It is safe to disable Windows Defender if you have installed third-party antivirus software.
In case you are planning to get third-party antivirus software, or just want to temporarily disable Windows Defender, you can read the complete article.