How to turn off Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 8-10-11?
If the antivirus conflicts with another application or installation, you don’t have to disable the Microsoft Defender Antivirus permanently. You only need to turn off the feature temporarily.
To temporarily disable the real-time antivirus protection on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.
- Click on Virus & threat protection.
- Under the “Virus & threat protection settings” section, click the Manage settings option.
- Turn off the Real-time protection toggle switch to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus temporarily.
Once you complete the steps, the antivirus will temporarily disable its protection to install apps or make specific system changes without unwanted conflicts.
After restarting the computer, the antivirus will enable again automatically. Or you can use the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, make sure to turn on the Real-time protection toggle switch.
This is not a permanent solution, but it’s the best option to disable the protection to make system changes or install programs that are causing conflicts.
HOW TO DISABLE MICROSOFT DEFENDER ANTIVIRUS USING GROUP POLICY
If you want to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus permanently, you can use the Group Policy Editor. The only caveat is that you must also disable the “Tamper Protection” feature before the policy can apply.
On Windows 10, Tamper protection is a feature that protects Windows Security against unwanted changes from outside the app. Since the Local Group Policy Editor modifies the security settings from outside the app, the antivirus will restore any changes you have made during the next restart.
Disable Tamper Protection
To disable Tamper Protection, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.
- Click on Virus & threat protection.
- Under the “Virus & threat protection settings” section, click the Manage settings option
- Turn off the Tamper Protection toggle switch.
Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus using Group Policy
To disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus permanently on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit.msc and click the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Browse the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus
- Double-click the “Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus” policy.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
Once you complete the steps, the Windows antivirus will be disabled permanently, but the “shield” icon will remain in the Taskbar because the icon is part of the Windows Security app, not the antivirus program.
You can always undo the changes using the same instructions, but in step 5, select the Not Configured option. In addition to enabling the antivirus, it is also a good idea to turn on the “Tamper Protection” feature again using the same steps outlined above, but in step 5, make sure to enable the toggle switch.
