This article will show you how to temporarily and permanently disable Windows Defender in Windows 10. Windows Defender can be disabled before the first restart of the computer through the Options menu; to permanently disable Defender, you need to make changes to the Windows registry. Keep in mind that disabling Defender will reduce the security of your computer. Moreover, if you change the wrong registry entry, the system may become unusable.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: How to temporarily disable Windows Defender
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click "Options"
This icon is in the lower-left corner of the Start menu. The "Options" window will open.
Step 3. Click on "Update & Security"
You will find this option in the bottom row of options.
Step 4. Click Windows Defender
You will find this option in the left pane.
Step 5. Click Virus & threat protection
This is the first option in the "Protected Areas" section at the top of the page. A Windows Defender window will open.
Step 6. Click Virus & threat protection settings
It's in the middle of the page.
Step 7. Disable real-time protection
Click on the blue slider
next to Real-Time Protection, and then click Yes in the pop-up window. The real-time protection function will be disabled.
- You can also turn off cloud protection - click on the blue slider next to "Cloud protection", and then in the pop-up window, click "Yes".
- Windows Defender will automatically turn on when you restart your computer.
Method 2 of 2: How to permanently disable Windows Defender
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open Registry Editor
Here you can change the basic functions of your computer. To open Registry Editor:
- Enter regedit.
- Click on "regedit" at the top of the Start menu.
- Click Yes when prompted.
Step 3. Go to the Windows Defender folder
To do this, open the appropriate folders on the left pane of the Registry Editor:
- Double click on the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder to open it (if it is already open, skip this step).
- Open the "SOFTWARE" folder.
- Scroll down and open the "Policies" folder.
- Open the Microsoft folder.
- Click on the Windows Defender folder.
Step 4. Right click on the Windows Defender folder
A menu will open.
- If the mouse does not have a right button, click on the right side of the mouse or click with two fingers.
- If your computer has a trackpad (not a mouse), tap it with two fingers, or press the lower-right portion of the trackpad.
Step 5. Click Create
It's at the top of the menu. A new menu will open.
Step 6. Click DWORD (32-bit) Option
You will find this option in the new menu. A new setting will be created in the Windows Defender folder and displayed in the right pane.
Step 7. Enter DisableAntiSpyware as the parameter name
Then press ↵ Enter.
Step 8. Open the "DisableAntiSpyware" option
To do this, double click on it. A pop-up window will open.
Step 9. Replace the number in the "Value" line with 1
This will enable the created parameter.
Step 10. Click on OK
It's at the bottom of the window.
Step 11. Restart your computer
Click Start
> "Shutdown"
> Reboot. Windows Defender will be disabled.
Step 12. Turn on Windows Defender when required
For this:
- Navigate to the Windows Defender folder in Registry Editor.
- Click once on this folder.
- Double click on the "DisableAntiSpyware" option to open it.
- Change the number on the "Value" line from 1 to 0.
- Click OK and restart your computer.
- Remove the "DisableAntiSpyware" option if you no longer intend to disable the Defender.