Windows Defender is an antivirus software that comes with Windows installation starting from Windows 7 previously until Windows 10 running now. The security software is built to provide the basic security features to keep the system clean and free from viruses, malware, rootkits, spyware, and other types of malicious software. The protection software runs automatically as a background process and offers real-time protection. It is turned off automatically when it detects another protection program in the computer until the time it is getting installed. But there may be some chances where you need to Permanently Disable Windows Defender and don’t want any malware removal tools for Windows.

  1. When typing Windows Security, press Win + S.
  2. On the home page, select the virus and threat protection option.
  3. Select the Manage settings option under the Virus and threat protection settings section.
  4. To turn off the Tamper Protection toggle, scroll down and click on it.

Note: Before going through the steps mentioned below, you must have a backup of your Windows because modifying group policies and the registry settings may harm your Windows and result in Windows corruption. Therefore, I advise you to back up your windows and go through the process afterward. And there might be a situation where your Windows will get locked. In that case, you can use this guide for resetting the password on Windows 10.

Permanently Disable Windows Defender on Windows 10

Here you can find some methods to turn off Windows Defender permanently.

Using Settings App

This method will won’t Permanently Disable Windows Defender but temporarily. And will keep flashing a notification in time intervals to turn the Defender on. It will work only on Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.

  1. Open settings for the respective Windows version.open settings
  2. Click on Update & Security Panel.update and security
  3. Click on Windows Defender in the left side list.windows defender
  4. Turn off the toggle switches for Real-time protection, Cloud-based protection, and Automatic sample submission.real time protection

This method may work until you turn on the Defender by yourself, or it may get auto-tuned on when you reboot your computer.

Now let us discuss the permanent solutions to Permanently Disable Windows Defender.

Using Local Group Policy

If you are using Windows for an organization with some computers connected to a network and wish to Permanently Disable Windows Defender running on those computers, then you can do so by modifying the Local Group Policy.

The procedure to be followed is as follows:

  1. Use the Windows key + R on your keyboard for a shortcut to launch a Run application, or you can search for it in the start menu by opening the start menu and Type: gpedit. msc and tap on enter to open the group policy editor.group policy editor
  2. Now go through the following path:
    Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender
  3. On the right panel of the editor, double-click on the Turnoff windows defender.
    Select enabled in the top left corner.local group policy
  4. Click Apply and ok to disable the Defender and reboot your computer.
  5. To turn on the Defender anytime, you must browse through it again, select the Not Configured option, apply it, and reboot your computer, and Defender will start working fine again.

Using the Registry

You can Permanently Disable Windows Defender by modifying the registry for the applications. Just follow the procedure, and you will easily do it.

  1. Use the Windows key + R on your keyboard for a shortcut to launch a Run application, or you can search for it in the start menu by opening the start menu and typing run.run application
  2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the registry editor.

registery editor

  1. Now go through the following path.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Policies -> Microsoft -> Windows Defenderselect the value as 0
  2. See for the REG_DWORD DisableAntiSpyware in the right panel of the editor. If you find it, double-click it and set the value to 1.anti spyware
  3. If you cannot find it, then right-click in the space and tap on New and later on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Set the Value Name to DisableAntiSpyware and the value to 1.value 1
  5. Now, reboot your computer to implement the settings and disable the Defender.reboot

You can switch on the Defender any time you want; go through the same path, set the value to 0, and reboot your computer, and you are good to go. This is also an easy method to Permanently Disable Windows Defender.

switch on defender

Using Services

Permanently disabling Windows Defender by modifying the Services is very simple. Just follow the steps.

  1. Go to Control Panel now and click on Administrative Tools. Now open the services from here by double-clicking on services to extend the services editor.administrative tools
  2. Alternatively, Use Windows Key + R on your keyboard for a shortcut to launch a Run application.

windows defender

  1. Or you can look it up inside the start menu by opening it and typing run.run
  2. Now type services. msc and tap Enter to open the services editor.services misc
  3. Now search for Windows Defender service.
  4. Open it by double-clicking it.windows defender serivces
  5. Now change the startup type to disable.type
  6. Click Apply, ok and restart your computer to apply the changes.
  7. You can always turn the defender service on by setting the startup type to Automatic and applying it.

Advantages:

  • Turning off Windows Defender can free up system resources, which can help the system run better and faster.
  • When Windows Defender is turned off, users won’t get any more pop-ups or alerts about viruses or malware.defender
  • Some third-party security software may need to be fixed with Windows Defender. Turning off Windows Defender will solve these issues.
  • Turning off Windows Defender for good lets users use other security software, which might protect them better.
  • Users can change how their security is set up to fit their needs and preferences by turning off Windows Defender. For instance, they can choose to run more than one antivirus program at the same time.

Disadvantages:

  • Without Windows Defender running, the device may be more vulnerable to security threats like viruses, malware, and cyber-attacks.
  • It offers protection against security threats in real time; deactivating it would remove this protection.malware
  • It automatically updates itself to stay current with the latest security threats, and disabling it will eliminate this automatic update feature.
  • Some software may be designed to work with Windows Defender, and disabling it may cause compatibility issues with these programs.
  • If a security threat infects the device, disabling Windows Defender can increase the risk of data loss, as it won’t be able to detect and remove the threat.

See also: What Is a Broken Registry Item And Top 5 Ways To Fix. It.

FAQs

How to turn off Windows Defender on Windows 10?

To turn off Windows Defender on Windows 10, open the Windows Security application, select 'Virus & Threat Protection,' and then press the 'Manage Settings' button below. To turn off 'Real-time protection,' switch the slider to the 'Off' setting.

How can I permanently disable Windows Defender Windows 10?

To turn off Windows Defender on Windows 10, type 'gpedit. msc' into the search bar on the Start menu. Go to the Group Policy Editor. Find the option labeled 'Disable Windows Defender Antivirus,' double-click it, and then choose 'Enabled.'

Should I disable Windows Defender on Windows 10?

Turning off Windows Defender on Windows 10 is bad because it could open your device to viruses and other malware. If you turn off Windows Defender, use another good antivirus program to keep your device safe.

How can I disable Windows Defender on Windows 10 Home?

Since the Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows 10 Home Edition, it is hard to turn off Windows Defender for good. To turn off Windows Defender in Windows 10 Home Edition quickly, you can follow the same steps as Q1.

Can I re-enable Windows Defender after deactivating it?

Yes, Windows Defender can be turned back on at any time. To do this, follow the steps in Question 2 to get to the Group Policy Editor. Then, for the 'Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus' setting, choose 'Disabled' or 'Not Configured.'

Is it necessary to disable Windows Defender if I am using another antivirus software?

Depending on the antivirus software you use, you may or may not need to turn off Windows Defender. Some antivirus programs may not work correctly with Windows Defender. If this happens, turning off Windows Defender may fix the problem. But in most cases, it's best to keep Windows Defender running in addition to other antivirus software, which gives the device an extra layer of protection.

Conclusion

If you are going to Permanently Disable Windows Defender without any other virus protection software is very risky for your computer. Especially when your computer is connected to the internet, therefore, it is recommended that you either let it run on your computer or buy any other virus protection software from a vendor such as Quick Heal, Avast, K7 Security, AVG Avira, and much more to keep your computer free from viruses and other harmful software.

Also see: Fix Critical Error – Start Menu and Cortana Aren’t Working in Windows 10

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