Windows 11 · Windows
How To Disable Windows Defender in Windows 11
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Answer
Open up your Windows settings. Navigate to the Privacy & Security section. Under Windows Security, click on Virus & Threat Protection.
Access your Virus & Threat Protection Settings
Open up your Windows settings. Navigate to the Privacy & Security section.
Under Windows Security, click on Virus & Threat Protection
Under Windows Security, click on Virus & Threat Protection.
On this window, click on Manage Settings under Virus & Threat Protection Settings
On this window, click on Manage Settings under Virus & Threat Protection Settings.
To disable Windows Defender, disable all of these options
To disable Windows Defender, disable all of these options. Your OS might prompt you not to disable these settings, but this will come down to your preference.
Disable Windows Security Services
Navigate back to your Windows settings. Under Privacy & Security, click on General and make sure to disable all of these settings as well.
Apply the Windows Defender Settings
Lastly, to properly apply your changes, open up your Task Manager. Click on File, and then Run new Task.
Click on Browse and your file explorer will open up
Click on Browse and your file explorer will open up.
Navigate to your C: drive, Windows, System32, select CMD and click on Open
Navigate to your C: drive, Windows, System32, select CMD and click on Open.
Click on Ok, and in your command prompt, enter the command gpupdate, which will u…
Click on Ok, and in your command prompt, enter the command gpupdate, which will update all of your recently applied settings to ensure that Windows Defender is not running on your system.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- Why would I want to disable Windows Defender?. You may want to disable Windows Defender if you prefer to use a different antivirus program or if you are experiencing performance issues with your computer.
- Can I disable Windows Defender temporarily?. Yes, you can disable Windows Defender temporarily. This can be useful if you want to install software that Defender is blocking, but you should re-enable it once you are done.
- Can I disable Windows Defender permanently?. Yes, you can disable Windows Defender permanently, but it is not recommended unless you have another antivirus program installed.
- Is it safe to disable Windows Defender?. Disabling Windows Defender can leave your computer vulnerable to malware and other security threats. It is not recommended unless you have another reliable antivirus program installed.