Windows 10 provide built in anti-malware solution that protects your computer from viruses, ransomware, spyware, rootkits and many other forms of malware. It also protects your data from hackers. Even though, it provides good protection to the users, in some situation you might want to disable windows defender permanently or temporarily.

Whatever the reason might be, Windows Defender can be disabled. Group policy or Registry allow you to disable the Windows Defender permanently. Whereas, Windows Security app allows you to disable it temporarily.

Below are the three different ways to disable Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10:

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How to disable Windows Defender Antivirus using Windows Security?

While installing an application or performing some specific task you might want to disable it. In such instance, you can only turn it off temporarily.

Below are the steps to disable Windows 10 antivirus temporarily:

  1. Click on Start Menu. Then, search for “Windows Security” and open the app by clicking on the result.
  2. On the Windows Defender window or UI click on “Virus & threat protection”.
  3. Under the Virus & threat protection setting navigate to “Manage Setting”.
  4. There, toggle off “Real-time protection” switch to disable Windows Defender temporarily.

After the application is installed or specific task is performed you can enable Real-time protection back again by following the instruction. But on step no. 4 you should toggle on the Real-time protection instead of toggle off.

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Temporary disable using Windows Security

Even though it is a temporary solution, it’s the best option to disable Windows 10 antivirus to make a specific system changes.

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How to disable Windows Defender Antivirus using Group Policy?

Group Policy allows you to disable Windows Defender Antivirus permanently. However, you have to disable “Tamper Protection” features before the policy can come into effect. Policy can be configured using the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Pro.

Tamper Protection protects the Windows Security app against unauthorized changes. If you don’t disable the Tamper Protection, before using the Group Policy the antivirus will restart again in the next reboot automatically.

Disabling Tamper Protection.

  1. Firstly, click on Start menu and search for “Windows Security”. Secondly, open the app by clicking on the result.
  2. After that, on the Windows Defender app click on “Virus & threat protection”.
  3. Then, navigate to “Manage Setting” under the Virus & threat protection.
  4. There, toggle off the “Tamper Protection” switch.

As you have disabled the Tamper Protection you can move forward and disable Windows Defender Antivirus Permanently using Group Policy:

  1. So, open “Start Menu” again. And there search for “gpedit.msc” and open the “Local Group Policy Editor” by clicking on the result.
  2. There navigate to “Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components” and finally “Windows Defender Antivirus”.
  3. Now, Double click on “Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus policy”.
  4. Then select the “Enabled” option then apply button to disable Windows Defender.
  5. After that, click the “Ok” button then restart the computer.

After completion of the above procedure the antivirus will disable permanently. You can always enable the Windows Defender antivirus using the instructions outlined above. But you should select Not Configured option and restart the computer after applying changes. Likewise, enable the “temper Protection” features using the above instructions. But on step no. 4 you should toggle on the switch.

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Tamper protection disable

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How to disable Windows Defender Antivirus using Registry?

If you aren’t on Windows 10 Pro edition, you won’t have access to Local Group Policy Editor. Alternatively you can use Registry to disable Windows Defender Antivirus permanently. In order to make sure that the built-in antivirus won’t re-enable automatically the next time you start the computer toggle off the Temper Protection. Temper Protection can be enabled by following the above steps.

Once done, follow the steps to disable The Windows Defender Antivirus permanently with the Registry:

  1. First of all, click on “Start menu”. Search for “regedit.msc” or “Registry Editor” and open the “Registry Editor” by clicking on the first result.
  2. Then, navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft” and finally “Windows Defender”.
  3. After that, right click on the “Windows Defender” folder, and then navigate to “New > DWORD (32-bit) value” option.
  4. There, name the key as “DisableAntiSpyware” and press enter key to continue.
  5. After that, double click on the newly created “DWORD” and change the values from “0” to “1”.
  6. At last, click on “OK” button then restart the computer.

After the completion of above steps Windows Defender Antivirus won’t protect the system against malware. In case if you change your mind and want to enable defender antivirus again follow the steps outlined above. But on step no 5 right-click on the DisableAntiSpyware and select Delete option.

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Windows defender disabled Permanently

You can follow multiple method to disable Windows Defender Antivirus. However, we don’t recommend using a computer without any anti malware software.

Note: If you are using third party anti malware software you don’t need to disable the

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