While Microsoft Windows Defender may be a great tool to a large extent, it is not everyone’s preferred antivirus. It has some drawbacks that cause people to choose other antivirus software and hence seek to disable Microsoft's default operating system protector. If you do not want to use Windows 11 Defender for any reason, follow this guide to learn how to disable Windows 11 defender permanently using various possible ways.
Switching off Windows 11 Defender may not be the solution you seek as it may continue to run in the background or switch back on after some time. However, disabling it permanently will do the trick. Here are some of the ways to turn off Windows 11 Defender Permanently.
Method 1: use Group Policy Editor
You can disable Windows 11 Defender Permanently in the Local Group Policy Editor in four steps as follows:
Step 1: Disable Tamper Protection
Tamper Protection is a tool that prevents anyone from tampering with important security features. Therefore, you need to disable it first to disable Windows 11 Defender. To do this:
- Open the Windows settings app by pressing the windows button + I.
- Select the Privacy and Security option on the left pane of the settings page.
- Click the Windows Security tab at the top of the options in the right pane.
- Next, select the Virus & Protection option under the Protection areas section.
- On the Windows security page, scroll down and select the Manage settings option under the Virus & threat protection settings section.
- Next, scroll down to the Tamper Protection option. Click on the toggle under it to turn it off.
- Click Yes in the User Account Control to let the app make changes to your device.
- Close the window and proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Configure the Windows Group Policy Editor
- Click the Windows search button from the taskbar or press the Windows button + S simultaneously to open the Windows search utility.
- Type Edit Group Policy in the search field and click on the Edit Group Policy icon on the search results page.
- When the Local Group Policy Editor opens, select Administrative Templates under the Computer Configuration section on the left pane.
- Next, select Windows components on the right pane.
- Navigate to the Microsoft Defender Antivirus from the settings options on the right pane and select it.
- Next, Navigate to the Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus option, but do not click it yet.
- Right-click this setting and select Edit from the context menu.
- A window for turning off Windows Defender Antivirus will pop up, select the Enabled option at the top left, click Apply, then OK at the bottom right of the window.
- Now back in the Group Policy Editor, locate the allow Anti-Malware service to remain always running option.
- Right-click this option and select Edit.
- A new window will pop up. Select the Disabled option at the top left, then click Apply and OK at the bottom right.
- Again, locate the Real-time Protection folder in the Group Policy Editor Window and double-click it.
- Navigate to the Turn off real-time protection, right-click it and select Edit.
- Select Enabled from the pop-up window, before clicking Apply, then OK.
Step 3: Set Up a Task Scheduler
The next step is to set up a task scheduler as follows:
- Press the windows button + S to open the Windows search utility.
- Type Task Scheduler in the search field and click the appropriate icon on the search results page.
- Click the arrow next to the Task Scheduler Library folder to expand the options.
- Next, expand the Microsoft folder.
- Now, expand the Windows folder.
- Scroll down the left pane till you locate the Windows Defender folder and click it to open its properties on the right pane.
- There are four tasks in the top section of the middle pane, Windows Defender Cache Maintenance, Windows Defender Cleanup, Windows Defender Scheduled Scan, and Windows Defender Verification.
- Right-click the Windows Defender Cache Maintenance option and select Disable.
- Disable the other three tasks in the same way. Right-clicking on each and selecting Disable.
Step 4: Update Computer and User Policies
To update the computer and user policies:
- Press the windows button + R simultaneously to open the Run utility program.
- Type cmd in the text field.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the command prompt with administrative rights.
- Type the command gpupdate/force in the command line and press Enter.
- Close the Command prompts and that is all.
Method 2: Use Autoruns for Windows
Step 1: Download Autoruns
- Click here to download the latest version of Autoruns for Windows.
- Click the Download link on the page and wait for the download to complete.
- Open the file location after the download is complete, right-click on the folder, and select Extract All.
Step 2: Disable Windows Protection
- Press the Windows button + I to open the Windows settings.
- Select Privacy and Security on the left pane.
- Select Windows Security on the right pane of the settings page.
- Select Virus & threat protection on the right pane.
- Click manage settings under the Virus & threat protection section.
- Click the toggles under the Real-time Protection and Tamper Protection sections, respectively to deactivate them.
Step 3: Boot the Computer in Safe Mode
- Press the Windows button + S simultaneously to open the Windows search option.
- Type system configuration in the search field and click on the icon on the search results page.
- Click the Boot tab in the system configuration window.
- Next, click the safe boot checkbox and the Minimal radio button under the Boot options section.
- Click Apply, then OK before restarting the PC.
Step 4: Disable Windows Defender
- Open the extracted folder after the system restarts in Safe mode.
- Click the Autoruns64.ex file, then Run to start it.
- Select Agree on the Autoruns License Agreement page.
- Click the Services tab on the Autoruns window.
- Click on Options at the top of the page and uncheck the Hide Windows Entries box.
- Next, Navigate through the Autoruns entry and uncheck the WinDefend box.
Note: You may not see the WinDefend among the options option if you don't boot the PC in Safe mode.
Step 5: Boot the Computer in Normal Mode
- Press the Windows button + S simultaneously to open the Windows search option.
- Type system configuration in the search field and click on the icon on the search results page.
- Click the Boot tab in the system configuration window.
- Select Normal startup.
- Click Apply, OK, and restart the computer.
That's it.
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