Microsoft introduced Windows Defender in 2004. It wasn't the most enticing computer security solution back then. But it has slowly become better at detecting threats and offering real-time protection. The current generation of Windows Defender offers stellar protection against malware. But what if you don't want to use Microsoft's alternative for system protection. Show
While Windows Defender is great, it surely lacks some features compared to the best third-party alternatives. But disabling Windows Defender isn't as easy as it seems. In this post, we will discuss the methods to disable Windows Defender for good, so it never auto-enables again. Why Does Windows Defender Keep Re-enabling Itself on Windows 11?We've scooped out a few reasons why Windows Defender re-enables on your system. These are as follows:
How to Fix Windows Defender Re-enabling Itself on Windows 11Disabling Windows Defender directly doesn't work anymore. Windows re-enables it after a short while. So, here are a few methods using which you can stop Windows Defender from re-enabling on your system. 1. Disable Tamper ProtectionMicrosoft introduced a new Tamper Protection feature in Windows 10. Now, it is available in Windows 11 as well. It plays a crucial role in stopping attackers from changing security settings via the registry or PowerShell. Thus, Tamper Protection deters any external intrusion into your system. Tamper Protection ensures that Microsoft Defender can offer real-time malware protection. Even if you disable real-time protection, Tamper Protection will activate it after some time. It is a nifty fail-safe design but can be meddlesome at times. So, you need to turn off Tamper Protection to stop Windows Defender from re-enabling. To disable Tamper Protection, do as follows:
2. Disable Windows Defender via the Group Policy EditorA more permanent method to disable Windows Defender is by using the Group Policy Editor. However, You can refer to our complete Group Policy Editor guide for more information on this. To disable Windows Defender using the Group Policy Editor, repeat the following steps:
3. Disable Windows Defender via Registry EditorWindows 11 Home does not have Group Policy Editor available by default. So, you can edit the registry to disable Windows Defender permanently. Always create a backup of your registry before making modifications to it. To disable Windows Defender using the Registry Editor, do as follows:
4. Renew the License of Your 3rd Party AntivirusWindows Defender is always active to protect your system from malware and intrusion attempts. Windows Defender automatically turns off when there is a third-party antivirus program installed. But Windows can re-enable it when your antivirus license expires. Antivirus programs come with a limited validity after which you need to renew them to keep using the features. But, if you fail to renew the license, Windows re-activates Defender to keep you protected. It is a fail-safe mechanism that is present in the latest versions. So, you must renew your antivirus package or install another one. This will prevent Windows Defender from re-enabling on your system. 5. Disable Windows UpdatesDespite disabling Microsoft Defender from the settings, it may revert to default settings after a system update. If you are extremely frustrated with these antics, you can disable Windows updates. Microsoft upgrades the tamper protection code with each security update, which also re-enables Windows Defender after installing updates. If you don't need Windows Defender anymore, you can try stopping Windows updates. However, doing so will put your system in a very vulnerable position. So, proceed with this method only after considering the risks. To disable Windows updates, repeat the following steps:
Windows Defender Won’t Bother Your AnymoreTamper Protection can enable Windows Defender to combat malware attempts. After turning it off, you can try the Group Policy Editor and Registry tweaks to disable Windows Defender. Moreover, renew your antivirus license as a precautionary measure. The last resort is turning off the Windows Update. You should try that only if nothing works. How do I completely disable Windows Defender in Windows 11?In Windows Security, click on Virus & threat protection. What is this? Click on Manage Settings. Click the toggle button under Real-time protection to turn off Windows Defender Antivirus.
Why can't I turn Windows Defender off?To do so, press the start button and choose “Settings” to open the Windows Settings window. From here, you need to open the Update & Security section. Option to turn off Windows Defender real-time protection will be under the Windows Security tab.
How do I permanently disable Windows Defender?To disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus permanently on Windows 10, use these steps:. Open Start.. Search for gpedit. ... . Browse the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus.. Double-click the "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus" policy.. Does Windows 11 have Windows Defender?Microsoft Defender which is built into the Windows 11 provides you a comprehensive and strong protection against malwares and it is free. We recommend users to use it as their default Anti-Malware program.
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