If you’re using Windows’ built-in Microsoft Defender antivirus, you might have to temporarily disable it to complete the installation of some software. Here’s our guide to turning it off in Windows 10.
Never disable your real-time malware protection unless you actually have to. Some software does, however, require this in order to complete installation because they need to access files, registry entries or directories that Defender usually protects.
Programs that may not install correctly if your real-time antivirus is active will inform you of this, do you don’t need to disable your AV every time you install anything!
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The Short Version
- Click Start
- Mouse-over the gear icon
- Click Settings
- Scroll down
- Click Update & Security
- Click the Windows Security tab
- Click Open Windows Security
- Click Virus & threat protection
- Click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings
- Turn off the Real-time protection button
- Click Yes
Step
1Click Start
Click the Windows Start button. We’re going to navigate to Microsoft Defender’s settings through the menus, but you can search for “Windows Security” to get there.
Step
2Mouse-over the gear icon
When you hover the mouse over the gear icon, it’ll expand its Settings tag.
Step
3Click Settings
Click on the Settings button.
Step
4Scroll down
There are a lot of settings here. Scroll right to the bottom to find the option we’re looking for.
Step
5Click Update & Security
Click on the button marked “Update & Security”
Step
6Click the Windows Security tab
On the next Settings screen, you’ll see a tab bar on the left. Click Windows Security here.
Step
7Click Open Windows Security
You can go directly to each component of Defender’s security settings from here, but we’ll go to the main menu first. Click the Open Windows Security button.
Step
8Click Virus & threat protection
Click the Virus & threat protection option.
Step
9Click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings
Under “Virus & threat protection settings”, you’ll see a small blue link marked Manage settings. Click on it.
Step
10Turn off the Real-time protection button
Under “Real-time protection” click the button, which should be coloured blue and set to “On” before you click it.
Step
11Click Yes
User Account Control will now chip in to make sure it was really you that requested this. Click Yes.
Real-time protection will be automatically re-activated on your next reboot. While the software informs you that Real-time protection will be re-enabled after a short time, Microsoft doesn’t, at time of writing, publish details of exactly how long this is, so remember manually re-enable Real-time protection if you don’t reboot.
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Troubleshooting
No. While scheduled scans will still run, newly downloaded and installed files will not be scanned until Defender is re-activated. Do so as soon as possible.
While you can’t uninstall Defender, if you install a third-party antivirus suite with real-time protection, Defender will be disabled in favour of your new antivirus solution.
Almost certainly not. Microsoft Defender has a very low false positive rate, so it’s likely that the program is a threat. If you’re convinced that the program is legitimate, check it at VirusTotal for a second opinion.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
