Turn on Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Microsoft Docs

From Windows 10 version , Windows Defender has been renamed to Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is enabled by default and actively protects you from all the latest security threats. The updates are automatically downloaded, and Microsoft continually updates the virus definition to keep your device safe.

Without real-time protection, your operating system would be unsafe and hostile to work on as malicious programs spread quickly over email, USB flash drives, or browsing the internet. Malwares can affect your system without your knowledge and can steal potential information or even damage your disk drives. You can turn off the Windows Defender Antivirus temporarily.

In this advanced Windows 10 tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to turn on or off the Windows Defender Antivirus permanently for all the users. For the other versions of Windows, you need to follow the option 2 explained after this.

You need to turn off the Windows Defender Antivirus Tamper protection based on your build number by following the below steps,. Navigate to the below mentioned location based on your Winodws 10 version on local group policy editor,. Based on your previous selection, you need to revisit the Windows security page, and you will be prompted to either restart or turn on the service.

The second option involves changing the property values directly from the registry editor for Windows Defender. This option is handy for all Windows versions for which the Local Group Policy Editor is not available. You can follow the steps or download the below mentioned executable reg files. In this advanced Windows 10 tutorial, we have walked you through different ways to enable and disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus. The first option was restricted to fewer selected versions of windows; hence we have explained the second option to do the same for the rest of the windows versions.

Again, this is not recommended to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus, but sometimes we need to perform it for various reasons such as improving the performance or playing around different tweaks.

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Privacy Policy. Password recovery. My Windows Hub. Home Windows 10 Tutorials System and Security. Microsoft defines the Defender Antivirus as the next-generation protection component Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection MDATP provides below features, Real-time antivirus protection Built-in cloud protection while surfing the web, downloading email attachments or accessing OneDrive Block at first sight BAFS protection Without real-time protection, your operating system would be unsafe and hostile to work on as malicious programs spread quickly over email, USB flash drives, or browsing the internet.

Note: Systems with multiple users, make sure you are signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the antivirus. If you are installing any third-party Antivirus programs, then they disable the Microsoft Defender Antivirus. In this case, you cannot enable it till you uninstall the third-party antivirus program.

With Windows 10 build or higher version, you need to disable Tamper protection to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Steps 1 Disable Tamper Protection: You need to turn off the Windows Defender Antivirus Tamper protection based on your build number by following the below steps, Go to the Windows security page. If UAC prompts you, click Yes to approve. Step 5: Based on your previous selection, you need to revisit the Windows security page, and you will be prompted to either restart or turn on the service.

Option 2 : Turn on or off Microsoft Defender Antivirus from Registry editor The second option involves changing the property values directly from the registry editor for Windows Defender. Conclusion: In this advanced Windows 10 tutorial, we have walked you through different ways to enable and disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

About Harsit Mohapatra Harsit Mohapatra is a full-time Software Engineer passionate and hungry for tech updates and knowledge. Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here. You have entered an incorrect email address! Latest Posts.

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Is Windows Defender Good Enough in ? [Full Analysis] – Windows Security

Quick Heal. Quick Heal is a pretty decent program. That said, I think these packages are too overpriced for what they offer, and all of the products on this list offer better value. PC Matic. PC Matic offers decent malware protection, as well as some good system optimization tools, but its approach to malware protection is quite different — it whitelists known programs and blocks everything else.

This approach is okay, but I prefer antivirus software with advanced anti-malware engines that use AI and machine learning to detect advanced threats.

What is Windows Defender Smartscreen? Should I disable it? Can Windows Defender remove malware? Does Windows have built-in phishing protection? Is Windows Defender free? Should I replace Windows Defender with another antivirus? Is Windows Defender better than free antivirus software? Can I use Windows Defender with another antivirus? How to disable Windows Defender? Read Review Visit Website. Share It: 0. Updated on: August 1, About the Author Katarina is a tech enthusiast specializing in cybersecurity products, data protection, and maintaining strong practices for general online safety.

When she’s not a “Safety Detective”, she likes to play with her two cats, binge watch crime dramas, sample fine wines, and read about the origins of the universe. Was this article helpful? Please tell us what we can improve. Trend Micro. Password Monitor will alert you if they are compromised. OneDrive keeps your files backed up and protected with ransomware detection and file recovery options.

And for your most important files, you get a secure folder that you can only access with a second step of identity verification. The Family Safety app helps you to stay connected with your loved ones, develop stronger safety habits, and create a safer online space. Features and app availability may vary by region. Must be signed into a Microsoft account. Otherwise, internet access required.

Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Organizations want to ensure that devices accessing their resources are secured, so they may require you to use Microsoft Defender Antivirus and additional Windows Security features. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is an antivirus software that’s included in Windows and can help protect your device from viruses, malware, and other threats.

Microsoft has not made the process to permanently disable Defender quick and easy. The first way to disable Defender is by using the Group Policy security tool.

To do just that, follow these steps:. Now you have configured the group policy. The first thing you’ll want to do is check whether Windows Defender is on or off. To do this, take a look at the notifications area along the Taskbar to the left of the time display, and just before the end of the Taskbar. You’ll need to find a small icon resembling a castle wall, although this may be found in items that have been hidden from view.

Clicking the upwards-pointing arrow should expand the icon tray and show all apps running. The Windows Defender icon should appear in this tray with a cross X if it’s been turned off, and should be lacking the cross if it’s running. There are no longer any steps you need to take if you’d like to keep it on, although read on if you’re keen to turn it off.

This shortcut will launch the search function on your system. Windows Defender should appear in the results list. Click it to launch the program. If it is up and running, and takes you straight to the program’s dashboard, skip ahead to step five. A message may appear now, saying: “this application has been turned off and isn’t monitoring your computer”.

If so, search for “Action Centre” in the Start menu or start screen on Windows 8 , and click it to open. Issue 28 looks at recent developments in artificial intelligence that are pushing businesses to be more creative. Once in the Action Centre, click on the Security tab to see which program is managing Spyware and unwanted software protection’.