How to disable the default antivirus in Windows 11 (Microsoft Defender)
Some users want to know how to disable the default antivirus in Windows 11, if you are interested in this, follow this article we dedicated to learning how to disable the antivirus in Windows 11 step by step.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the default protection program in Windows 11 as Microsoft Antivirus for Windows 11. It comes installed by default on the system, runs automatically, and is used as a security solution that the operating system recognizes if no other antivirus is installed. Previously, it was It is known as Windows Defender.
How to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 11
Most PC users may want to keep Microsoft Defender Antivirus enabled in Windows 11 to protect against malware. While others may want to turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus temporarily or permanently.
Even if no other solution is installed. The reasons for wanting to disable the default antivirus in Windows 11 are due to the large use of resources in the device, or Windows Defender Antivirus caused other problems in the system, or when you install a program on Windows that the antivirus prevents installation and many other reasons.
Enable or disable real-time protection in Windows 11
Windows Security contains options to turn off certain security options, including real-time protection, in the Settings app on Windows 11.
Real-time protection can be temporarily turned off there, while all other protection options can be turned off permanently. Sometimes, it may be enough to turn the feature on for a short period of time to get around the problems encountered, and to do that follow the steps below.
- Open the Settings app from the Start menu or use the Windows -I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
- Then open Update & Security.
- Select Privacy & Security from the menu on the left Privacy & Security.
- Select Windows Security on the page that opens to you.
- Click on Virus & threat protection
- Select Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings on the page that opened.
- Toggle Real-time protection to Off.
- Accept the User Account Control (UAC) prompt that appears when the change is made.
- Microsoft will remind you on the page that the shutdown is temporary.
You can also disable other protection options such as cloud-delivered protection, automatic sampling, or tamper protection from within this page.
Disable Antivirus in Windows 11 (Windows Defender) Using Group Policy Editor
To permanently disable Windows Defender Antivirus, you need to use the Group Policy Editor.
But before we get started, it's important to disable the Windows Security Tamper Protection feature before making the change. If you don't, Windows Security may turn on Windows Defender Antivirus again. To do so, follow these steps.
- Click on the Start menu and then Settings or use the keyboard shortcut Windows -I to open the Settings app.
- Then select Privacy and Security from the menu on the left.
- From there, select Windows Security on the page that opens in front of you.
- On the next page, select Virus & threat protection from the list of protected areas.
- Select Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings on the page that opened.
- Toggle Tamper Protection off on the page.
How to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus using Group Policy Editor.
- Click on the Start menu, type gpedit.msc in the search box, and select the first result from the list.
- Then go to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus
- Then check "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus" and double-click on it.
- After opening Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus and switch the status to Enabled on the page that opens.
- Select Apply and then OK to save the change.
- Restart your Windows 11 computer.
Virus and threat protection should be turned off after restarting. Note that you will still see the shield icon in the system tray area as the Shield icon in the Windows Security icon, not the Microsoft Defender Antivirus icon.