Do you want to disable disable windows defender in Windows 10?
Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes with a built-in anti-malware solution in Windows 10 and it is one of the best antivirus software for Windows users for free. It protects your device and data from unwanted viruses, ransomware, rootkits, spyware, and more.
However at some point you may have to disable it permanently or temporarily.
In this guide, I’ll teach you how to turn off Windows Defender in Windows 10 temporarily and permanently.
Brief Descriptions of The Content
How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10
Windows 10 does not include an option to permanently turn off Windows defender Antivirus, it’s still possible to disable it permanently using Group Policy or installing a third-party app.
Don’t worry, below I have shared different methods to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus on your Windows 10 device.
So, let’s get strated…
How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 Permanently
To permanently disable windows defender on Windows 10, use these steps:
Tap on the Windows-key to open the Start Menu.
Type gpedit.msc and hit enter. Then click the result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus
There you find the policy “Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus”. Double-click on Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus policy.

Select the Enabled option and click ok to save the change.

Once you complete the steps, restart your computer. This step will permanently disable windows defender in Windows 10. But the “shield” icon will still be visible in the taskbar.
You can always revert the changes and turn on windows defender using the same instructions.
How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 Temporarily
If you only need to complete a specific task then you can temporarily disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus instead of permanently turn it off.
Follow these steps to temporarily turn off real-time antivirus protection in Windows Security.
Select Start >> Settings > Update & Security >> Windows Security >> Virus & threat protection >> Manage settings (or Virus & threat protection settings in previous versions of Windows 10).

Turn off the Real-time protection to disable Microsoft Windows Defender temporarily.

Once you complete the step, windows defender antivirus will be temporarily disabled. Then when you restart the device, real-time protection will be automatically enabled again.
Alternatively, if you install a third-party anti-malware, the built-in Windows Defender protection will be permanently disabled automatically.
In this guide you have learned how to disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 … Hope you find the post useful and comprehensive!
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