How to Disable Windows Defender Forever on Windows 10

Windows Defender is a free anti-virus that comes installed with Windows and might consume and waste precious amounts of your system’s resources.

Of course Windows Defender can offer some protection in case you don’t have installed any, it comes free and built-in. But there is no need if you are using some other program.

If you are using a good anti-virus or real-time protection anti-malware then you can get rid of Windows Defender by following this tutorial.

1. Only Disable Windows Defender

If you want to stop Windows Defender from consuming your PC’s resources you can try to turn off the real-time protection from Settings.

Open the Settings app using Windows+I key combination, go to “Update & Security“.

In Windows Security, click on “Virus & threat protection“.

Click on “Manage settings“.

Turn Off the Real-time protection to disable Windows Defender, you can also disable Cloud-based protection – for privacy reasons – if you don’t want to send info to Microsoft about your potential security threats.

But this will only disable Windows Defender and it can turn On at any time without you noticing it.

Let’s see how to remove or even uninstall Windows Defender completely from our System.

2. Remove Windows Defender Using Registry

Open Run using the Win+R key combination and use the command regedit to open up the Registry Editor.

Follow this path using the arrows on the left side of the Registry Editor.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Once you are on the key “Windows Defender” creates a new DWORD 32-bit value with the name of DisableAntiSpyware.

Then double-click on “DisableAntiSpyware” and give it the value 1, click “OK” to save changes.

Now your Windows Defender is no longer accessible.

And you should get this message in case you try to launch Windows Defender again.

3. Turn Off Windows Defender Using Local Group Policy Editor

Open the Run command prompt (Win+R), use the command gpedit.msc and click “OK“.

Follow this path: “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Windows Components” > “Windows Defender”

Then double-click onto “Turn off Windows Defender” to be able to edit the current state of Windows Defender.

Click on “Enabled” if you want to disable Windows Defender, this setting is set by default to “Not Configured” which lets the application decide whether Windows Defender in enabled or disabled.

Save the settings by clicking “OK“, Windows Defender should be disabled by now.

And there you have it!

You just learned how to turn off, disable, remove and uninstall Windows Defender like a boss!

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