How to Disable Microsoft Defender in Windows 11

Microsoft Defender is a built-in antivirus tool in Windows 11 that helps protect your system from malware and other threats. However, there are instances where you might want to temporarily or fully disable Microsoft Defender, such as when using third-party antivirus software or performing certain tasks. In this guide, we’ll cover a few methods to disable Microsoft Defender.

1. Disabling Microsoft Defender Through Windows Settings

This is the simplest way to temporarily disable Microsoft Defender:

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security and then select Virus & Threat Protection.
  3. In the new window, click on Manage Settings under the Virus & Threat Protection Settings section.
  4. Turn off both Real-time Protection and Tamper Protection. This will temporarily disable Microsoft Defender, but it will automatically turn back on after a restart.

2. Disabling Microsoft Defender Through the Local Group Policy Editor

This method works for Windows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise, as the Local Group Policy Editor is not available in the Home version:

  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
  3. Find the Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus setting and double-click it.
  4. Select Enabled to disable the antivirus, then click Apply and OK.

After these steps, Microsoft Defender will be completely disabled and will not turn back on automatically.

3. Disabling Microsoft Defender via the Registry Editor

This method works for all Windows 11 versions but requires caution when working with the registry:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.
  3. Right-click the Windows Defender folder, select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DisableAntiSpyware.
  4. Double-click the new key and set its value to 1.
  5. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Important Note

Fully disabling Microsoft Defender leaves your system vulnerable to various threats. It’s recommended to use third-party antivirus software for security or to re-enable Defender after performing the necessary tasks.