Why you might need to disable antivirus temporarily
You may need to turn off your antivirus software for a few legitimate reasons: installing software that your antivirus incorrectly flags as dangerous, troubleshooting a hardware or network problem, or running a one-time scan with a different security tool. The key word is temporary. Disabling antivirus is not the same as uninstalling it, and it should never be permanent unless you are replacing it with another antivirus program.
Before you disable anything, understand what you are losing. Your antivirus is watching for malware in real time—files you read, programs you run, websites you visit. The moment you turn it off, that protection stops. If you visit a compromised website or read an infected file during that window, your computer can be infected before you turn the antivirus back on.
The safest approach is to disable antivirus for the shortest time possible, keep your internet connection off if you can, and re-enable it when ready after you finish what you needed to do.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling antivirus should be temporary and only for a specific task—never leave it off permanently unless you are installing a replacement antivirus program.
- Most antivirus programs let you disable real-time protection through their settings menu without removing the software entirely.
- Disconnecting from the internet while antivirus is off reduces the risk of infection during the time you are unprotected.
- If your antivirus is blocking a legitimate program, quarantine the file instead of disabling the entire program—most antivirus tools let you restore flagged files from quarantine.
- Re-enable antivirus when ready after you finish, and run a full scan to check for anything that may have been missed while protection was off.
How to disable antivirus on Windows Defender
Windows Defender is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. To turn off real-time protection temporarily, open the Windows Security app (search for "Windows Security" in your taskbar), then click Virus & threat protection. Under "Virus & threat protection settings," click Manage settings. Toggle off Real-time protection.
Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Yes. The protection will stay off until you toggle it back on or until your computer restarts—Windows automatically re-enables it after a restart as a safety measure. Turn it back on as soon as you are finished with whatever task required it to be off.
If you cannot find these settings, your computer may be managed by an organization (school, workplace). In that case, you will not be able to disable Windows Defender yourself—contact your IT department.
How to disable antivirus on third-party programs
If you use Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, or another paid antivirus, the steps vary by program, but the principle is the same. Open the antivirus program itself (not Windows Security). Look for a menu labeled Settings, Preferences, or a gear icon. Find the section for Real-time Protection, Active Protection, or Virus Scanning.
Most programs will show you a toggle or a button to pause protection. Some let you choose how long to pause it—for example, 15 minutes or until the next restart. Choose the shortest duration that makes sense for your task. If the program does not offer a pause option, look for Disable or Turn Off in the same menu.
If you cannot locate the setting, open the program's help menu or search the manufacturer's website for your specific version. The exact wording and location differ between programs, but every antivirus program has a way to disable real-time protection without uninstalling the software.
What to do if antivirus is blocking a program you need
Before you disable antivirus entirely, try this first: most antivirus programs let you restore a file from quarantine without turning off protection. Open your antivirus program and look for Quarantine, Vault, or Isolated Files. Find the file or program your antivirus flagged. Right-click it and select Restore or Restore to Original Location.
This tells your antivirus "I trust this file" without leaving your computer unprotected. If the program runs successfully after you restore it, the antivirus was likely wrong—it flagged legitimate software as dangerous. If the program still does not work, or if you cannot find the file in quarantine, then disabling antivirus temporarily may be necessary.
Another option: add the program or file to your antivirus's Whitelist, Trusted Files, or Exclusions list. This tells your antivirus to skip scanning that specific program in the future. Look for this setting in your antivirus preferences. This way, you do not have to disable protection every time you use the program.
Disconnecting from the internet while antivirus is off
If you can, disconnect from the internet while your antivirus is disabled. Unplug your ethernet cable or turn off Wi-Fi. This removes the main way malware reaches your computer—through downloads, email, or websites. You can still install local software from a USB drive or CD, run programs already on your computer, or troubleshoot hardware.
If you must stay connected to the internet, keep your browser closed and avoid downloading anything. Do not check email or visit websites. The fewer online activities you do while unprotected, the lower your risk.
This precaution sounds extreme, but it takes only a few seconds and eliminates most of the danger. If you are just installing a program from a USB drive or running a diagnostic tool, disconnecting is worth the inconvenience.
Re-enabling antivirus and checking for infections
As soon as you finish whatever task required antivirus to be off, turn it back on when ready. Open your antivirus program and toggle real-time protection back on, or restart your computer if that is easier. Do not wait.
After you re-enable protection, run a full system scan. This tells your antivirus to check every file on your computer for anything it may have missed while protection was off. A full scan can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have, so plan to do this when you do not need your computer for a while. Most antivirus programs let you schedule a scan for a specific time—for example, late at night.
If the scan finds anything, your antivirus will quarantine it automatically. Review what was found and decide whether to delete it or restore it. If you do not recognize the file name, it is usually safer to delete it.
When you should not disable antivirus
Do not disable antivirus if you are about to read something from an unfamiliar website, open an email attachment from someone you do not know, or visit a website that looks suspicious. These are exactly the moments when you need antivirus protection most. If a website or email is asking you to turn off your antivirus to use it, that is a sign the website or sender cannot be trusted.
Do not disable antivirus as a permanent solution to a slow computer. If your antivirus is slowing down your system, the answer is to switch to a lighter antivirus program or adjust your scan schedule—not to go without protection. Running your computer without antivirus is like leaving your front door unlocked to save time: the convenience is not worth the risk.
If you are having trouble with your antivirus program itself—it keeps crashing, it will not turn back on, or it is causing constant false alarms—uninstall it completely and install a different one. Do not just disable it and leave your computer unprotected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my computer automatically turn antivirus back on if I forget?
Windows Defender will re-enable automatically when you restart your computer. Third-party antivirus programs vary—some will re-enable after a set time (like 15 minutes), and some will stay off until you manually turn them back on. Check your antivirus settings to see if it has an auto-enable feature, and set a phone reminder to turn it back on if it does not.
Can I disable antivirus while installing software?
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons to disable it. Some installation programs conflict with real-time scanning. Disable antivirus, run the installer, then re-enable it when ready. If the installer still fails, the problem may not be your antivirus—contact the software manufacturer for help.
What if I disable antivirus and my computer gets infected?
If you suspect an infection, restart your computer in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart on Windows 10 or 11), then re-enable your antivirus and run a full scan. Safe Mode loads only essential programs, which can help your antivirus work more effectively. If the scan finds malware, follow your antivirus program's instructions to remove it.
Is it safe to disable antivirus for just a few minutes?
A few minutes is safer than hours, but risk still exists. The shorter the time, the better. If you can disconnect from the internet during those minutes, you reduce the risk significantly. The safest approach is to disable antivirus only when you have a specific task that requires it, then re-enable it when ready.
Can I use two antivirus programs at the same time instead of disabling one?
No. Running two antivirus programs simultaneously will slow your computer dramatically and cause conflicts between them. If you want to switch antivirus programs, uninstall the old one completely before installing the new one. If you want a second opinion on a suspicious file, use an online scanner like VirusTotal instead—upload the file and multiple antivirus engines will scan it without installing anything on your computer.