Windows Defender can be disabled, but understand why you might want to first

Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus program that runs on every Windows computer. You can turn it off temporarily or permanently, but doing so leaves your system unprotected against the malware, viruses, and ransomware you read about in the previous guide. Most people disable it for one specific reason: another antivirus program is already running, and two antivirus programs fighting each other will slow your computer to a crawl.

If you are disabling Defender because you think it is causing problems, or because a website told you to, stop and check first. Defender rarely causes slowdowns on modern hardware. If your computer is sluggish, the culprit is usually a full hard drive, too many browser tabs, or actual malware — not the antivirus itself. Disabling protection to fix speed almost always makes things worse.

The legitimate reasons to disable Defender are narrow: you are installing a different antivirus program, you are testing software in an isolated environment, or you are a system administrator managing multiple machines. If none of those explore to you, leave it on.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Defender can be disabled through Settings, Group Policy, or the Services app, depending on your Windows version and whether you have administrator access.
  • Disabling Defender leaves your computer unprotected, so only do it if you are installing a different antivirus program or have a specific technical reason.
  • If Defender seems to be slowing your computer, the problem is usually something else — a full drive, too many programs running at startup, or actual malware that Defender has not yet caught.
  • Windows will nag you repeatedly if protection is off, and some Windows updates will re-enable Defender automatically.
  • If you disable Defender and then change your mind, turning it back on takes the same steps in reverse.

Disable Defender through Settings on Windows 10 and 11

This is the easiest method and works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Open Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"), then go to Privacy & Security on the left side. Click Windows Security. Inside that window, click Virus & threat protection.

You will see a section called Virus & threat protection settings. Click the link that says Manage settings. The first toggle you see is Real-time protection — click it to turn it off. Windows will ask you to confirm. A second toggle below it, Cloud-delivered protection, will also turn off automatically. You can now close Settings.

This disables the active scanning that watches your files in real time. Defender is still installed and can still run scans if you ask it to, but it will not monitor your system continuously. Windows will show a notification that your device is not protected, and that notification will not go away until you turn protection back on.

Disable Defender using Group Policy on Windows Pro and Enterprise

If you have Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, or an Enterprise version, you have access to Group Policy, which gives you more control. Press the Windows key and type "gpedit.msc", then press Enter. This opens the Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Look for the setting called Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Double-click it, select Enabled, and click OK. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.

This method is more permanent than the Settings method — Windows updates are less likely to re-enable Defender on their own. However, if you later decide you want Defender back, you have to return to Group Policy, set that same setting to Disabled or Not Configured, and restart again.

Disable Defender through Services if Settings does not work

If the Settings method does not work — sometimes on older machines or after certain updates — you can disable Defender through the Services app. Press the Windows key and type "Services", then open the Services app. Look for an entry called Windows Defender Service or WinDefend.

Right-click it and select Properties. Change the Startup type dropdown from Automatic to Disabled. Click explore, then click the Stop button to stop the service when ready. Click OK and close the Services window. You may need to restart your computer for the change to take full effect.

This method stops the Defender service from running at all, even in the background. It is more thorough than the Settings method but also more likely to cause problems if something goes wrong. Use this only if the Settings method fails.

What happens after you disable Defender

Once Defender is off, Windows will display a persistent notification in the system tray (the icons in the bottom right corner) saying your device is not protected. You cannot dismiss this notification — it will stay there until you turn protection back on. Some people find this annoying, but it is intentional: Microsoft wants you to know you are running without antivirus.

If you have Windows Update set to automatic, Microsoft may re-enable Defender during a major update. This is also intentional — the company does not want computers sitting unprotected for months. If you disable Defender again after an update, you may need to use Group Policy instead of Settings to make it stick.

Your computer will still work normally in every other way. Programs will launch at the same speed, files will open normally, and your internet connection will not change. The only difference is that malware, viruses, and ransomware can now infect your system without any warning or resistance.

Turn Defender back on if you change your mind

If you disabled Defender through Settings, go back to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings, and toggle Real-time protection back on. The notification will disappear within a few seconds.

If you disabled it through Group Policy, open Group Policy Editor again, navigate to the same location, and set Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus to Disabled or Not Configured. Restart your computer. If you disabled it through Services, open Services again, find Windows Defender Service, set the startup type back to Automatic, and click Start.

Defender will resume protecting your system when ready. Any scans you run will use Defender's current virus definitions, which update automatically when protection is on.

Installing a different antivirus program

If you are disabling Defender because you want to use Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, or another third-party antivirus, disable Defender first, then install the new program. Most third-party antivirus installers will disable Defender automatically, but doing it yourself first prevents conflicts during installation.

Do not run two antivirus programs at the same time. They will interfere with each other, cause false alarms, and slow your computer significantly. Once your new antivirus is installed and running, verify it is active by checking its own settings or notification area. Then you can leave Defender off.

If you later uninstall the third-party antivirus, turn Defender back on when ready. Do not leave your computer without any antivirus protection, even for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Defender speed up my computer?

Probably not. Defender uses very little CPU or memory on modern hardware. If your computer is slow, the cause is usually a full hard drive, too many programs running at startup, or actual malware. Disabling Defender will not fix any of those problems and will make malware infections more likely.

Can I disable Defender on Windows Home edition?

Yes, through Settings or Services. You cannot use Group Policy because it is not available on Home edition. The Settings method is easiest: go to Privacy & Security, Windows Security, Virus & threat protection, Manage settings, and toggle Real-time protection off.

What if a website tells me to disable Defender to install something?

Do not do it. Legitimate software does not require you to turn off antivirus protection. If a website or installer asks you to disable Defender, it is almost certainly malware or a scam. Close the website, uninstall the program, and turn your antivirus back on when ready.

Will Defender turn back on by itself after a Windows update?

It may. Major Windows updates sometimes re-enable Defender automatically, especially if it has been off for a long time. If this happens and you want it off, you can disable it again using the same method. If you want it to stay off permanently, use Group Policy instead of Settings.

Can I schedule Defender scans while it is disabled?

No. If real-time protection is off, Defender will not run scheduled scans either. You can still run a manual scan by opening Windows Security and clicking Virus & threat protection, but the scan will not happen automatically. To get automatic scans back, turn real-time protection on.