Why you might need to close your antivirus temporarily

You may need to close your antivirus program for a few specific reasons: installing software that the antivirus blocks incorrectly, troubleshooting a device problem, or running a task that the antivirus slows down significantly. Most of the time, your antivirus should stay running. But when you do need to turn it off, the steps depend on which program you have and which operating system you use.

Before you close any antivirus, understand that your device becomes unprotected the moment it shuts down. Close it only for as long as you need to complete the task, then restart it when ready. Do not leave your antivirus off while browsing the internet or downloading files.

Key Takeaways

  • Most antivirus programs close from their own window or system tray icon, not from the Windows or Mac settings menu.
  • Windows Defender (built into Windows) requires you to turn it off in Settings, not from a program window.
  • Restarting your computer automatically restarts your antivirus, so if you cannot find the close button, a restart will turn it back on.
  • Some antivirus programs prevent you from closing them without a password, which is a security feature you set up yourself during installation.
  • Your device has no protection while the antivirus is closed, so complete your task and restart the program within minutes.

Closing antivirus on Windows: third-party programs

If you use Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Avast, or another paid antivirus program, look for its icon in the system tray — the small icons on the far right of your taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Right-click the antivirus icon and look for an option that says "Close", "Exit", "Disable", or "Turn off". Click it.

If you do not see the antivirus icon in the system tray, open the antivirus program itself by clicking its icon on your desktop or searching for it in the Start menu. Once the program window opens, look for a menu option labeled "File", "Settings", or a three-line menu icon. Inside that menu, find "Exit" or "Close" and click it. Some programs also have a power button icon in the window itself — clicking that will close the program.

If the program asks for a password before closing, enter the password you created when you first installed the antivirus. If you do not remember this password, you cannot close the antivirus without restarting your computer (which will not require a password).

Closing Windows Defender on Windows

Windows Defender is the antivirus built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. It does not have a separate program window you can close like other antivirus software. Instead, you turn it off through the Settings menu.

Open the Start menu and type "Virus & threat protection" into the search box, then click the result. In the window that opens, look for a button or link that says "Manage settings" under the "Virus & threat protection settings" section. Click it. You will see a toggle switch next to "Real-time protection". Click the toggle to turn it off. Windows will ask you to confirm — click "Yes".

Windows Defender will turn back on automatically after a set time (usually one hour) or when you restart your computer. You do not need to manually restart it.

Closing antivirus on Mac

If you use Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, or another antivirus on Mac, look for its icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen (the row of small icons on the right side of the menu bar). Click the antivirus icon. A dropdown menu will appear. Look for an option that says "Quit", "Exit", "Disable", or "Turn off" and click it.

If you do not see the antivirus icon in the menu bar, open the Applications folder by clicking the Finder icon in the dock, then clicking "Applications" in the sidebar. Find your antivirus program in the list, double-click it to open it, and look for a menu at the top of the screen (next to the Apple menu). Click that menu and look for "Quit" or "Exit".

If your Mac has built-in antivirus (Gatekeeper and XProtect, which run automatically), you cannot close these from a program window because they are part of the operating system itself. Restarting your Mac is the only way to temporarily disable them, and they will restart automatically when your Mac boots up again.

What to do if you cannot close your antivirus

If the antivirus will not close and does not ask for a password, try restarting your computer. When your computer starts back up, when ready begin the task you need to complete (installing software, troubleshooting, etc.) before the antivirus fully loads. On Windows, you have roughly 30 seconds after startup before Windows Defender activates. On Mac, the delay is longer.

If you set a password to prevent closing the antivirus and you have forgotten it, you will need to contact the antivirus company's support line. They can help you reset the password or provide a temporary override code. Do not try to uninstall the antivirus without the password — most programs will not allow it.

If the antivirus crashes or freezes when you try to close it, restart your computer. A restart will close the program completely and clear it from memory.

Restarting your antivirus after you finish

Once you have completed the task that required the antivirus to be closed, restart the program when ready. For third-party antivirus programs, open the program the same way you would normally — click its icon on the desktop or search for it in the Start menu or Applications folder. The program will launch and begin protecting your device again.

For Windows Defender, open the "Virus & threat protection" window again (search for it in the Start menu) and toggle "Real-time protection" back on. For Mac antivirus programs, click the icon in the menu bar and look for an option to "Enable" or "Turn on".

If you restart your computer, your antivirus will start automatically when the computer boots up — you do not need to open it manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my computer get infected if I close my antivirus for 10 minutes?

Closing your antivirus for a short time while you complete a specific task carries minimal risk, especially if you are not downloading files or visiting unfamiliar websites. The risk increases the longer the antivirus is off and the more you use your device during that time. Close it only for the time you need and restart it when ready after.

Why does my antivirus ask for a password before closing?

This is a security feature you (or someone with access to your computer) enabled during installation. It prevents someone from quickly disabling your antivirus to install malware. If you are the owner of the computer and set this password, you will need to enter it to close the program.

Does restarting my computer close the antivirus?

Yes. When you restart, all running programs close, including your antivirus. However, the antivirus will start again automatically when your computer finishes restarting, so this is only a temporary solution if you need the antivirus off for a few minutes.

Can I uninstall my antivirus instead of just closing it?

You can uninstall it, but that is different from closing it. Uninstalling removes the program entirely from your computer. If you only need it off temporarily, close it instead. If you want to remove it permanently, you can uninstall it through the Control Panel (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), though some antivirus programs require a password to uninstall.

What if my antivirus is running but I do not see it anywhere on my screen?

The program may be running in the background without a visible window. Check the system tray on Windows (far right of the taskbar) or the menu bar on Mac (top right of the screen) for a small icon. If you still cannot find it, restart your computer — this will close all background programs, including your antivirus.