Why you might need to disable Malwarebytes temporarily

Malwarebytes sometimes blocks legitimate programs or files you actually want to use. A game installer, a work tool, or software from a smaller developer might trigger a false alarm. Rather than uninstall the program entirely, you can turn off Malwarebytes for a few minutes, install what you need, then turn it back on.

You might also disable it to troubleshoot a problem — if your computer is running slowly or crashing, you may want to see whether Malwarebytes itself is the cause. Turning it off temporarily lets you test without removing it.

The steps differ depending on whether you use the free version or the paid Premium version, and whether you want to pause it briefly or disable it completely.

Key Takeaways

  • The free version of Malwarebytes has no built-in pause button, so you must unload it from memory or disable it in Windows Defender settings.
  • Malwarebytes Premium includes a pause feature in the main window that you can set for 15 minutes, 1 hour, or until restart.
  • Disabling real-time scanning in the Settings menu works for both versions and is faster than uninstalling.
  • Always turn Malwarebytes back on after you finish, or re-enable it in Windows Defender, so your device stays protected.
  • If Malwarebytes blocks something you trust, you can add it to the exclusions list instead of disabling the whole program.

How to pause Malwarebytes Premium

Open Malwarebytes and look at the main window. In the top right corner, you will see a pause icon (two vertical bars, like a play button paused). Click it.

A menu will appear with three options: pause for 15 minutes, pause for 1 hour, or pause until the next restart. Choose the length of time you need. A countdown timer will appear on the pause button so you can see when protection resumes automatically.

This is the simplest method if you own Premium. The program stays installed and running in the background — it just stops scanning and blocking — so you do not have to remember to turn it back on manually.

How to disable real-time scanning in settings

This method works for both the free and Premium versions. Open Malwarebytes and click the Settings icon (usually a gear symbol in the top right or left sidebar).

Look for a section called Protection or Real-Time Protection. You will see a toggle switch next to "Real-Time Scanning" or "Malware Protection". Click the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray or white, indicating it is now disabled.

Real-time scanning is what stops threats as they happen. Turning it off means Malwarebytes will not block anything until you turn it back on. You can still run manual scans if you want, but the program will not watch your system in the background.

When you are done, go back to Settings and toggle real-time scanning back on. The switch will turn blue or green again.

How to disable Malwarebytes in Windows Defender (free version)

The free version does not have a pause button, so if you need to stop it quickly, you can disable it through Windows Defender settings instead.

Open Windows Security (search for it in the Start menu). Click Virus & threat protection on the left side. Scroll down to "Virus & threat protection settings" and click it.

Look for Manage installed apps and click it. Find Malwarebytes in the list and click it once to select it. A button labeled Disable will appear. Click it.

Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Yes. Malwarebytes will stop running when ready. When you want to turn it back on, return to the same menu, select Malwarebytes, and click Enable.

How to unload Malwarebytes from memory using Task Manager

If you need Malwarebytes off right now and the other methods are not working, you can force it to close using Task Manager.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. Task Manager will open. Look for any process with "Malwarebytes" in the name — you may see "MBAMService", "mbamtray", or "Malwarebytes". Click on it once to select it, then click the End Task button in the bottom right.

The process will close when ready. Malwarebytes will not restart until you manually open the program again or restart your computer. This is a temporary stop, not a permanent disable, so the program will resume the next time you restart Windows unless you also disable it in Settings.

How to add a file or program to Malwarebytes exclusions instead

If Malwarebytes keeps blocking something you trust, you do not have to disable the whole program. You can tell Malwarebytes to ignore that specific file or folder.

Open Malwarebytes and go to Settings. Look for Exclusions or Allow List. Click it. You will see options to add a file, folder, or website.

Click Add Exclusion or Add to Allow List. A file browser will open. Navigate to the file or folder you want to exclude and select it. Click Open or Confirm.

Malwarebytes will now skip that item during scans and will not block it from running. This is safer than disabling the whole program because everything else stays protected.

What to do if Malwarebytes will not turn off

Sometimes Malwarebytes locks itself and will not let you disable it through normal methods. This usually happens if Windows Defender or another security program is managing it.

Check whether another antivirus program is running. Open Windows Security and look at the "Virus & threat protection" page. If you see a message saying Malwarebytes is managed by another app, that app is preventing you from disabling it. You will need to disable the other program first, or uninstall it.

If you see no other program listed, restart your computer in Safe Mode. Press F8 or Shift + Restart during startup (the exact key depends on your Windows version). In Safe Mode, fewer programs load, so you may be able to disable Malwarebytes. Once you are done, restart normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Malwarebytes leave my computer unprotected?

Yes, while Malwarebytes is off, it cannot block threats. If you have Windows Defender enabled (which most computers do by default), you still have some protection, but you lose Malwarebytes' additional scanning. Turn it back on as soon as you finish what you needed to do.

How long can I safely leave Malwarebytes disabled?

Disable it only for as long as you need — usually a few minutes to an hour. The longer it is off, the more risk you take. If you find yourself disabling it regularly for the same program, add that program to the exclusions list instead so you do not have to keep turning protection off.

Does disabling Malwarebytes delete it from my computer?

No. Disabling it stops it from running, but the program files stay on your hard drive. You can turn it back on anytime. Uninstalling is different — that removes the program entirely and requires you to read and reinstall it later.

What is the difference between pausing and disabling?

Pausing (Premium only) temporarily stops protection for a set time, then automatically turns it back on. Disabling means it stays off until you manually turn it back on. Pausing is safer because you cannot forget to re-enable it.

Can I disable just the quarantine feature and keep scanning on?

No. Malwarebytes does not let you separate scanning from blocking. You can disable real-time scanning (which stops both), or you can pause the whole program. If you want to scan without blocking, run a manual scan instead of using real-time protection.