You can disable Windows Defender, but the steps depend on your Windows version and whether you want it off temporarily or permanently

Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus program on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Turning it off completely requires different steps depending on whether you're using Home, Pro, or Enterprise editions, and whether you want the change to stick after a restart. Most people who want to disable it are either switching to a different antivirus program, troubleshooting a conflict with another security tool, or testing software that the antivirus is blocking.

The fastest temporary method is to turn off real-time protection in Settings. The permanent method requires either Group Policy (Pro and Enterprise only) or the Registry (all editions). If you disable Windows Defender and don't replace it with another antivirus, your computer will have no active protection against malware.

Key Takeaways

  • Temporary disabling through Settings turns off real-time scanning but resets when you restart your computer.
  • Permanent disabling on Home edition requires editing the Registry, which is more complex but works on all Windows versions.
  • Pro and Enterprise editions can use Group Policy Editor to disable Windows Defender permanently without Registry editing.
  • If you disable Windows Defender without installing another antivirus, Windows will show a security warning but will not force protection back on.
  • Some Windows updates can re-enable Windows Defender, so you may need to disable it again after major updates.

Temporary disabling through Windows Settings

The quickest way to turn off Windows Defender for a few hours or until your next restart is through the Settings app. Open Settings, go to Privacy & Security, then select Windows Security. Click on Virus & threat protection, then Manage settings. Toggle off "Real-time protection." Windows will ask you to confirm; click Yes. Real-time scanning stops immediately.

This method lasts only until you restart your computer. After restart, Windows Defender turns back on automatically. Use this approach when you're testing software, troubleshooting a conflict, or temporarily switching antivirus programs. If you need the change to survive a restart, you'll need one of the permanent methods below.

Permanent disabling on Windows Pro and Enterprise using Group Policy

Windows Pro and Enterprise editions include Group Policy Editor, which lets you disable Windows Defender without editing the Registry. Press Windows key + R, type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Double-click "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus." Select "Enabled" and click OK.

Close Group Policy Editor and restart your computer. Windows Defender will remain off after the restart. If you ever want to turn it back on, return to the same location in Group Policy Editor, select "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus," choose "Not Configured," and restart again.

Group Policy changes take effect after a restart, so don't expect Windows Defender to stop immediately. Some Windows updates may reset this setting, so check Group Policy after major updates if you notice Windows Defender has turned back on.

Permanent disabling on all editions using Registry Editor

Windows Home edition does not include Group Policy Editor, so you must use Registry Editor instead. Press Windows key + R, type "regedit" and press Enter. The Registry Editor opens. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows Defender. If the Windows Defender folder does not exist, right-click on Windows, select New > Key, and name it "Windows Defender."

Right-click inside the Windows Defender folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it "DisableAntiSpyware." Double-click the new entry, change the value from 0 to 1, and click OK. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer. Windows Defender will remain disabled after restart.

Registry editing carries more risk than Group Policy because a mistake can cause system problems. If you're uncomfortable with Registry Editor, the temporary Settings method is safer. To re-enable Windows Defender later, return to the same Registry location, change DisableAntiSpyware back to 0, and restart.

What happens after you disable Windows Defender

Once Windows Defender is off, Windows will display a security warning in Settings under Privacy & Security. The warning says your device is not protected, but Windows will not force protection back on or prevent you from using your computer. If you have another antivirus program installed and running, Windows recognizes it and the warning disappears.

Without any antivirus active, your computer is vulnerable to malware. If you're disabling Windows Defender to install a different antivirus, do that immediately after disabling Windows Defender rather than leaving your computer unprotected. If you're disabling it for testing purposes, re-enable it as soon as you're finished.

Re-enabling Windows Defender after disabling it

If you used Settings to disable real-time protection, simply toggle it back on in the same location: Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Real-time protection. The change takes effect immediately.

If you used Group Policy Editor, open gpedit.msc again, navigate to the same location, double-click "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus," select "Not Configured," and restart. If you used Registry Editor, change the DisableAntiSpyware value back to 0 and restart. After any of these methods, the security warning in Settings will disappear once Windows Defender confirms it's running.

Why Windows might re-enable Windows Defender on its own

Major Windows updates sometimes reset security settings, including Group Policy and Registry changes that disable Windows Defender. After installing a large update (particularly Windows feature updates that jump version numbers), check whether Windows Defender has turned back on. If it has, you'll need to repeat whichever disabling method you used originally.

Some third-party antivirus programs also attempt to re-enable Windows Defender or other security features as part of their installation. If you install a new antivirus and Windows Defender turns back on unexpectedly, check whether the antivirus installer has an option to disable Windows Defender, or disable it again manually after the antivirus installation completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my computer get infected if I disable Windows Defender without installing another antivirus?

Your computer will be unprotected against malware, but it won't automatically get infected. The risk depends on what you do online. Visiting untrusted websites, downloading files from unknown sources, or opening email attachments from strangers carries much higher risk without antivirus protection. If you're disabling Windows Defender temporarily, re-enable it or install a replacement antivirus as soon as possible.

Can I disable Windows Defender on Windows Home edition without using Registry Editor?

No. Windows Home does not include Group Policy Editor, so Registry Editor is the only permanent method. The temporary Settings method works on all editions, but it resets after restart. If you want a permanent change on Home edition without Registry editing, you would need to upgrade to Pro or Enterprise.

Does disabling Windows Defender improve computer performance?

Slightly, but usually not noticeably. Windows Defender uses some CPU and disk resources for background scanning, but on modern computers the impact is minimal. If you're experiencing slowness, disabling Windows Defender is rarely the solution. Check Task Manager to see what's actually using resources before disabling security software.

What's the difference between disabling Windows Defender and uninstalling it?

You cannot uninstall Windows Defender on Windows 10 or 11 — it's part of the operating system. Disabling it through Settings, Group Policy, or Registry is the only option. If you want to remove antivirus functionality entirely, disabling it is as close as you can get.

If I disable Windows Defender, will Windows Update still work?

Yes. Windows Update is separate from Windows Defender and will continue to download and install updates regardless of whether antivirus protection is on or off. Disabling Windows Defender does not affect Windows Update, driver updates, or any other system updates.