How To Disable Windows Defender Completely

If you want to disable and remove Windows Defender, here are the steps you can follow:

To Disable Windows Defender:

1. Using Windows Security Settings:
   • Open the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).
   • Go to Update & Security > Windows Security.
   • Click on Virus & threat protection.
   • Under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.
   • Turn off the Real-time protection toggle switch.
2. Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education):
   • Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
   • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.
   • Double-click on Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus.
   • Select Enabled and click Apply and OK.
   • Restart your computer.
3. Using Registry Editor:
   • Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   • Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.
   • Right-click on the Windows Defender key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name the new value DisableAntiSpyware.
   • Double-click on DisableAntiSpyware and set its value data to 1.
   • Restart your computer.

To Remove Windows Defender:

Note: Removing Windows Defender completely is not recommended, as it leaves your system vulnerable to threats. If you still want to proceed, follow these steps:

1. Using PowerShell:
   • Open PowerShell as an administrator. You can do this by searching for “PowerShell” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting Run as administrator.
   • Type the following command and press Enter to uninstall Windows Defender features:

     powershell

     Uninstall-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Defender-Features -ComputerName localhost -IncludeAllSubFeature -Remove

2. Using DISM Tool:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:

     cmd

     dism /online /disable-feature /featurename:Windows-Defender-Features

     dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
   • Restart your computer.

Remember to install another antivirus program to keep your system protected if you decide to remove Windows Defender.