How to Disable Windows Defender on Windows 11 – Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 1, 2025

If you’re running Windows 11, you already have a built-in antivirus: Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Windows Defender). It protects your PC from malware, viruses, and other online threats—without needing third-party software.

But sometimes, you might want to disable Windows Defender temporarily (or even permanently). Maybe you’re installing software that conflicts with Defender, using another antivirus program, or just want full control of your system.

In this guide, I’ll show you step-by-step how to disable Windows Defender on Windows 11 in different ways.

Should You Disable Windows Defender?

Before jumping into the how-to, let’s talk about the why.

Reasons You Might Disable It

  • Installing another antivirus like Norton, Bitdefender, or Kaspersky.
  • Running heavy software (Defender can slow performance during scans).
  • Testing apps that Windows Defender flags as false positives.
  • Gaming without interruptions from real-time scanning.

Why You Should Be Careful

  • Disabling Defender leaves your system vulnerable.
  • Malware, spyware, and ransomware could sneak in.
  • Always make sure you have another security tool installed.

In short: disable only if you have a good reason—and preferably, a backup antivirus solution.

Ways to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 11

Windows 11 doesn’t make it super obvious how to turn off Defender, but there are several methods. Some are temporary, others are permanent.

Method 1 – Disable Windows Defender Temporarily (Windows Security Settings)

This is the easiest way. It won’t turn it off forever—Defender will re-enable itself after a restart or update—but it’s great for quick tasks.

Steps

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
  3. Under Virus & Threat Protection Settings, click Manage Settings.
  4. Toggle Real-time Protection off.
  5. Confirm with Yes when prompted by User Account Control.

✅ Defender is now disabled temporarily.

Method 2 – Disable Windows Defender Permanently via Group Policy Editor

If you’re on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use the Group Policy Editor.

Steps

  1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus
  3. Double-click Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
  4. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.
  5. Restart your PC.

Now Defender won’t run automatically.

Method 3 – Disable Windows Defender via Registry Editor

For Windows 11 Home users (no Group Policy Editor), the Registry method works. Be careful—changing the Registry incorrectly can cause issues.

Steps

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
  3. Right-click in the right pane → New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Name it DisableAntiSpyware.
  5. Double-click it and set Value Data = 1.
  6. Restart your computer.

This disables Windows Defender permanently.

Method 4 – Using Windows PowerShell

Power users can turn off Defender using PowerShell commands.

Steps

  1. Right-click Start and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
  2. Type the command: Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true
  3. Press Enter.

This disables real-time protection. To re-enable it, run:

Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false

Method 5 – Install Another Antivirus Program

Windows Defender automatically disables itself when it detects a third-party antivirus. So if you’re switching to Norton, McAfee, or Avast, you don’t need to manually disable Defender.

How to Check If Windows Defender Is Disabled

After applying any method, verify Defender’s status:

  1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
  2. Look under Processes for Antimalware Service Executable.
    • If it’s not running, Defender is disabled.
  3. Or, open Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.

How to Re-Enable Windows Defender

If you change your mind, it’s easy to turn Defender back on:

  • Temporary disable method: Restart your PC, and Defender comes back automatically.
  • Group Policy/Registry method: Reverse the changes (set policy to Disabled or delete the Registry entry).
  • PowerShell method: Run the $false command to re-enable monitoring.

Potential Issues When Disabling Defender

Disabling Windows Defender can sometimes cause side effects:

  • Updates may fail – Windows Update relies on Defender for certain scans.
  • Security warnings – You’ll see alerts in Windows Security.
  • Vulnerability – Your PC is more exposed to threats.

Safer Alternatives to Disabling Defender

If your reason is performance or false positives, try these instead:

  • Add exclusions in Windows Security (skip scanning certain folders).
  • Turn off Periodic Scanning instead of full protection.
  • Use Game Mode in Windows 11 for performance boosts without disabling security.

Temporary vs Permanent Disabling – Which Is Better?

  • Temporary: Best for quick installs or troubleshooting. Defender comes back automatically.
  • Permanent: Useful if you always use another antivirus, but it carries more risks.

Unless you have a permanent alternative, stick with temporary disabling.

Is It Safe to Rely Only on Windows Defender?

Yes—for most users, Defender is enough. It has improved massively and is now comparable to many paid antiviruses.

But if you want extra features like VPN, password managers, or parental controls, third-party antivirus might be better.

Windows Defender vs Third-Party Antivirus

  • Windows Defender: Free, built-in, lightweight, decent protection.
  • Third-Party Antivirus: More features, sometimes stronger detection, but can slow your PC.

If you just browse the web, stream, and use Office apps, Defender alone is usually fine.

Conclusion

Disabling Windows Defender in Windows 11 can be done in several ways—temporarily through Settings, permanently via Group Policy or Registry, or even automatically when installing another antivirus.

But remember: don’t leave your system unprotected. If you disable Defender, make sure you have another security solution ready.

Windows Defender might feel restrictive sometimes, but it’s your PC’s first line of defense.

FAQs

Q1: Can I permanently disable Windows Defender in Windows 11 Home?
Yes, but you’ll need to use the Registry Editor since Group Policy isn’t available.

Q2: Will disabling Defender improve performance?
Slightly—especially on older PCs during scans—but the security trade-off is big.

Q3: Does Windows Defender turn back on after an update?
Yes, temporary disable resets after restart or updates. Permanent disable methods won’t re-enable automatically.

Q4: What happens if I install another antivirus?
Windows Defender automatically disables itself to avoid conflicts.

Q5: Is it safe to disable Defender if I’m always offline?
Not really. Even offline, malware can spread via USB drives or infected files. Always keep some protection.

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