How to turn off Windows Defender in Windows 10 or other versions of Windows
Though it used to be optional with earlier versions such as Windows XP and Windows 7, the anti-malware and the anti-virus protection suite Windows Defender now comes pre-installed with the latest, Windows 10. It's fairly decent in keeping your computer safe from various security threats, though it doesn't hold up to other free and paid alternatives out there. Windows Defender is also smart enough to disable itself when you install a compatible third-party anti-virus, but Microsoft doesn't make it easy to turn it off permanently on your own. Disabling Windows Defender can open your computer to threats, but if you must do so for some reason, here's how you can go about it on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows XP. In this guide, we will describe how to turn off Windows Defender.
Windows Defender is built into Windows 10 as a system utility, which is why it's slightly more complex to disable it. On Windows 7 and Windows XP, Windows Defender is essentially like a pre-installed app, which is why it's slightly easier to turn it off.
This method works for those running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
This method works for those running Windows 10 Home. Do note that editing Registry can be risky, so proceed at your own risk. Take a full backup if you wish.
If you only need to temporarily disable Windows Defender in Windows 10, this is the easiest method of them all.
Windows Defender will turn back on when your computer restarts.
Disabling Windows Defender in Windows 8.1 is quite easy. Follow these steps.
Turning off Windows Defender on Windows 7 is quite similar to Windows 8.1. Follow these steps.
On Windows XP, if Windows Defender is installed, you can turn it off easily.
For more tutorials, visit our How To section.
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