How To Delete Windows Defender

If yous're already running a full anti-malware suite, you might not even realize that Windows Defender is already installed with Windows, and is probably wasting precious resources. Here's how to get rid of it.

Now, merely to be articulate, we're not saying that we detest Windows Defender. Some spyware protection is better than none, and it's built in and free! Merely… if you lot are already running something that provides great anti-malware protection, there's no demand to accept more i application running at a time.

In Windows ten, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Defender, and turn off the "Real-time protection" selection.
In Windows 7 and eight, open Windows Defender, head to Options > Ambassador, and plow off the "Utilize this program" option.

Windows Defender is a reasonably solid antivirus app that comes built into Windows 7, eight, and 10. Information technology may not be the all-time antivirus app in terms of the pure number of threats it stops, but Defender arguably does have a security advantage in beingness so tightly integrated into Windows and in beingness well-behaved when it comes to other important apps.

That said, what yous utilise is up to yous. Most other antivirus apps are pretty proficient about turning Defender off when you install them, and turning it dorsum on if you lot uninstall them. It never hurts to make certain, though. Running more than i real-time protection app can cause conflicts and waste system resources.

Run Malwarebytes Alongside Your Antivirus for Maximum Protection

Before you go ahead and disable Windows Defender for good, it'south worth pointing out that these days the really active threats are from spyware, adware, crapware, and the worst of all: ransomware. That's where Malwarebytes comes in.

Malwarebytes not just protects your computer from malware, but does a amend job of cleaning up an infected calculator than anything else on the market.

And to protect your browser against zip-twenty-four hours exploits, Malwarebytes also includes Anti-Exploit and Anti-Ransomware features, which can stop drive-by attacks common cold. And best of all, you can run Malwarebytes alongside your existing antivirus to go on yourself fully protected.

How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10

Starting with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in the Summer of 2016, Windows Defender can really run alongside another antivirus app. When you install some other app, Windows Defender itself isn't disabled—just its existent-fourth dimension protection component is. That means your third-party app handles real-time protection, but you tin even so run a manual scan with Defender whenever you want.

RELATED: How to Apply the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows ten

If you desire to brand sure that Windows Defender's real-time protection is disabled—or re-enabled after uninstalling a 3rd-political party antivirus app—hit Start, type "defender," and and then select "Windows Defender."

In the primary "Windows Defender" window, click the "Settings" button in the top correct of the window.

You'll be presented with the "Settings window." Note that you tin also get here from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Defender. Only make certain that the "Real-time protection" toggle is prepare the way you want.

There is i more matter y'all should be aware of regarding Windows 10's existent-time protection. If you disable information technology and have no other antivirus app installed, Defender will turn existent-time protection dorsum on automatically when you lot restart Windows. This does not happen if you lot're running a third-party antivirus app. There'south no existent fix for this, but if for whatever reason you do want to proceed existent-fourth dimension protection off, but we do have a kind of work-around for you. Y'all tin can simply exclude your unabridged arrangement drive from being scanned.

Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Defender and click the "Add an exclusion" link. Tap the "Exclude a Folder" push button and select your C:\ bulldoze.

And if y'all have additional drives on your PC, you lot tin exclude those, too.

Please note that this is something we don't really recommend. Excluding those drives is basically like turning off antivirus protection. Merely, it'southward there if you need information technology.

Disable Windows Defender in Windows 7 or 8

In Windows vii and viii, you have to completely disable Windows Defender when you want to run another antivirus app. You lot tin't but disable existent-time protection the mode you lot can in Windows 10. Once again, Defender should become disabled automatically when you install a 3rd-party app and re-enabled should you uninstall that app afterward. But it doesn't hurt to make sure.

Open up Windows Defender by hitting offset, typing "defender," and then clicking "Windows Defender."

Switch to the "Tools" page on the card, then click the "Options" link.

Switch to the "Administrator" tab in the left-hand pane, and then toggle the "Utilize this program" check box however you lot desire. When you're done, click the "Save" button.

Windows Defender then confirms that you've turned information technology off. Awesome!

Stopping the Windows Defender Service or Uninstalling Defender

There are tips floating around out in that location for stopping the Windows Defender service from starting automatically when y'all outset your PC, and even a complicated procedure for completely uninstalling Windows Defender altogether. We don't recommend them. Here'south why.

Get-go, if yous disable Defender—or information technology gets automatically disabled when you install a third-party app—information technology actually uses very few organization resources. There's really non much point in stopping the service. This is particularly true in Windows 10 where y'all can disable the real-fourth dimension protection, but still have the added rubber of using Defender for manual scanning as a support to your regular antivirus app.

RELATED: seven Ways To Costless Up Hd Space On Windows

2nd, if you terminate the service—or go through the process of uninstalling it—any Windows update is likely to restore Windows Defender and undo all that work anyway. Plus, Defender takes upwards very petty disk space and in that location are better ways to free up disk space on Windows.

Make Sure You're Still Using Antivirus (and Anti-Malware)

RELATED: Do I Actually Need Antivirus If I Browse Carefully and Use Mutual Sense?

While information technology's handy being able to enable and disable Windows Defender, please do make sure that you're yet running a skilful antivirus app. Many people will tell you that you tin become without antivirus if you're conscientious, and that just isn't true. If you actually hate antivirus, Windows Defender is the to the lowest degree intrusive plan you can use—then you lot should probably leave it on.

In fact, we recommend anybody as well use a good anti-malware and anti-exploit app like MalwareBytes in improver to antivirus—it'll assistance protect you from against exploits and vulnerabilities that antivirus apps don't cover, which are arguably more than prevalent on the spider web today.