How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8/7

Jun. 24, 2022 / Updated by Bessie Shaw to Windows 10

Want to disable Windows Defender after you install a third-party antivirus program to protect your desktop or laptop from the virus, such as Bitdefender, AVG, etc.? Windows Defender is the default anti-virus program on a Windows PC. You could follow these steps to permanently or temporarily disable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8/7.

1. Temporarily Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8.1/8

If you want to temporarily disable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8.1/8, take these steps:

Step 1. Click Start and then click Settings.

Step 2. Click Update & security.

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Step 3. Click Windows Defender

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Step 4.Turn off the toggle switch for Real-time protection.

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Note: The Windows Defender will be enabled automatically the next time you restart your PC.

2. Permanently Disable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8.1/8

You could use the Local Group Policy Editor to permanently disable Windows Defender in Windows 10, applied to all Windows 10 versions. Do the following steps:

Step 1. Press Windows key + R simultaneously to bring up the Run dialog.

Step 2. Type “gpedit.msc” in the text box and hit Enter. The Local Group Policy Editor dialog box will pop up.

Step 3. Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Defender

Step 4. In the right pane, double-click Turn off Windows Defender.

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Step 5. Select Enabled to turn off Windows Defender.

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Step 6. Click Apply and then OK.

3. Disable Windows Defender in Windows 7

To could disable Windows Defender in Windows 7, you could use the Services.msc. Peform the followingsteps:

Step 1. Click Start and type “services.msc” in the search box and hit Enter.

Step 2. In the Services window, locate Windows Defender.

Step 3. Right-click on Windows Defender and click Properties.

Step 4. Click the General tab, select the Disabled option for Startup type.

Step 5. Click Apply and then OK.

Bonus Tip: Easy and Quick Way to Update PC Drivers for Windows 10/8.1/8/7

It’s common to encounter various PC issues every time you get a Windows Update, such as no WiFi, PC slow, no sound, USB not working, Bluetooth not available, mouse and keyboard not working, etc. In many cases, the reason behind these issues is the driver problem. Your driver may be outdated, corrupt, broken or missing after the update. The solution is to repair or update your drivers.

There’s a risk of downloading PC drivers on the Internet, and incompatible drivers could bring more complicated PC issues. To save you a lot of time and frustration, it’s highly recommended to use a reliable driver update application like Driver Talent to scan for and find out all your faulty PC drivers in seconds and then automatically download them in minutes. All the drivers are collected from the official source (original manufacturers and Microsoft) and they are safe and well tested.

Click the download button below to grab Driver Talent directly. No viruses. No trojans.

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Below you can find a quick guide on how to use Driver Talent to download and update drivers, compatible with HP, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung and other brand PCs.

Step 1. Scan Your PC

Run Driver Talent. Click Scan to perform a full scan of your PC. Your faulty drivers will be listed.

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Step 2. Repair or Update Drivers

Click “Repair” to fix the corrupt, broken or missing drivers. Click “Update” to download the latest drivers.

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Step 3. Reboot Your PC

A PC reboot is a must to allow driver update to take effect.

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