How to disable Defender Antivirus permanently on Windows 11

Windows Defender (now called Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is built into Windows 11 and offers free, real-time protection against malware. But some users—especially those running third-party antivirus software or specialized tools—want to disable it completely. Here’s how to turn off Defender Antivirus for good on Windows 11.

Why Would You Disable Defender Antivirus?

• You’re using a different antivirus program.
• Defender conflicts with specific software or scripts.
• You need to free up system resources.

Important: Disabling Defender leaves your PC exposed to threats. Only do this if you have a solid reason and another security solution in place.

Step 1: Turn Off Tamper Protection

Tamper Protection stops settings changes. You’ll need to turn it off first.

1. Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection.
2. Under “Virus & threat protection settings,” click Manage settings.
3. Scroll to Tamper Protection and switch it Off.

Step 2: Disable Defender Using Group Policy Editor

This method is for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Home users, see below.

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

Step 3: For Windows 11 Home – Use the Registry Editor

Warning: Editing the registry can cause problems. Back up your registry first.

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

What to Expect After Disabling Defender

• Windows Security will show “Your Virus & Threat Protection is managed by your organization.”
• Defender’s real-time protection stops running.
• Windows Update may sometimes re-enable Defender after major updates. Check back occasionally.

A Safer Alternative: Just Pause Defender

If you only need Defender off temporarily, go to Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings, and turn off Real-time protection. This disables Defender until you restart your PC—safer for most users.

Final Thoughts

Permanently disabling Defender on Windows 11 is possible, but do it with caution. Make sure you have another antivirus installed, or you’re putting your PC at risk. Always back up important files before making system changes.

Got questions or need more tech tips? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!