How to Completely Disable Windows Defender in 2026?

Windows Defender is deeply integrated into the Windows operating system. Because of this, simply turning off real-time protection does not fully disable it. The system often re-enables Defender automatically after a restart or update.

To completely disable it, you must perform several steps in the correct order. First, turn off Tamper Protection so Windows does not block changes. Then disable real-time protection and other security options. Finally, use advanced tools such as Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor to permanently disable Defender.

Remember that disabling Windows Defender leaves your system vulnerable to threats unless you install another antivirus program. Always ensure your computer remains protected.

Don’t worry, in this guide, I will explain all the steps in simple words so that you can easily understand how to completely disable Windows Defender on Windows 10 or Windows 11!

So let’s begin!

Table of Contents

How to Completely Disable Windows Defender?

To completely disable Windows Defender on Windows 11 or Windows 10, first turn off Tamper Protection from Windows Security settings. Then disable real-time protection. After that, use the Local Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor to permanently turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Restart the computer to apply the changes fully.

Below is a complete step-by-step guide to permanently disabling Windows Defender.

Step 1. Turn Off Tamper Protection

Tamper Protection prevents unauthorized apps and users from changing security settings. Before disabling Windows Defender completely, you must turn off this feature.

Open the Start menu and search for Windows Security. Click on the Windows Security app to open it. Inside the dashboard, select Virus and threat protection from the left panel. Scroll down and click Manage settings under Virus and threat protection settings.

Locate the Tamper Protection option and toggle it off. Windows may ask for administrator permission. Confirm the action to proceed.

Once Tamper Protection is turned off, Windows will allow you to change Defender settings without automatically restoring them. This is the most important step before attempting to disable Defender permanently.

Step 2. Disable Real-Time Protection and Other Defender Features

After turning off Tamper Protection, the next step is to disable all active Defender protections. This ensures that Defender stops scanning and monitoring your system in real time.

Go back to Virus and threat protection settings in Windows Security. Turn off real-time protection by switching the toggle. Then disable Cloud-delivered protection, Automatic sample submission, and Tamper Protection if it reappears.

Also, navigate to Firewall and network protection from the Windows Security dashboard. Open each network profile and turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall. Confirm any prompts that appear.

Next, go to App and browser control and disable reputation-based protection. Turn off all available toggles in this section.

These actions temporarily disable Defender services, but they may restart automatically. To fully disable them, continue with the advanced methods below.

Step 3. Use Local Group Policy Editor to Disable Windows Defender Permanently

The Local Group Policy Editor provides a reliable way to completely disable Windows Defender. This method works on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

Press the Windows and R keys together to open the Run dialog box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor window.

Navigate to Computer Configuration, then Administrative Templates. Click Windows Components and scroll down to find Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

Double-click on Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus. A new window will open with configuration options. Select Enabled to turn off Defender completely. Click Apply and then click OK.

Next, locate Real-time Protection within the same folder. Open Turn off real-time protection, and set it to Enabled. Apply the changes and close the editor.

Restart your computer to apply the new policy settings. After a restart, Windows Defender will remain completely disabled and will not reactivate automatically.

Step 4. Disable Windows Defender Using Registry Editor

If you are using Windows Home Edition, the Group Policy Editor may not be available. In this case, you can disable Windows Defender through the Registry Editor.

Press the Windows and R keys to open Run. Type regedit and press Enter. The Registry Editor window will appear. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.

Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Right-click on the Windows Defender folder and select New, then choose DWORD 32-bit Value. Name the new value DisableAntiSpyware.

Double-click on DisableAntiSpyware and set its value to 1. Click OK to save changes.

Now restart your computer. After a restart, Windows Defender will be completely disabled. Ensure that Tamper Protection is off before performing this method, or the changes may not work.

Step 5. Disable Defender Services from Startup

Even after applying Group Policy or Registry changes, some Defender services may still attempt to run. Disabling related services from startup ensures Defender remains off.

Press Windows and R keys, type services.msc, and press Enter. Locate Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service in the list. Double-click the service to open its properties.

Set Startup type to Disabled and click Stop if the service is running. Click Apply and then OK.

Repeat this process for Microsoft Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service if available. Restart your system after completing these changes.

Disabling these services prevents Defender from restarting in the background.

Step 6. Restart the Computer and Verify

Restarting your computer is necessary to apply all changes. After reboot, check whether Windows Defender is completely disabled.

Open Windows Security from the Start menu. If Defender is disabled successfully, you will see messages indicating that your antivirus is turned off. Real-time protection and other features will remain disabled.

You can also check Task Manager to confirm that Defender processes are not running. If no Defender processes appear, the antivirus has been completely disabled.

At this point, install a third-party antivirus if you want continued protection. Running a system without any antivirus software is not recommended.

Faqs

Is it safe to completely disable Windows Defender?

Disabling Windows Defender is safe only if another antivirus program is installed. Without any security software, your computer becomes vulnerable to malware, viruses, and ransomware.

Why does Windows Defender turn back on automatically?

Windows Defender is designed to protect users. It automatically re-enables itself if no antivirus is detected. Tamper Protection and system updates can also restore it. Using Group Policy or Registry changes prevents this behavior.

Can I disable Windows Defender permanently on Windows Home?

Yes. Although Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows Home, you can disable Defender permanently using the Registry Editor method explained above.

Will disabling Defender improve performance?

On low-end systems, disabling Defender may slightly improve performance and reduce background resource usage. However, the difference is usually small on modern computers.

Can I re-enable Windows Defender later?

Yes. You can re-enable Defender by reversing the changes. Turn Tamper Protection back on, remove registry or group policy changes, and restart your computer. Defender will start working again.