How to get an exclusion to Defender

I'm having a terrible time getting an exclusion in Defender Windows 10 Home. I have gotten to the point where I can see all my apps, the one I want to exclude is checked in both private and public, but when I hit OK and try to send it through, Defender blocks it. What am I doing wrong.

This is the problem. When I go to to Virus and Threat protection I get something totally different looking.
I wouldn't begin to try the second option.

Well, I got this far by Defender will still not allow me to use this file.
​
Windows rarely give you anything like a "Done" button.

As with the photo above, I clicked on Add an Exclusion and chose the file listed in that photo. But I have no idea what happened next since there is no "OK" or "Done" button. I tried opening that file, but Defender still would not allow it.
I imagine Defender is my default AV and Firewall since I removed Webroot and don't have any other, but I don't know how to check.
I really appreciate you spending time with a novice like me. I hope I am not too much of a bother.

The list is way too long to get in a screen shot. It says there are 159 apps, many of which are from Microsoft and others I have no idea what they do. How should I proceed?

- - - Updated - - -

I am getting really annoyed with Defender. Is there a way to disable it? I work in college athletics and there are any number of statistical apps we use that are created by small vendors. Defender seems to want to block everything.

- - - Updated - - -

I finally got so disgusted with Defender that I simply disabled it, ran my apps, and then re-enabled it. it? I work in college athletics and there are any number of statistical apps we use that are created by small vendors. Defender seems to want to block everything.

As I said above I really appreciate your help. I hope I wasn't too much of bother.