Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections in Windows 10


Windows 10 includes Windows Security, which provides the latest Microsoft Defender Antivirus protection. Your device will be actively protected from the moment you start Windows 10. Windows Security continually scans for malware (malicious software), viruses, and security threats. In addition to this real-time protection, definition updates are downloaded automatically to help keep your device safe and protect it from threats.

If you disabled automatic Windows Updates over metered connections, it will also prevent Microsoft Defender Antivirus definition updates from being automatically installed via Windows Update over a metered connection.

Starting with Windows 10 build 20175, a new group policy was added that allows Microsoft Defender to update and communicate over a metered connection even if you disabled automatic Windows Updates over metered connections.

See also: Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware | Microsoft Security Intelligence

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable allowing Microsoft Defender Antivirus to update and communicate over a metered connection in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus updates over metered connections.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections in PowerShell
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Three: Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections using a REG file






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections in PowerShell


1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(Enable)
Set-MpPreference -MeteredConnectionUpdates 1

OR

(Disable - default)
Set-MpPreference -MeteredConnectionUpdates 0

3 You can now close the elevated PowerShell window if you like.

Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections-disable_microsoft_defender_antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections_powershell.png Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections-enable_microsoft_defender_antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections_powershell.png






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections in Local Group Policy Editor


Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Three below.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Security Intelligence Updates

Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections-microsoft_defender_antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Security Intelligence Updates in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allows Microsoft Defender to update and communicate over a metered connection policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)


6 To Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections-microsoft_defender_antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections_gpedit-2.png


7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.






OPTION THREE

Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

(same as option 1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates

MeteredConnectionUpdates DWORD

0 = Disable
1 = Enable

(same as option 2)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates

MeteredConnectionUpdates DWORD

(delete) = Disable
1 = Enable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Microsoft_Defender_Antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections.reg

Download


3 To Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Updates Over Metered Connections

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Microsoft_Defender_Antivirus_to_update_over_metered_connections.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 Restart the computer to apply.

8 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


That's it,
Shawn


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