How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10  

feeks said:

I have just updated to W10 Creator release and found that if you have disabled Defender via this method you will need to reenable so that the update completes successfully and then re-disable Defender if that is your preference via the same method.

U sure a/b that? I'll have to try updating to the Creators update on my netbook sometime this week w/ Defender disabled to actually see what it does.

I have update two W10's one with the disabled state left in place and the other with the defender install enabled prior to the update. With the first instance Defender Security Centre installed but did not arrived at an optimum configuration state (Virus and Threat protection ... was incomplete ... task bar icon is red tick ). In the second instance the Defencder Security Centre was able to complete its optimum configuration state and then I disabled it as per the above process (registry file) the task bar icon is green tick.

not mentioned in OP

In 15063 Windows Defender Security Center is listed now under
settings / privacy / background apps
with an on value as default.

can be also modified by registry .

c

Hi, I have turned off windows defender using the registry method (I have home edition) and it was working fine until today that I got again the icon on the tray with defender's notification. I haven't changed any setting, but I believe it has to do with a notification about my battery settings, which is incorporated in windows defender security center under device performance and health. Although WD shows as turned off, I still get the health report. Is there a way to disable WD completely?

Brink said:

Hello lascetic, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

You might check to see if you also have Windows Defender enhanced notifications turned off.

Turn On or Off Windows Defender Enhanced Notifications in Windows 10 Windows 10 Security System Tutorials

Just to note, if you don't want to use Windows Defender, you should at least have some other 3rd party antivirus program you want installed to help protect your system and data.

Thank you very much. I'm gonna try this. At the moment the icon went mysteriously away again at restart. I have comodo internet security installed, but somehow it does not seem to turn off defender. Let's see how it goes. :)

Hi Brink, I like to turn off WD using the REG fie with Option 2. I have a few questions. Does turning off WD with Option 2 also keeps processes MsMpEng.exe and MSASCuiL.exe from running? With WD off, when Windows checks and delivers updates, will WD get updated or not? Am I gonna get errors by WU because WD is off? If at some time in the future, I want WD turned On, I guess all thats required is running the Turn_On_Windows_Defender_Antivirus REG file, right?

Thanks for your tutorials and help, Brink. I havent used an antivirus since 2010 and dont want to go back to using one now. What WD has become (pushy, on your face all the time) is a good reason to turn it off. During my first week using W10, I turn it off after reboot or start.

Bo