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

I don't have a 3rd party AV installed.

Ok, so I tried restarting again. What I learned is that the notification pops up with a sound after about one-two minutes from Windows startup, disappears suddenly, and then shows that Windows Defender is ON under Security and Maintenance.

So, I tried disabling the messages in Security and Maintenance for both Spyware and Virus Protection and waited. It seems at least on my laptop that it does this check one-two minutes after each Windows startup and it will always show that annoying notification with sound if you don't disable it like you mentioned. I disabled it and the notification hasn't showed up since. :)

I'm still annoyed that even though I turned on Windows Defender User Interface under System -> Notifications & actions -> Select which icons appear on the taskbar it still doesn't show up (Win7 doesn't have this problem with its MSE icon), but at least it's running. Thanks for all your help Brink!

I registered just to Thank You Brink.

Really excellent work I have Windows 10 (home version) and Method Two was right on target.

Now if you could fix my stupid mail app, some things work on my Admin account that do not work on my user account. I do not have a clue. I mean I can not even thing of a way to frame a question about it.

I will try to post something this afternoon about my mail app. I have lots of screen shot to post.

I lived in Hartshorne, OK for a period of time to help take care my father when his health was declining.
Those Oklahoma cops are mean. I am saying "mean" like no other place I have ever lived.

Hi Brink,

This thread solved my email problems. I checked for other threads before starting my own. I am really impressed with TENFORUMS, I have found more solutions here than at Microsoft Community Forums.

Mail Notification Question

Hi

Thanks very much for this article. It worked perfectly here with a couple of caveats.

First of all, I had the Windows Defender notification in the task bar nagging me that the service was disabled. But, after a restart that seems to have gone completely, so that's nice. :)

However, there's a new problem.

Windows update still tries to automatically download the latest definitions for it then fails when it won't install, because it can't do so. So, my question is:

How do I stop Win 10 from even looking for Defender updates?! (BTW, I used your other article to disable 'automatic' updates, so it's set to notify me when updates are available).

I noticed in the group policy editor for Defender, there is a signature updates section, but I think disabling that just diverts the updates from Windows Update to Microsoft update or something?

Also, yes, I can use the "wushowhide.diagcab" to show/hide the defender update (when it's available) but when there's a new one I'll have to do it again (every day at the rate it gets updated)! Not very practical.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Hi,
I have installed Comodo Firewall and i don`t think this version on Comodo had anti virus in it. the problem is this program disabled windows defender and now I cannot turn it on. i tried all the things you suggested no luck. I just Enabled the defender through group policy and when i click on windows defender in control panel it still showing the message that says : this app is turned off by group policy.