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

injaneb · 04 Aug 2015

here what i did to fix the problem with Comodo firewall. looks like comodo firewall has Defense+ feature in it (Sandbox-HIPS) these two have to be Disabled the rest is like what u said in tutorial.

Brink · 04 Aug 2015

Thank you for posting back with your results injaneb. :)

Misterfied · 06 Aug 2015

I think I've found a solution to Windows update prompting to install defender updates.

In the Windows Defender group policy editor in the Signature Updates section -> 'Specify the day of the week to check for definition updates', set this to enabled then in the drop down selector choose 'Never'.

This seems to work now.

Dch48 · 06 Aug 2015

Two things.
The following is incorrect:

When you install some 3rd party antivirus (AV) programs, they may automatically turn off Windows Defender. In this case you will not be able to turn on Windows Defender again until the 3rd party AV program has been completely uninstalled.

I turned off my AV (Bitdefender Free) and Defender almost immediately turned itself back on. I reenabled Bitdefender and Windows Defender turned itself back off. I do not receive any Windows Defender updates either.

Second, you can not run a .reg file by double clicking on it. You have to right click on it and choose to open it with Regedit. At least that's what I have to do. Double clicking it opens it in Notepad.

Brink · 06 Aug 2015

Hello Dch48, :)

1) True. You do not always have to uninstall a 3rd party AV to enable Windows Defender again. However, some have been known to be so aggressive and evasive, that you have to use their removal tool to completely get rid of it. I'll update that note to be more accurate.

2) Your default association for .reg files has been changed. By default, it should open with Registry Editor when you double click on it. Double check in Default Programs to make sure that the .reg file extension has it's Current Default program set as Registry Editor (C:\Windows\regedit.exe) to fix this.

ILIOSELLAS · 08 Aug 2015

Hello Brink:

I have been reading the posts about additional antivirus like comodo. I too have been using comodo for ages and in addition Orbit malware fighter. I now notice that win 10 has turned off all spyware fighters including windows defender. when a window pops up "Security and Maintenance" it lists the three (Comodo Defense+, Iorbit Malware Fighter, Windows defender) when you try to "turn on..." these three, they don't turn on. This seems to me to be a bug in Win 10. In your best call, if I were to remove Comodo Defence = and Iorbit Malware fighter, would Windows defender be turned on automatically? It seems to me this is a tragic flaw in win 10 which lends all our computers vulnerable without any protection.

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-security-maintenance.png

Brink · 08 Aug 2015

Hello ILIOSELLAS, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

Yeah, I'd say it was a big with both Windows 10 and the AV program's compatibility. I'm sure they'll get it work out before to long.

Be sure to send feedback.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...dows-10-a.html

Lothar · 08 Aug 2015

How do you solve the other half of this problem?

Sure you can disable Defender but Microsoft Update will still download and install updates for Defenders definitions, taking up your space and resources for an app that will never run.

I know there are ways to disable Microsoft Updates but that's NOT a good option. One of the Worst things Microsoft did was take away the ability to choose what updates you want to install. That's so Draconian. Any way around this Update problem?

Lothar · 08 Aug 2015

Misterfied said:

I think I've found a solution to Windows update prompting to install defender updates.

In the Windows Defender group policy editor in the Signature Updates section -> 'Specify the day of the week to check for definition updates', set this to enabled then in the drop down selector choose 'Never'.

This seems to work now.

I have Home with No Group Policy Editor. Is there another way to do this for us non Pro users?

Dch48 · 08 Aug 2015

Lothar said:

How do you solve the other half of this problem?

Sure you can disable Defender but Microsoft Update will still download and install updates for Defenders definitions, taking up your space and resources for an app that will never run.

I know there are ways to disable Microsoft Updates but that's NOT a good option. One of the Worst things Microsoft did was take away the ability to choose what updates you wand to install. That's so Draconian. Any way around this Update problem?

I have Defender turned off in Win 10 Home and I do not receive the updates. I didn't change any settings or anything.