Windows Defender - Turn On or Off

How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to turn Windows Defender On or Off in Windows 7. When Windows Defender is on, you will be alerted when spyware and other potentially unwanted software tries to install itself or run on your computer. By default, Windows Defender is turned on in Windows 7.

   Note

If you installed Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), then it will disable Window Defender by default, and MSE will be used by instead. You will not be able to turn on Windows Defender as long as you have MSE installed.

The release of the Microsoft Safety Scanner has resulted in confusion about the available anti-malware tools provided by Microsoft and questions about when they should be used.

Read more at: Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software ~ Security Garden

   Warning

It's important to run antispyware software whenever you're using your computer. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can try to install itself on your computer any time you connect to the Internet. It can also infect your computer when you install some programs using a CD, DVD, or other removable media. Spyware or potentially unwanted software can also be programmed to run at unexpected times, not just when it's installed.

OPTION ONE

Turn Off Windows Defender

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Windows Defender icon.

2. Click on Tools on the toolbar at the top. (see screenshot below)

3. Under Settings, click on Options. (see screenshot below)

4. In the left pane, click on Administrator. (see screenshot below)

5. Uncheck the Use this program box. (see screenshot below step 4)

7. Click on the Save button. (see screenshot below step 4)

8. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

9. Click on the Close button. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you continue to get a Windows Defender pop-up after turning it off, then you can disable the "Windows Defender" service to stop it.

OPTION TWO

Turn On Windows Defender

1. Double check to make sure that the "Windows Defender" service is enabled and set to Automatic (Delayed Start).

2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Windows Defender icon.

3. Click on the click here to turn it on link. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will take a moment to finish.

4. When finished, close the Windows Defender window. (see screenshot below step 2 in OPTION ONE)
NOTE: To help prevent spyware and other potentially unwanted software from running on your computer, it is recommended that you also turn on Windows Defender real-time protection and select all real-time protection options.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn Windows Defender Real-Time Protection On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Defender Shortcut in Windows 7

 

[smoothie09]

windows defender turned off but keeps popping up

 

[brianzion]

windows defender turned off but keeps popping up

great tutorial as always brink i always check mine is disabled in services too.

 

[nalbe]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinDefend]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\WinDefend]
"Start"=dword:00000004

 

[Brink]

Hello Nalbe,

Thank you, but it would be this instead.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender]

ON
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000000

OFF
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000001

 

[anaron]

Brink, will this prevent the covert updates to Defender known as "critical updates"? I had set defender up as you showed with the exception of "Uncheck the Use this program box". Don't know how I missed it but I did. Over the past 4 weeks, Defender update KB915597 has messed up my machine 8 times resulting in me doing complete clean installs, which I am getting really good at. I am not real happy with MS Updates. In addition to the Defender update, NetFramework KB958488 also screwed up my machine twice. Just finished a complete redo last night only to find the Defender update had covertly installed around noon yesterday. Waiting to see the issues began. Got to be some way to totally stop the updates as I am totally paranoid.
Ron Burnes

 

[Brink]

Hello Ron,

Personally, I would ditch Windows Defender by installing MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It's a lot better IMO. Either way, the updates for Windows Defender or MSE are definition updates that need to be installed to help keep your system protected from the latest malware and virus threats.

 

[zabih]

Hello Ron,

Personally, I would ditch Windows Defender by installing MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It's a lot better IMO. Either way, the updates for Windows Defender or MSE are definition updates that need to be installed to help keep your system protected from the latest malware and virus threats.

Get rid of defender. Ire mse instead it our much better

 

[anaron]

I have been running Avast for a couple years. Is MSE better?
Ron Burnes

 

[Brink]

They're about the same, but I like MSE better.

 

[gregrocker]

Have you heard of the MSE beta which has auto-updating and silent threat removal?

 

[Brink]

Yep.

New Microsoft Security Essentials beta available to select testers | ZDNet

 

[anaron]

Thanks Brink, got it downloaded and will give it a try.
Ron Burnes

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Ron.

 

[hdc]

stop defender popup

These methods certainly disable the defender service, but you will probably still see a popup at boot saying the service is disabled. This is caused by another startup item. In vista, it was obvious - windows defender, but in w7, it is obfuscated under MS(R) Win(R) Operating System. Look in the command column to find the culprit - defender\msascui.exe.

 

[anaron]

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind but a week now and no issues with Defender - fingers crossed!'
Ron Burnes

 

[anaron]

Thanks Brink, it has worked out as you said. Defender is no longer an issue and MSE appears to be pretty good.

Ron Burnes

 

[Brink]

That's great new Ron. Thank you for posting back with an update.

 

[XP1]

Hello Nalbe,

Thank you, but it would be this instead.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender]

ON
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000000

OFF
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000001

You have to set registry permissions for "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender" on Windows Vista and 7. Otherwise, you get registry import error:

[Window Title]
Registry Editor

[Content]
Cannot import .\Disable Windows Defender.reg: Not all data was successfully written to the registry.  Some keys are open by the system or other processes.

[OK]

You must follow these steps:

1. Right click on key > Permissions...> Advanced > Owner.
2. Under "Change owner to:", select "Administrators" > Enable "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" > OK.
3. Under "Group or user names:", select "Administrators" > Under "Allow", enable "Full Control" > OK.

Otherwise, setting permissions will show this error:

---------------------------
Windows Security
---------------------------
Unable to save permission changes on Windows Defender.

Access is denied.

---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

 

[Hunter36]

Hello Ron,

Personally, I would ditch Windows Defender by installing MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It's a lot better IMO. Either way, the updates for Windows Defender or MSE are definition updates that need to be installed to help keep your system protected from the latest malware and virus threats.

I was wondering about Windows Defender. Usually in XP, WD has an unistaller, but in Windows 7, it does not. I have MSE as my main security software right now, how do I if possible, remove Windows Defender off from my computer?