Enable or Disable Windows Defender Real-time Protection

Windows Defender as the name suggests is antimalware that helps to defend your computer against online threats. It does so by removing viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It is a built-in Windows 10 application and is updated regularly by Microsoft using Windows Updates.

Windows Defender provides real-time protection and keeps on working in the background. Whenever any app tries to make changes to system settings or a malicious software tries to execute itself, Windows Defender will prompt you about it. If you have third-party antivirus software installed on your system, then you may want to disable real-time protection.

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This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Windows Defender real-time protection in Windows 10.

  How to Uninstall Windows Defender

Turn On or Off Windows Defender Real-time Protection From Settings app:

  1. Open the Settings app, and click on the Update & security option.
    Update and Security

  2. Then, from the options on the left-hand side, click on Windows Security.

  3. Now, select Virus & threat protection.
    Virus & Threat

  4. Look for Virus & threat protection settings and click Manage settings.
    Manage Settings

  5. To turn Off real-time protection, push the toggle left underneath Real-time protection.
    Turn off real time protection

  6. Finally, click Yes if prompted by UAC.

Turn On or Off Windows Defender Real-time Protection using Registry Editor

  1. Type regedit in the Windows search bar or the run command window and click on the suitable icon.Regedit
  2. Now, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
  3. Right-click on the right pane and create a new DWORD(32-bit) value.Create new DWORD
  4. Name it DisableRealtimeMonitoring and set its Value data as 1 to turn Off the Windows Defender. DisableRealtimeMonitoring
  5. Lastly, delete this DWORD to turn On the Windows Defender.
  10 Best Registry Hacks for Windows

Turn On or Off Windows Defender Real-time Protection using Group Policy Editor

  1. Type gpedit on the Windows search bar or the run command window and click on the suitable icon.run gpedit
  2. Then, expand and navigate to the following path:  Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> Real-time ProtectionReal time protection gpedit
  3. Double-click on Turn off real-time protection and click on Enable bullet to turn off. Turn off real time protection gpedit
  4. Finally, click on Not Configured to turn On.

Risks of Disabling Windows Defender

So now you know how to turn off the Windows 10 real-time protection. However, it could be a bad idea to do so.

Numerous people disable real-time protection because their third-party antivirus or antimalware program does not work well with the Defender. However, with Microsoft providing continuous improvements, the Defender has gradually become compatible with modern security solutions.    

If you don’t have any third-party security solutions, we suggest against switching off the Windows Defender. You might make your system vulnerable to malicious threats such as Trojans, Browser Hijackers, Adware, Ransomware and others. These malware programs can be very harmful to your computer and can ruin your workflow. Eventually, it can damage your PC and render it useless.

So it is always recommended to keep Windows Defender switched On, no matter what.

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