Turning off Windows Defender

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press the Windows Key + R, type in gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
   
2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender.
   
3. At this Group Policy path, look for the setting named Turn off Windows Defender and double click it. Select the Enabled option to disable Windows Defender. Click Apply followed by OK.
   
4. Windows Defender should be disabled instantly. If it doesn’t, restart the computer and check to see if it’s disabled.
   

Using the Registry

1. Press the Windows Key + R, type in regedit in the Run dialog box and click OK to open the Windows Registry.
   
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
   
3. If you see a registry entry named DisableAntiSpyware, double click to edit it and change its value to 1.
   

If you don’t find the entry there, double-click on [this] registry file and apply it to your registry.