Windows 10: Folder Exclusions are not working

I've previously had some folder exclusions but they've since disappeared. I have attempted to add new ones, but they don't appear. How do I go about making this work?

My page looks like the image below, after I've selected the folder and supposedly excluded it.



:)

 

Unable to Remove Exclusions from Windows Defender

Thank you for posting back. If you trust a file, file type, folder, or a process that Windows Defender Antivirus has detected as malicious, you can stop Windows Defender Antivirus from alerting you or blocking the program by adding the file to
the exclusion list. It seems that it was added automatically. We suggest that you follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and select Update & security.
• Click Windows Defender.
• Look for Exclusions and select Add an exclusion.
• Navigate to the file, folder, or process, and select Exclude this file.

If the steps provided did not work, we recommend that you boot your device to
Safe Mode and redo the process.

Let us know if you need further assistance.

 

Unable to add exclusion in Windows Security

Hello Paul.

Windows Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.836)

Controlled Folder Access is off.

Following your suggestion, Windows Security allowed me to add the folder as an exclusion, and I was then able to also add the file in question as an exclusion.

However, despite the file being listed under "Exclusions" it is still being deleted every time I copy it to the program's directory without any warnings or messages.

 

Definition of Exclusions not working

Since I am a developer I want to exclude a couple of directories from constant virus scanning, not only because I know the code being in there but also because occasionally the scanning seems to lock certain files for short periods which can then interfere with build processes as these files are then locked and cannot be removed before a new build.

But - while I know that this has worked without issue before - when I just tried to add a new exclusion not only where there none listed anymore (i.e. the old exclusions have apparently silently disappeared :-( ) but when I define a new one, the entire dialog works fine, I eventually select a folder and hit OK, but that exclusion is then ignored. I.e. nothing appears in the list of exclusions and the whole exercise seems to be ignored!?!

Why is this beast not working any more?

This in on WIndows 10 Pro (1903) with all updates (except the pending feature update 1909) installed.