Windows 10: Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus with Local Group Policy Editor not working

Hello! I'm trying to change the Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus policy but every time I changed it, something is overwriting it or the change is not being saved, but with other policies, this doesn't happen. Any idea?



:)

 

Windows Defender Group Policy Disabeled

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft community.

As you have stated you want to disable the group policy so that you can run windows defender on the computer.

I would like to suggest few troubleshooting steps:

Method 1: Disable group policy from gpedit.msc

• 
  Press Windows key + R.
  
• 
  Type gpedit.msc and click Ok.(it will open Local Group policy editor)
  
• 
  Go to Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Defender.
  
• 
  In the right pane of
  Windows Defender in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the
  Turn off Windows Defender policy to edit it.
  
• 
  Select (dot) Not Configured or
  Disabled, click/tap on OK,
  
• 
  When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
  

If the issue still persist you can follow method 2.

Method 2: Disable group policy from registry.

Important: This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow
these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756

• 
  Press Window Key +R.
  
• 
  Type regedit and click. (it will open registry)
  
• 
  Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
  
• 
  Right Click on Window Defender to create a new Dword.
  
• 
  Click on New and Select Dword.
  
• 
  Type DisableAntiSpyware.
  
• 
  Right click on DisableAntiSpyware and click on modify.
  
• 
  Set the value to 0 instead of 1.
  

Hope this information is helpful. If the issue still persists, you can write back to us and we will be glad to assist you further.

 

Windows Defender turned off by group policy

Before you can open Windows Defender, you must remove your current antivirus. With an antivirus installed, Windows Defender will remain turned off (and it should).

Press Win key + R. This will open Run dialog box. Type 'gpedit.msc' in it and press
Enter.

If Local Group Policy Editor opens up:

Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates ->Windows Components -> Windows Defender. Double-click on
Turn off Windows Defender setting and set it to Disabled. Press OK and try to open Windows Defender again. If it doesn't work, in run dialog box (Win key + R), type
'gpupdate /force' and press Enter.

If Local Group Policy Editor doesn't open:

Follow all steps from this wiki-

Problems starting Windows Defender in Windows 8/8.1/10

Prashant Kumar

 

how do i turn on windows defender antivirus

Hi Savin,

Please follow these steps to enable Windows Defender. (For home PC)

1. Open Settings from Start Menu

2. Select Update and Security

3. Make sure you enable Virus & threat protection

If the computer is a company machine you need to edit the local group policy

Turn on Windows Defender

1. In Start, open Control Panel.

2. Open Administrative Tools > Edit group policy. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor in a new window.

3. Open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus. The setting Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus is underneath the folders of other settings.

4. Open Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus and make sure it's set to Disabled or Not configured.

Let me know how it works for you.