Windows 10: Unable to add exclusion in Windows Security

I am trying to exclude a file from being incorrectly quarantined by Windows Security. It is a definite false positive, it is an application I have been using since Windows 7, and has recently been quarantined by Windows Security.

I go through the following route:


Windows Security > Virus & Threat protection > Virus & Threat protection settings > Add or remove exclusions


However, when I attempt to add the file in question I receive the message:


"Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus or potentially unwanted software."


I have no other antivirus or antimalware software installed.

:)

 

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.

 

Windows Security, Add an exclusion, Process

This link was helpful:

Configure exclusions for files opened by specific processes - Windows security

Quote:

When you add a process to the process exclusion list, Windows Defender Antivirus won't scan files opened by that process, no matter where the files are located. The process itself, however, will be scanned unless it has also been added to the file
exclusion list.

 

Unable to remove exclusions


If they are not listed in the registry, then they are most likely not being excluded.

However, I need to see a screenshot showing them in your Windows Defender exclusions list to help confirm.