Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus software comes with Windows 10 and Windows 8. While Windows Defender provides very baseline protection, it slows down your PC considerably. Users who prefer using third-party security solution like Kaspersky, McAfee or Norton might want to completely disable Windows Defender. Here are 3 ways to turn off Windows Defender in Windows 10 or 8.

Method 1: Permanently Turn off Windows Defender with Group Policy

1. Press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run box. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.

   

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following location:
   Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> Real-time Protection

   

   In the right pane you will see a policy labeled “Turn off real-time protection“. Double-click on it to modify.

3. Select Enabled. Click Apply and then OK.

   

4. You have to restart the computer to allow this policy to take place. When you try to turn on real-time protection again in Windows Defender, you’ll get a message that saying “This setting is managed by your administrator“.

Method 2: Permanently Turn off Windows Defender with Command Prompt

1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator. Type the following command and press Enter.
   reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v DisableRealtimeMonitoring /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

   

2. Restart your computer to apply the changes, and then Windows Defender should now be disabled.

Method 3: Temporarily Turn off Real-time Protection from Windows Defender

1. After opening up Windows Defender, navigate to Virus & threat protection tab. Under the “Virus & threat protection settings” section, click on the Manage settings link.

   

2. Turn off the Real-time protection toggle switch.

   

3. Windows Defender will disable its real-time protection temporarily. The next time you restart your computer Windows Defender will re-enable automatically.