Windows Defender - Turn On or Off in Windows 8

How to Turn On or Off Windows Defender in Windows 8 and 8.1

Windows 8 comes with a new version of Windows Defender which is the re-branded "Microsoft Security Essentials" (MSE). When Windows Defender is on, you're notified when viruses, spyware, malware (malicious software), or potentially unwanted software try to install or run on your PC.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Windows Defender in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

In order for Windows Defender to run, it will require that the Windows Defender Service remain "Started" (running) and set to "Automatic".

How to Start, Stop, and Disable Services in Windows 8

   Warning

Some 3rd party antivirus (AV) programs may turn off Windows Defender when they are installed to be used instead, and will not allow Windows Defender to be turned back on until the 3rd party AV has been completely uninstalled.

• Uninstallers (removal tools) for common antivirus software - ESET Knowledgebase
• How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee products using the Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR)
• Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product

CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Turn On or Off Windows Defender using Group Policy
• Option Two: To Turn On or Off Windows Defender using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Windows Defender Turned Off

OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Windows Defender using Group Policy

   Note

Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions.
All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Defender




3. 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. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (on) or step 6 (off) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Turn On Windows Defender

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.




6. To Turn Off Windows Defender

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

8. If you are turning on Windows Defender, then open Windows Defender, and click/tap on Start now.

OPTION TWO

To Turn On or Off Windows Defender using a REG file

   Note

The .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

DisableAntiSpyware DWORD

(delete) or 0 = On
1 = Off

1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Turn On Windows Defender
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_On_Windows_Defender.reg





3. To Turn Off Windows Defender

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_Off_Windows_Defender.reg




4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If you are turning on Windows Defender, then open Windows Defender, and click/tap on Start now if needed.




9. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn Windows Defender Real-time Protection On or Off in Windows 8
• How to Add a "Windows Defender" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8
• How to Create a "Windows Defender" Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Set Up Windows Defender to Scan on a Schedule in Windows 8
• How to Add "Scan with Windows Defender" for Files and Folders in Windows 8
• How to Turn "Windows SmartScreen" On or Off in Windows 8

 

[coxwall]

Brilliant - that seems to have done it. Or, more precisely, that has done it!

Thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Coxwall. Glad it could help.

 

[bailey]

hellow I'm neww as of minuets ago. Don't know alot of how your forum works. I'm not a very tech person and need help with my new laptop. Looking around the internet I came across your forum and am sure I came to the rite place. Here's my question, we have a new hp laptop and it has norton anti virus for free 60 trail. I just found out threw reading on the internet that there is also a program that come with windows 8 called windows defender, do I have to uninstall the temporary password first before I atemp to turn on the windows defender?
Thank - you
Bailey

 

[Brink]

Hello Bailey, and welcome to Eight Forums.

When Norton is installed it will turn off Windows Defender by default. You would need to uninstall Norton to be able to turn on Windows Defender. If Norton doesn't uninstall normally for some reason, then you could use the Norton Removal Tool to do so.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[drjoshuangwisha]

Dear Admin,
Kindly assist me. Bought my PC with windows 8, uninstalled norton, but each time I try to Turn on windows defender the computer opens the system files and I do not have any idea of what to do with these system files as nothing seems clear and relevant as to indicate which one to open for the defender to be active. Please help.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dr. Joshuangwisha, and welcome to Eight Forums.

For now, please go ahead and post screenshots of what you are seeing different than from the tutorial to help see what may be the issue.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[drjoshuangwisha]

Windows Defender Turn on

When I click on turn on spyware or virus protection, all it does is open the Windows>Systems32 files.

 

[Brink]

Dr. Josh,

It sounds like your system may be infected. Either way, I would recommend to reset Windows 8 to start fresh to be safe. Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to another location.

 

[kimg]

I have windows 8 on my desktop and am trying to turn on windows defender. I had avg, malware bytes, and spybot on there and want to take avg off and just use defender. I tried to start it but it told me that I had another antivirus running so I deleted avg and it still wont start. I tried all the forums on here and none worked. can someone please help

 

[Der Snoober]

I have windows 8 on my desktop and am trying to turn on windows defender. I had avg, malware bytes, and spybot on there and want to take avg off and just use defender. I tried to start it but it told me that I had another antivirus running so I deleted avg and it still wont start. I tried all the forums on here and none worked. can someone please help

Hi there and welcome to Eightforums!

Did you just 'delete' AVG or did you run the complete uninstall? In my experience uninstalling AVG can be a b*tch. That's why I don't use it.

If you are sure that you've uninstalled AVG the proper way you can resort to another option ==> uninstall malware bytes and spybot. Then see if you can activate MSE. If it works you can always reinstall malware bytes and spybot if you still think you will need those programs.

Remember, if you think first, think again, count to ten, and then click the mousebutton (instead of clicking before you read) it's very very very hard to get your pc infected and you won't need al those extra programs like malware bytes and spybot.

Greetz,

Rover

 

[Brink]

Hello Kim, and welcome to Eight Forums.

In addition to what Rover posted above, you might see if using the latest version of AVG Remover to help make sure that AVG is completely uninstalled may help to let your turn on Windows Defender afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[morganfey]

Option #2 worked for me. I kept trying to get Defender working using the "charms" but didn't notice that little flag down in the task bar. Clicking that got it working. However, I had to use a McAfee tool from their site to get rid of McAfee in the first place. A simple uninstall did not work. How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee products using the Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR) (scroll down to #2)

Thanks!:thumb:

 

[docfreed]

Cannot Disable Defender

Despite the tutorials I cannot disable Defender from my Surface 2 with Windows 8.1 RT.
There is no "Administrator" setting under the advanced settings menu in the Defender app even though I am the only user.

 

[Brink]

Hello docfreed,

I have the Administrator option in Windows Defender Settings tab on my Surface Pro 2.

Are you currently signed in to an administrator account?

 

[docfreed]

Hi Brink:

I am running Windows RT 8.1 on a Surface 2 and I am the only user so I assume that I am signed in as administrator. Is it even possible to disable Defender on this system?
Is it a question of ownership and do I have to change the permissions from TrustedInstaller to something else? In any case thanks for the quick response - your tutorials are great..

Hello docfreed,

I have the Administrator option in Windows Defender Settings tab on my Surface Pro 2.

Are you currently signed in to an administrator account?

 

[Brink]

First we need to determine if your account is an administrator account or not.

To see, open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the User Accounts icon.

In the box to the right with your account picture, look to see if it has Administrator under your user name or not.

 

[docfreed]

Yes - it has my name and under it it says "administrator-password protected"

 

[Brink]

I must admit that I'm not sure why Administrator is not showing for you.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing the Home and Settings tab of your Windows Defender to see if it may help show anything as a cause.

 

[docfreed]

Unfortunately I cannot seem to be able to insert the images. I made two images with the snipping tool (and I can see them in my pictures folder) but when I try to insert them (using desktop version of IE11, BTW) I never get the "browse dialog box"???
In any case, the only choices I have in the left hand pane on settings are:
Excluded files and locations
Excluded file types
Excluded processes
Advanced
MAPS

and if I click on any one of those every choice except "cancel" is greyed out.

Again, I wonder if the latest version of Win RT (the one I have on Surface 2) will actually let Defender be disabled? That would leave no protection but knowing Microsoft, they probable would have a fit and roll over and die!

I must admit that I'm not sure why Administrator is not showing for you.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing the Home and Settings tab of your Windows Defender to see if it may help show anything as a cause.