How to Disable Windows Defender in Windows 11

3] Using Registry Editor

The third way to disable Windows Defender in Windows 11 is to use the registry editor. This method is also permanent and requires administrator privileges, but it is riskier than the previous method. Editing the registry can cause system damage or data loss if done incorrectly. Therefore, it is recommended to back up the registry before making any changes. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type regedit in the search box. Click the search result to open the registry editor.
2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender.
3. On the right pane, right-click on a space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name the new value DisableAntiSpyware and press Enter.
5. Double-click on the new value and change the data to 1 . Click OK to save your changes.
6. Close the registry editor and restart your computer.

You have successfully disabled Windows Defender in Windows 11 using the registry editor. However, this method is very risky and can cause system problems or data loss if done incorrectly.

If you want to re-enable Windows Defender, you can repeat the steps above and delete the DisableAntiSpyware value or change its data to 0 in the last step.

Conclusion

Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus provided by Microsoft to protect your computer from malware, spyware, ransomware, and other threats. However, there are several reasons why you might want to disable Windows Defender in Windows 11, such as using a more reliable third-party antivirus, improving your computer’s performance, testing some programs or files that Windows Defender might consider malicious, or avoiding conflicts between Windows Defender and other programs you use.

There are several ways to disable Windows Defender in Windows 11, namely using the application settings, using the local group policy editor, or using the registry editor.

However, before you do so, there are a few things you need to pay attention to, such as the risk of being infected with malware or viruses, the temporary or permanent nature of the way you choose, and the impact on the security or licensing policies of some programs or services you use.

I hope this article was useful to you and can help you disable Windows Defender in Windows 11 easily and safely. Thank you for reading this article and good luck!