How to Disable Windows Defender Properly

This guide explains how to disable Real-time protection and Tamper Protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Methods 1 and 2 use the built-in Windows Security app and are temporary. Method 3 uses the Defender Control tool for a persistent change.

Method 1: Disable Tamper Protection

This is the simplest and recommended way to disable Tamper Protection on a single device.

1. Open Windows Security

   Open the Start menu, search for Windows Security and open it.

2. Open Virus & threat protection

   In the Windows Security window, select Virus & threat protection.

   

3. Open the settings

   Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.

4. Turn off Tamper Protection

   Locate Tamper Protection and set the toggle to Off.

   

Method 2: Disable Real-time protection (temporary)

This is the most direct way to disable Real-time protection for a short time.

1. Disable Tamper Protection first

   Follow Method 1 if you have not done so yet.

2. Open Virus & threat protection

   Open the Windows Security app and go to Virus & threat protection.

3. Open the settings

   Click Manage settings.

4. Turn off Real-time protection

   Locate Real-time protection and set the toggle to Off.

   

Note: This is a temporary change. Windows may re-enable Real-time protection on its own after a short period or after a restart.

Method 3: Disable Windows Defender with Defender Control

If you need a persistent and simple way to turn Windows Defender off, use Defender Control by Sordum. It is a portable tool that enables or disables Windows Defender with a single click.

Download Defender Control

1. Go to Sordum.org

   Download the tool from the official Sordum.org website.

2. Expect a false-positive warning

   Because the tool changes security settings, your browser and Windows Defender itself will most likely flag it as malicious. This is a false positive.

Unblock the download in Chrome

If Chrome blocks the download, use one of the two options below.

Option A: Keep the file directly (recommended)

1. Open the Downloads list

   Press Ctrl + J.

2. Find the blocked download

   The blocked file is listed with a warning message.

   

3. Keep the file

   Click Keep dangerous file to save the file to your computer.

   

Option B: Temporarily disable Safe Browsing

Use this only if the Keep dangerous file option is not available.

1. Open Chrome settings

   Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome and select Settings.

2. Open the Security page

   Go to Privacy and security → Security.

3. Turn off Safe Browsing

   Under Safe Browsing, select No protection (not recommended).

   

4. Confirm

   When asked to confirm, click Turn off.

   

5. Download the tool again

   Retry the Defender Control download.

6. Re-enable Safe Browsing

   Once the download has finished, go back to the same page and select Standard protection or Enhanced protection.

Important: Do not leave Safe Browsing disabled. Turn it back on as soon as the download is complete.

Use Defender Control

1. Extract the archive

   The download is a ZIP archive. Extract it using the password sordum.

2. Disable Defender protections first

   Turn off Tamper Protection and Real-time protection with Methods 1 and 2 before running the tool. Otherwise Defender will most likely delete the executable.

3. Run the tool

   Run dControl.exe.

4. Check the current status

   The interface shows whether Windows Defender is currently enabled.

   

5. Disable Windows Defender

   Click Disable Windows Defender. The interface turns red to show that Windows Defender is now off.

   

6. Add the tool to the exclusions list

   Go to Menu → Add it to the Exclusions List. This stops Defender from flagging the tool in the future.

   

Tip: To turn Windows Defender back on, open Defender Control again and click Enable Windows Defender.