How to Disable Windows Defender on Windows Vista

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

Sometimes you might want to disable your Windows Defender for reasons like using third party protection software. It's very easy to do that if you follow the following instructions.

Steps

1
Open/run Windows Defender. Open up your Start menu, type "Windows Defender" in the Search box, and click the entry for "Windows Defender" that comes up.
2
Click on "Tools" at the top of the window. Your tools are your "settings" area for the Windows Defender program.

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3
Click on "Options". This shall give you more options to change the way Windows defender works.
4
Open up the box for Administrative options. Choose Administrator from the options on the left of the window. This option should be the last option in this list.
5
Uncheck "Use this program" to disable Windows Defender.
6
Save your changes. Click on the "Save" button to save your changes.
7
Close the confirmation message dialog box. Click the "Close" button.
8
Restart your computer to make sure your changes are applied.

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Community Q&A

Question

How do I get rid of files that Windows Defender has placed on my hard drive?

Community Answer

Open Settings. Click on Update & Security. Click on Windows Defender. Turn off the toggle switch for Real-time Protection.

Warnings

Turning off Windows Defender exposes your computer to various threats and should never be done unless you run a third party malware protection software.

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