How to Disable Microsoft Defender for a Specific App in Windows
1 min read
Summary
The benefits of Microsoft Defender, which provides anti-malware protection on Windows devices, could give way to room for error when it comes to flagging certain files and apps as malicious, thereby interrupting necessary processes such as the installation of said apps and files.
The first method to avoid this is to add exclusions to Windows Defender, which you can do by opening Windows Security, going to Virus & threat protection, managing settings, and scrolling down to exclusions; pressing Add or remove exclusions, pressing Yes to make changes, and then selecting Add an exclusion, files, folders, or processes, depending on the circumstances; and choosing the file or folder.
The second method is utilising Controlled Folder Access, for which you would open Manage Settings, go to Virus & threat protection, toggle on Controlled folder access, and choose Allow an app through Controlled folder access; adding an allowed app through a drop-down menu.
A third method involves using Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R, typing regedit, navigating to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, Software, Microsoft, Windows Defender, Exclusions, right-clicking on Exclusions, making a new DWORD (32-bit) value, and entering a name and value.
