There are some situations where you might want to temporarily disable Windows’ built-in security tool. I’ll show you how to do it safely.
There are times when you may want to turn off Windows Security.
I’ll show you how to (temporarily or permanently) disable it on Windows 11 Home and Pro.
I recommend creating a restore point, and will show you how.
Windows Security is a highly capable system guardian. In my « Best Antivirus for Windows 11 » guide, I made the case that it isn’t just a basic antivirus designed to be a stopgap; it’s a full-blown first-party security suite that monitors downloads, blocks incoming threats, and instantly quarantines malware if it manages to bypass all defenses.
As a Windows user, all you really need to be protected against online threats is the app, an ad blocker, and a secure browser like Brave.
However, there are times when you may want to disable Windows Security. In this guide, I will show you how to turn off Windows 11’s security suite both temporarily and permanently. I’ll also go over what to keep in mind before messing with these settings, and how to create a System Restore point so you have a safety net in case anything goes wrong.Why would you want to disable Windows Security?
One common reason a user may want to disable Windows Security is that they need to install third-party software that is blocked by the suite. This can include third-party antivirus programs, niche open-source software, or apps from small developers.
IS SMALL the adjective we want here? Or perhaps, « Less well-known »?
Windows Security can also sometimes falsely flag safe programs as dangerous. If you visit GitHub, you’ll find posts from people complaining about how Windows Defender (Windows’ antivirus tool) flags certain project releases as trojans, even though they’re safe.
It’s not just open-source projects, either, as video games have been stopped by Windows Security. On Reddit, this screenshot **WHICH SCREENSHOT?** of Windows Security quarantining the game « Digital Combat Simulator » shows that this is not an uncommon occurrence.
There are other, more niche reasons for disabling the security tool. IT professionals may want to disable it to prevent conflicts on a network. In fact, Microsoft actually recommends turning off or uninstalling the antivirus in order to « prevent problems caused by having multiple antivirus products installed on a server. »
The above section should be expanded a bit to discuss situations where one might want to disable temporarily vs situations where one might want to disable permanently. That’s not clear now. Related point: one scenario where disabling permanently makes sense would be if the user prefers to run third-party protection in place of windows security. I think that point needs to be made more clearly as well.How to temporarily disable Windows Security
Launch the Windows Security app via the search bar. Once open, navigate to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Real-time protection.
Toggle the Real-time protection switch off. You may receive a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking if you want to allow the change to occur. Select Yes.
When you’re ready to turn system protection back on, return to the same location in Windows Security and re-toggle Real-time protection.
