Hkey_local_machine Software Policies Microsoft Windows Defender
- Hkey_local_machine Software Policies Microsoft Windows Defender 64
- Hkey_local_machine Software Policies Microsoft Windows Defender Free
Windows Defender (also known as Windows Defender Antivirus and, formerly. This path 'HKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows.

If you want to disable Windows defender once for all on Windows 10, this article will help you out using different yet easy methods. Windows Defender is basically antivirus software that is offered for with Windows 10 by Microsoft. The idea behind incorporating this software with installation of Windows 10 is to offer the initial stage protection to your PC against viruses, spyware, rootkits and various other malicious programs.
The antivirus starts automatically on your PC, but on the other hand it also gets disabled upon recognizing other antivirus software installed on your PC. Well, Microsoft wants you to start your PC with at least initial protection, which is of course a good idea. In some cases user do not prefer to run antivirus and for such instances, Windows 10 provides the option to help you disable Windows Defender, which is basically a temporary solution. In case you want to disable the Windows Defender permanently read on.
Local Group Policy to disable Windows Defender
When you are using Windows 10 and you want to disable Windows Defender permanently, you can utilize Local Group Policy Editor.
Hkey_local_machine Software Policies Microsoft Windows Defender 64
- Press – Windows key + R a shortcut via your keyboard to expand the Run command.
- Now type – gpedit.msc and press OK to open – Local Group Policy Editor
- Navigate the path
Computer Configuration – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Windows Defender
After you carry out the above steps, you will see the icon of Windows Defender continues running in system tray. You can simply delete that icon and reboot your PC.
Also Read: Best ways to remove write protection from your pen drive
Using Registry to disable Windows Defender
In some variants of Windows 10 like Windows 10 Home you will not have the option – Local Group Policy Editor available, still you can disable the Windows Defender using Registry. Here is how
Note: Before you jump to using Registry, make sure you do it correctly else it can lead to irreversible issues to your PC. Make sure you back up your data before you try editing the Registry.
- Press – Windows key + R a shortcut via your keyboard to expand the Run command. Type – regedit and then Click- Ok, which will open the registry.
- Navigate the path as given below
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender

Settings App to disable Windows Defender
If you wish to temporarily disable Windows Defender, follow the below mentioned steps.
- Open – Settings
- Click – Update & Security
- Click – Windows Defender
- Turn the toggle switch OFF to enable real time protection
Hkey_local_machine Software Policies Microsoft Windows Defender Free
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My Surface Pro 3 hasn’t installed any third-party antivirus in Windows 10 so I use the Windows Defender for protection. After the tablet is upgraded to Creator Update, I let it run a full scan overnight. Today the system becomes was unresponsive and I have to hard power it off completely and then power it up again. However, I notice that the Real-time protection switch is set to turn off in Windows Defender Security Center setting with the error “Real-time protection couldn’t be turned on. This operation returned because the timeout period expired. Error code 0x800705b4“.
Once something change the related value data in Registry Editor of Windows 10, the built-in Windows Defender Antivirus will have the Real-time protection not working and get “This operation returned because the timeout period expired. Error code 0x800705b4” warning. You could try the tips to resolve the problem.
* Press Win + R from your keyborad, type regedit.exe in Run dialog box, and click OK button.
* In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below:
* Select the Windows Defender key and go to its right side pane. Hold and press or double click on the DisableAntiSpyware string with DWORD type, change its value data from 1 to 0, and click OK. You can also delete the “Windows Defender” key in left pane.
* Close Registry Editor, and restart Windows 10 to take effects. Now Windows defender is monitoring your PC normally.
Another method:
* Create a new .txt file, copy the following and paste them into the .txt file and save all.
* Then rename it to .reg file and double-click it to execute and confirm, then make a reboot.