Removing Windows Defender?

[Duchess843]

I need to know if Windows Defender can be deleted and how it should be done? It doesn't measure up to the other programs I'm using. I'm not using it and therefore it's not needed. It's not included in Control Panel or My Uninstaller. I also checked Turning Windows Feature On and Off.

Gloria

[Roderunner]

I need to know if Windows Defender can be deleted and how it should be done? It doesn't measure up to the other programs I'm using. I'm not using it and therefore it's not needed. It's not included in Control Panel or My Uninstaller. I also checked Turning Windows Feature On and Off.
Gloria

Hi Gloria, it all depends on the security your using, some are not compatible with Defender.
If you feel it's necessary to disable it, open WD, click tools options and select administrator tab. Now open Services and disable it there also.
P.S. if you remove the < and > from your signature and replace them with [ and /] it will correct its display.

[Just Plain Fred]

I need to know if Windows Defender can be deleted and how it should be done? It's not included in Control Panel or My Uninstaller.

Gloria,
Hello... Windows Defender is part of your operating system ....so it will not show up in the "remove programs" as you have stated. Some security (3rd party types) will "take over" and switch "Defender" off. (like Norton stuff ) I have removed "Defender" on one of my OS's .... It's not easily done and will involve much work ... Hundreds of "orphaned" registry entries, and much cross linking to other MS applications...So you will have to be careful when deleting things from any of the "files \ folders" that contain "Defender stuff" Also you will run into the "permissions " thing when trying to deleting them ( many will require the "Take ownership thing").... So you will need a few tools like "unlocker" etc. Post back if you still want to proceed and i will attempt to help ... First thing do a complete system backup, beforehand.. Regards Fred

PS: You CAN remove anything from your OS... The question is whether it is worth the time and effort, or will end up causing more problems that it solves ....Believe me when i say.... i have "been there and done that" (and can't remember for all of us who are over 60)

[Medico]

As Fred states many other 3rd party apps just disable Windows Defender, including MSE which includes an AM app as well as an AV app. When disabled it does nothing except sit there. As Fred states it is very intertwined with the OS and not worth the time to remove.

[Deadeye81]

Hi Duchess,

If you check Windows Defender and find it disabled, then your AV/AM application has disabled it as Ted replied. I use MSE and it set Defender to Manual, and as far as I can tell it never runs, but some other third party security applications might not prevent it from starting. If you find Defender still running, it is easy to disable it to eliminate possible interference. Click the Start Menu, and type in Services, and press the Enter key. Locate Windows Defender in the Services listing, right click it and select Properties. On the General tab properties page select disabled, and click Apply. Then you can click Stop service. That's it.

If you get an error message about Windows Defender when you boot up after disabling it, then click on Start, type in msconfig and press Enter.
Then click the Startup tab and find the listing for Windows Defender and remove the check from the box and click Apply. Reboot to finish up. Or there may be an entry in your Start Menu>All Programs>Startup folder that needs to be deleted.

[dadwhiskers]

I need to know if Windows Defender can be deleted and how it should be done? It doesn't measure up to the other programs I'm using. I'm not using it and therefore it's not needed. It's not included in Control Panel or My Uninstaller. I also checked Turning Windows Feature On and Off.

Gloria

The real "secret" to this is to never install any definitions update for Defender. Hide them in the Windows update window instead, and Defender will never run.