How To Uninstall, Remove, Or Disable Windows Defender In Windows 7
Posted May 31, 2009 – 2:40 pm in: Windows 7 GuidesUsers who are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 for quite a while know the importance of keeping it turned on.
Windows Defender is antispyware software that’s included with Windows and runs automatically when it’s turned on. Windows Defender uses definitions to alert you to potential risks if it determines that software detected is spyware or other potentially unwanted software.
Generally speaking, we don’t recommend uninstalling or disabling Windows Defender, especially if your system is connected to the Internet. Still, if you wish to disable or uninstall Windows Defender from Windows Vista or Windows 7, you can follow the procedure below.
The best and easiest way is to disable Windows Defender through Windows Services list. To do this:
1. Type in services.msc in Start menu search box and hit enter. Click continue button if you are prompted with a UAC message.
2. Scroll down the services list to you see Windows Defender name. Right-click on the Windows Defender name and select Properties.
3. Under General tab, set the start up type to “Disabled” and click the Apply button to save the changes.
Alternatively, you can also turnoff Windows Defender from right within the program itself. This way is also very easy, but the first one is extremely easy!
1. Open Windows Defender program by typing Windows Defender in Start menu search field.
2. Once the program opens, go to Tools > Administrator. Deselect the option named “Use this program” and click Apply.
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15 Comments
bad examples.
win7 shows nag screens forever with defender killed.
i run A+ aftermarket software for spyware.
and do no want defender.
your article is incomplete.
how to kill the nag, at boot. (both ways above fail)
win7 rtm
This article is very incomplete and does not give “uninstall” directions which is what we all want. I don’t like windows defender. It has given me countless problems and the main reason is the constant definition updates. Nearly every time I download a definition update something stops working. I have 3 machines running windows 7 and it almost never fails that one of them crashes when the updates come out. I’m sick of repairing the damage – I want it gone.
VERY IMPORTANT FACT: Disabling windows defender (as described in this article) does NOT stop windows update from downloading and installing definition updates. Windows update sees the program is installed and performs the update.
This article sucks
Article title: “How To Uninstall, Remove, Or Disable Windows Defender In Windows 7″
I’m sorry, but where is the Uninstall and Removal steps in this article? Learn to write.
It’s true, Defender has been crashing my computer. Is there a REAL way to uninstall it, as well as avoid the updates?
don’t know what everyone’s problem with defender is here. must be total noobs, or something.
disabling defender does EXACTLY that and DOES NOT update itself afterward!
you can’t remove it either, at least not safely.
Guys, forget this article. All you wanna do is get rid of those darn nag screens on startup, right?
Here’s what you really gotta do:
1.Go to Start,type ‘msconfig’ without the quotes.
2.When msconfig comes up, click the startup tab.
3.Find ‘Microsoft Windows Operating System’ and look across for the Command section. Mouse over ‘Microsoft Windows OS’s command, and if it says something about defender, uncheck it and hit OK.
Restart your computer, and you won’t see any nag screens anymore.
Jeremy, thanks so much for the tip. It definitely solved my problem of various programs giving me annoying messages on start-up.
BTW, as a further bit of useful info to this thread, the Registry key to look for in order to permanently remove Microsoft’s annoying Windows Defender Nag screen at startup is:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and the value you are looking for is:
“%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe – hide”.
Thanks Jeremy. Thanks to your post, here is what I did:
Start –> Run –> regedit
Search for “MSASCui.exe – hide”
Delete the registry entry found.
Reboot to test!
I have been using Windows 7 for a long time, and I had no idea that it had ‘Windows Defender’ running. Today, it suddenly came up with it, saying that there is dangerous software on my computer. When I say remove, it asks me to pay $79.99.
I have been using Windows 7 for a long time, and I had no idea that it had ‘Windows Defender’ running. Today, it suddenly came up with it, saying that there is dangerous software on my computer. When I say remove, it asks me to pay $79.99.
Do I have to pay this, or can I just ignore the threats? Is there anything else I can do? Someone, pleeeese help? I’m going mad!!!
@Shreya:
It would seem that your system has been compromised and hijacked by a virus, worm and/or trojan. Windows Defender is part of the current Windows operating system and does not cost anything. Recommendation… complete reinstall of Windows. Do not try to “clean” your system as this is something that is quite the difficult task even from a professional point-of-view and not recommended. I personally recommend using a quality antivirus/antimalware program; such as, ESET’s NOD32 but if you can’t afford that then at least install Microsoft’s Security Essentials after the clean reinstall. Its not the greatest but its better than running your system without anything protecting it.
Shreya
Do a restore to a previous date before your problem started to get rid of the adware/malware then go to microsoft and install Microsoft ESSENTIAlSt’s free and it has worked well for me.
As an aside when I downloaded and installed Essentials it automatically turned off Defender and I have not had any issues, no messages or conflicts. just noting. I am running windows 7