How to Turn Off Real-time Protection in Microsoft Defender on Windows 10

This guide explains how to turn Off Real-time Protection in Microsoft Defender on Windows 10, with clear steps, practical tips, and important checks before you begin.

Some important notes

If you install another antivirus program for Windows 10, Windows Defender will turn off its real-time protection and 'give way' to the tasked third-party application. However, if you do not have another antivirus installed and want to temporarily disable Windows Defender's real-time background scanning, you can still do this.

Warning: Only turn off this feature if you are sure what you are doing. If you don't run other anti-malware program, you could be infected with malware when real-time background scanning is turned off. Windows Defender will stop looking for malware.

How to turn off real-time protection in Microsoft Defender on Windows 10

First, open the Start menu and enter Windows Security. Click Enteror shortcut Windows Security to launch it.

Open Windows Security

In Windows Security , click Virus & Threat Protection in the sidebar. Then select Manage Settings.

Click Virus & Threat Protection

In Virus & Threat Protection Settings , locate the Real-Time protection option and click the switch with On to switch it to Off.

Turn off the Real-Time protection option

Real-time protection has been turned off. Windows Security will also display a scary-looking message above this switch, indicating that your device is now vulnerable. Windows will automatically re-enable real-time protection after a short period of time.

Windows will automatically re-enable real-time protection after a short period of time

Close the Windows Security window and the settings will be saved. If you want to increase real-time protection, just revisit the Virus & Threat Protection Settings page and turn the switch back to the On position . Always be safe!

Note: If you want to completely disable Windows Defender, please refer to the article: Turn off Windows Defender on Windows 10 for details on how to do it.