Cant turn off windows defender

[Rueben4545]

I factory reset my personal laptop, and now I can't seem to turn off Windows Defender. I've uninstalled almost every app I can, thinking it's some sort of security issue.

I have no other accounts linked, and I don't have a business, so the IT part of the error code seems strange because it's a personal laptop. Unless it means hp customer support 

[Raj2111]

Hi @Rueben4545 

Welcome to the HP support community.

I understand that you are facing an issue with your HP device, I am glad to assist you today.

After a factory reset, Windows Defender (now called Microsoft Defender) is usually set as the default antivirus program, and it can be a bit tricky to disable it entirely. Here are a few steps you can take to turn it off:

1. Using Windows Security Settings:

• Open the Start Menu and type Windows Security, then select it.
• Go to Virus & threat protection.
• Click on Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.
• Toggle off Real-time protection. This will temporarily disable Defender, but it may turn back on automatically after a while.

2. Using Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro Editions):

• Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
• Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
• Find Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus and double-click it.
• Select Enabled, then click OK.

3. Using the Registry Editor (All Windows Versions):

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
• Navigate to:
• If there’s a key named DisableAntiSpyware, double-click it and change its value to 1. If it doesn’t exist, right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it DisableAntiSpyware, and set the value to 1.

4. Install Another Antivirus Program:

• Installing a third-party antivirus can automatically disable Microsoft Defender. If you have one in mind, install it, and Defender should turn itself off.

5. Check Windows Updates:

• Sometimes, Windows Defender can behave unexpectedly after a reset. Make sure your Windows is fully updated:
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.

6. Using PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as an administrator.
• You can run the following command to disable Defender:

7. Restart Your Computer:

• After making changes, restart your computer to ensure they take effect.

Note:

Completely disabling your antivirus can expose your computer to threats, so make sure you have another form of protection in place if you choose to do so. If you continue to have issues, feel free to ask!

powershell

Copy code

Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true

Copy code

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
 

-Regards
Raj-HP Support