--- title: 'How to disable Defender (Microsoft Defender) in Windows 2016 and 2019 | Zomro' description: 'How to disable Defender (Microsoft Defender) in Windows 2016 and 2019' image: 'https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192515-1.jpg' --- ![opened image]() * [Zomro](https://zomro.com/) * [FAQ](https://zomro.com/blog/faq/) * How to disable Defender (Microsoft Defender) in Windows 2016 and 2019 # How to disable Defender (Microsoft Defender) in Windows 2016 and 2019 22-05-2023 ## **How to Disable Microsoft Defender on Windows Server 2019** ## Microsoft Defender (formerly known as Windows Defender) is a built-in antivirus and protection system developed by Microsoft for Windows operating systems. Windows Server 2019 also includes this component to prevent and detect malware. However, in some situations, administrators may want to disable Defender due to conflicts with other antivirus software or to optimize server performance. In this article, we will discuss how to disable Microsoft Defender on Windows Server 2019. ### **Method 1: Disabling Microsoft Defender via Group Policy** Open "File Explorer" and right-click on the "This PC" icon. Then select "Manage". ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 1](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192515-1.jpg) In the opened "Computer Management" window, navigate to "Services and Applications" and select "Services". ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 2](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192530-2.jpg) Find and double-click on the "Windows Defender" service to open its properties. ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 3](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192546-3.jpg) In the "General" tab, change the startup type to "Disabled" and click the "OK" button. ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 4](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192558-4.jpg) Now open "gpedit.msc" (Local Group Policy Editor) using Windows search or the command line. In the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender. ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 5](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192607-5.jpg) Find and double-click on the "Turn off Windows Defender" setting. In the opened window, select "Enabled" and click the "OK" button to save the changes. ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 6](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522192623-6.jpg) Restart the server to apply the changes. ### **Method 2: Disabling Microsoft Defender via Registry** **​​​​​​​** * Open "regedit" (Registry Editor) using Windows search or the command line. * In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender. ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 7](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522193329-7.jpg) * If the "Windows Defender" key is missing, create it by right-clicking on "Microsoft" and selecting "New" > "Key". Name the new key "Windows Defender". * Next, right-click on the "Windows Defender" key and select "New" > "DWORD (32-bit) Value". ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 8](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522193440-8.jpg) * Name the new value "DisableAntiSpyware" and set its value to "1". ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 9](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522193616-9.jpg) * If you also want to disable cloud protection, create another DWORD (32-bit) value named "DisableCloudProtection" and set its value to "1". ![How to disable Defender \(Microsoft Defender\) in Windows 2016 and 2019 - 10](https://dx86q6oq7ry0e.cloudfront.net/uploads/media/blog/a48%40server-panel.net/2023/05/22/image-20230522193623-10.jpg) * Close the Registry Editor and restart the server to apply the changes. Note: Editing the registry can lead to system instability if done incorrectly. It is recommended to back up the registry or create a system restore point before making changes. **Conclusion** In this article, we discussed three methods to disable Microsoft Defender on Windows Server 2019 for beginner users. Disabling Defender can be useful for improving server performance or resolving conflicts with other antivirus solutions. However, before disabling Microsoft Defender, ensure that you have installed and configured alternative antivirus software to protect the server from malware and other threats. 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