You can disable antivirus software temporarily, but you should know exactly why you're doing it and how to turn it back on
Antivirus programs sometimes block legitimate software, updates, or files you actually need. When that happens, you have a few options: you can add the file to an exception list, you can temporarily disable the antivirus, or you can uninstall it entirely. Disabling is the middle ground — it stops the program from running without removing it from your computer, so you can turn it back on when you're done.
The catch is that your device is unprotected while the antivirus is off. If you're downloading something during that window, or if malware tries to run, nothing is stopping it. That's why you should disable antivirus only when you have a specific reason, know how long you need it off, and can turn it back on when ready after.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling antivirus leaves your device unprotected, so do it only for a specific task and turn it back on as soon as you're finished.
- Most antivirus programs let you disable them from their own settings panel, usually under "Protection" or "Real-time scanning".
- Windows Defender (built into Windows) disables through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection, but only temporarily.
- If a program keeps blocking something you need, adding it to an exception list is safer than disabling the entire antivirus.
- Some antivirus programs require administrator access to disable, and some will re-enable themselves after a set time for safety.
Why antivirus blocks things you actually want
Antivirus software works by scanning files against a database of known malware signatures and by watching for suspicious behavior. Sometimes legitimate programs trigger those warnings — older software, programs that modify system files, or tools that do things antivirus sees as risky even though they're not actually dangerous.
A common example: installers for older games or professional software sometimes get flagged because they use installation methods that modern antivirus considers suspicious. Another example is system utilities that need to access deep parts of Windows to work — a disk cleaner or a driver updater might look like malware to antivirus because it's doing things only malware usually does.
Before you disable antivirus, ask yourself whether the file is actually from a source you trust. If you downloaded it from the official website, from a store you know, or from a person you know, disabling antivirus to install it is probably safe. If you're not sure where it came from, disabling antivirus is a real risk.
How to disable Windows Defender (built-in antivirus)
Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with Windows Defender, also called Windows Security. To turn it off temporarily:
- Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
- Go to Update & Security (Windows 10) or Privacy & Security (Windows 11).
- Click Windows Security on the left side.
- Click Virus & threat protection.
- Under "Virus & threat protection settings," click Manage settings.
- Toggle off Real-time protection.
Windows will ask you to confirm. Click yes. Your antivirus is now off.
Windows Defender will automatically turn real-time protection back on when you restart your computer, or after a few hours if you don't restart. This is by design — Microsoft built in an automatic re-enable so you don't accidentally leave your device unprotected. If you need it off for longer than a few hours, you'll need to disable it again.
How to disable third-party antivirus programs
If you're using Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, or another paid antivirus, the steps vary by program, but the general approach is the same:
- Open the antivirus program itself (not Windows Settings).
- Look for a menu called Settings, Protection, or Security.
- Find the option for Real-time protection, Active protection, or Virus scanning.
- Click the toggle or button to turn it off.
- The program will usually ask how long you want it disabled — choose 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour depending on your task.
Some antivirus programs require you to right-click the program icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen) to access the disable option. If you don't see a menu option, check the program's help section or search the program name plus "disable real-time protection" online.
Most paid antivirus programs will automatically re-enable protection after the time you selected expires. Some will ask you to confirm before re-enabling. Either way, set a timer on your phone so you remember to turn it back on if it doesn't do it automatically.
Using exception lists instead of disabling
If you find yourself disabling antivirus regularly for the same file or program, adding it to an exception list is safer. An exception (also called a whitelist or exclusion) tells antivirus "don't scan this file or folder" without turning off protection for everything else.
In Windows Defender, go to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Add or remove exclusions. You can exclude a specific file, a folder, a file type, or a process. Once you add it, antivirus will never block it again.
In third-party antivirus programs, look for Exclusions, Whitelist, or Trusted files in the settings. The exact name and location varies, but every antivirus program has this feature.
Exceptions are better than disabling because they protect everything else while letting one specific thing through. Use them when you know a particular program or file is safe but antivirus keeps blocking it.
What to do while antivirus is disabled
While your antivirus is off, your device is vulnerable. That doesn't mean you'll definitely get infected, but it means you should be extra careful about what you do:
- Don't browse the web or open email. Malicious websites and email attachments are common infection vectors.
- Don't read anything except the specific file you disabled antivirus for.
- Don't open files from unknown sources.
- Don't insert USB drives or external devices you haven't used before.
- Do the one task you disabled antivirus for, then turn it back on when ready.
If you're installing software, close your web browser and email while you do it. If you're copying files from a USB drive, do that and nothing else. The shorter the window your antivirus is off, the lower your risk.
Turning antivirus back on
For Windows Defender, go back to Settings > Update & Security (or Privacy & Security) > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings and toggle Real-time protection back on.
For third-party antivirus, open the program and toggle protection back on. If you set a timer when you disabled it, the program may have already re-enabled itself — check the status to be sure.
After you turn antivirus back on, consider running a quick scan to check whether anything was infected while protection was off. In Windows Defender, go to Virus & threat protection > Quick scan. In other programs, look for a Scan or Quick scan button in the main window. A quick scan usually takes 5 to 15 minutes and checks the most common infection locations.
When you might need to disable antivirus
Some legitimate reasons to disable antivirus temporarily: installing older software that triggers false alarms, running system maintenance tools, installing drivers, or troubleshooting a program that won't run because antivirus is blocking it.
Some reasons that are actually risky: installing software from a website you're not sure about, running a file someone sent you in a message, or disabling antivirus "just to speed up your computer." Antivirus does use some system resources, but disabling it is not a safe way to make your device faster.
If you're disabling antivirus more than once a month, or for the same program every time you use it, that's a sign you should either add it to exceptions or consider whether you actually trust that software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my computer get infected if antivirus is off for 10 minutes?
Not necessarily. Infection depends on whether you encounter malware during that window and whether you interact with it. If you're just installing one program from a trusted source and not browsing the web, your risk is low. But it's still a risk — the shorter the time, the better.
Can I uninstall antivirus instead of disabling it?
Yes, but uninstalling removes it completely, and you'll need to reinstall it later. Disabling is temporary and reversible with one click, so it's usually the better choice. Only uninstall if you're switching to a different antivirus program.
Why does my antivirus keep turning back on by itself?
Most antivirus programs automatically re-enable after a set time (usually a few hours) as a safety feature. This is intentional — it prevents you from accidentally leaving your device unprotected. If you need it off longer, you'll need to disable it again.
Is it safe to disable antivirus while installing software?
Only if the software is from a source you trust — the official website, a major app store, or a person you know. If you're not sure where the software came from, don't disable antivirus. Instead, add the installer to exceptions or contact the software maker to ask why antivirus is blocking it.
What's the difference between disabling and uninstalling antivirus?
Disabling turns it off temporarily but keeps it installed, so you can turn it back on with one click. Uninstalling removes it completely from your computer, and you'd need to reinstall it if you want it back. Disabling is reversible; uninstalling is not, unless you go through the installation process again.