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XanderHart's avatar
XanderHart
Iron Contributor
Aug 28, 2025

Windows11 system deleted Windows Defender. How can I restore it?

I recently ran a batch file that ended up deleting Windows Defender from my computer. This happened some time ago, and unfortunately, I don’t have any system restore points set up beforehand. I’ve been trying to find a way to get Windows Defender back but haven’t had any luck so far.

 

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  • Sawyeryo's avatar
    Sawyeryo
    Iron Contributor
    Sep 04, 2025

    This is a common cause, especially if you are using a work or school computer, or have used tweaking tools.

    1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
    2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
    3. In the right pane, find the policy named "Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus" and double-click it.
    4. Ensure it is set to Not Configured or Disabled. If it was set to "Enabled," that would turn Defender off. Change it and click OK.

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