Allow Programs Through Windows Defender Antivirus

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to allow an app or program in Windows Antivirus, thereby empowering you to take control of your security settings while keeping your system safe.

To begin with, here is a quick step-by-step guide to allow an app/program through Windows Defender:

Open the Start menu and search for “Windows Security.”

Click on “Virus & threat protection.”

Select “Manage settings.”

Look for the “Add or remove exclusions” option and click on it.

Select the type of exclusion that matcher your app.

Add the path to your app or the app itself to the exclusion list.

However, as this is just an overview of the steps, we encourage you to read the blog further to learn detailed instructions for various methods to allow programs in Windows Defender Antivirus.

How to allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 11 ?

Windows Defender Antivirus is a robust security tool, but it can sometimes interfere with legitimate programs.

To ensure that your trusted applications are not blocked, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to allow specific apps through the firewall in Windows 11:

Watch the video and follow below mentioned methods to allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 11:

Allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus

Method 1: Using Windows Security Settings

Open Windows Security:

First, click on the Start button or press the Windows key.

Then, type Windows Security and select it from the search results.

open windows and security to allow program in windows antivirus

Go to Virus & Threat Protection:

Next, in the Windows Security window, click on Virus & threat protection.

choose virus and threat protection from options to allow program in windows antivirus

Manage Settings:

After that, scroll down and click on Manage settings under the Virus & threat protection settings section.

Add or Remove Exclusions:

Subsequently, scroll down to the Exclusions section and click on Add or remove exclusions.

Add an Exclusion:

Now, click on the Add an exclusion button.

Then, choose the type of exclusion you want to add:

Folder: To exclude an entire folder.

File: To exclude a specific file.

File type: To exclude all files of a certain type (e.g., .exe).

Process: To exclude a specific process.

choose type of exclusion form the options to allow program in windows antivirus

Select the App:

Following this, browse to the app or file you want to allow and select it.

Confirm:

Finally, once added, the app will be excluded from Windows Defender scans.

Method 2: Allowing an App Through Firewall

Open Windows Security:

To begin, click on the Start button or press the Windows key.

Next, type Windows Security and select it.

Go to Firewall & Network Protection:

Then, in the Windows Security window, click on Firewall & network protection.

Allow an App Through Firewall:

After that, scroll down and click on Allow an app through firewall.

Change Settings:

Now, click on the Change settings button. You may need administrative privileges to do this.

Add an App:

Next, click on Allow another app.

Then, browse to the app you want to allow and select it.

Finally, click Add.

Select Network Types:

Subsequently, check the boxes for the network types (Private or Public) that you want the app to be allowed through.

Confirm:

Lastly, click OK to save your changes.

Also Check: How to Export specific firewall rules on Windows 10 or Windows 11 ?

Method 3: Using Group Policy Editor (For Windows Pro and Enterprise)

Open Group Policy Editor:

First, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Then, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.

Navigate to Windows Defender:

Next, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.

Configure Exclusions:

After that, find and double-click on Exclude files and folders from scans.

Then, select Enabled and click on the Show button.

Add the App Path:

Now, in the dialog that appears, add the full path of the app or folder you want to exclude.

Apply Changes:

Finally, click OK and then Apply to save your changes.

Method 4: Using Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

To start, click on the Start button, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Add Exclusion:

Next, use the following command to add an exclusion: powershell -command “Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath ‘C:\Path\To\Your\App'”

Then, replace C:\Path\To\Your\App with the actual path of the app you want to allow.

Confirm:

Lastly, you should see a confirmation message if the command was successful.

Method 5: Using Registry Editor

Modifying the registry can be risky. Proceed with caution.

Open Registry Editor:

First, press the Windows key, type “regedit,” and press Enter.

Navigate to the Registry Key:

Then, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.

If the “Windows Defender” key doesn’t exist, create it.

Create a New DWORD Value:

Next, right-click in the right pane, choose “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”

After that, name it “DisableAntiSpyware.”

Modify the Value:

Finally, double-click “DisableAntiSpyware” and set its value to “1.”

Also Check: How to change Accent Color In Windows 11 ?

How to allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10 ?

Allowing an app through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10 can be accomplished through various methods. Here’s a comprehensive guide detailing each method:

Follow below mentioned methods to allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10:

Method 1: Using Windows Security App

Access Windows Security:

First, click on the Start menu or press the Windows key.

Then, type Windows Security and select it from the results.

Navigate to Virus & Threat Protection:

Next, in the Windows Security window, click on Virus & threat protection.

Manage Settings:

After that, scroll down to find the Virus & threat protection settings section.

Subsequently, click on Manage settings.

Add Exclusions:

Now, scroll down to the Exclusions section and click on Add or remove exclusions.

Select Exclusion Type:

Following this, click on the Add an exclusion button.

Then, choose the type of exclusion you want to create:

Folder: To exclude an entire folder.

File: To exclude a specific file.

File type: To exclude all files of a certain type (e.g., .exe).

Process: To exclude a specific process.

Locate the App:

Next, browse to the location of the app or file you want to allow and select it.

Finalize the Exclusion:

Finally, after selecting, the app will be added to the exclusions list, allowing it to run without being blocked by Windows Defender.

If your program requires internet access, you might need to adjust Windows Firewall rules:

To begin, access Windows Firewall: Search for “Windows Firewall” in the Start menu and open it.

Then, allow an App through Firewall:

First, click on “Allow an app through Windows Firewall.”

Add App: Next, click “Allow another app” and browse to find your program.

Configure Settings: Lastly, check the boxes for both private and public networks if necessary.

Method 3: Allowing an app through the Control Panel

To start, open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start button and typing “Control Panel” into the search bar.

Next, click on “System and Security” and then “Windows Defender Firewall”.

After that, click on “Allow an app through Windows Defender Firewall” on the left-hand side of the window.

Then, click on “Change settings” and then scroll down to the app you want to allow.

Finally, check the box next to the app and then click “OK”.

Also Check: How do I turn off the display in Power Settings in Windows ?

Method 4: Allowing an app through PowerShell

First, open PowerShell as an administrator by clicking on the Start button and typing “PowerShell” into the search bar. Right-click on “Windows PowerShell” and select “Run as administrator”.

Next, type the following command, replacing “AppName” with the name of the app you want to allow: Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath “C:\Path\To\AppName”

Lastly, press Enter to execute the command.

Conclusion

Allowing trusted programs through Windows Defender Antivirus is crucial for maintaining a balance between security and functionality on your system.

Moreover, whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11, you now have multiple methods to allow a program through Windows antivirus to accomplish this task.

Specifically, from the straightforward Windows Security app approach to more advanced techniques like using the Group Policy Editor or Command Prompt, you can choose the method that best suits your comfort level and needs.

However, it’s important to allow legitimate programs, exercise caution when creating exclusions.

Only whitelist applications you trust completely, as this process bypasses your antivirus protection for those specific files or folders.

Source: [ microsoft, superuser, itsupportsmu.edu, pureinfotech ]

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)

How do I allow a program through Windows Antivirus ?

Open Windows Security, go to Virus & threat protection, then select “Manage settings.”
Under “Exclusions,” add the program you want to allow.

How do I add a program to the Windows Defender allowed list ?

Open Windows Security.
Go to “Virus & threat protection” settings.
Under “Exclusions,” add the program you trust.

How to stop Windows Defender from blocking apps ?

Disable Windows Defender temporarily or permanently by going to Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings > Real-time Protection > toggle off.

Unlock Your Programs: Easily Allow Apps in Windows Defender

How to allow an app/program through Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 11 ?

Method 1: Using Windows Security Settings

Method 2: Allowing an App Through Firewall