You can add exclusions to Windows Defender for files, folders, file extensions, processes that you are 100% sure of. After adding them to exclusions, Windows Defender will not scan them, which will reduce scan times. In today’s article, we’ll take a look at how to add or remove Windows Defender exclusions for all Windows 10 users.

Windows Defender is included with Windows 10 and helps protect your PC from infection in two ways: real-time protection and anytime scan. When you install another antivirus, Windows Defender turns itself off. Even if you have a different antivirus, you can enable a periodic system scan using Defender at any time you need.

Excluded files and folders are stored in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows Defender Exclusions Paths File 

The excluded file types are stored in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows Defender Exclusions Extensions 

Excluded processes are stored in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows DefenderExclusionsProcesses

 Add exclusions to Windows Defender

1.Go to the Start menu and open Settings.

2.In the window that opens, select “Update and Security”.

3.In the left column, select “Windows Security”, in the right column, open “Virus and threat protection”.

4. Next to “Protection against viruses and other threats” click on “Manage settings”.

5. Next to “Exceptions”, click on “Add or remove exceptions”.

6. Click on “Add exclusion” and select from the list what you will add (file, folder, file type, process).

7. If you selected “Exclude file”, then you need to find the file in the window that opens, select it and click on “Exclude this file”.

If you selected “Exclude folder”, find and select the folder you want to exclude and click on “Exclude this folder”.

If you selected “Exclude File Extension”, enter the desired extension and click “OK”. For example, to exclude all files with the jpg extension, we need to enter .jpg and click “OK”.

If you selected “Exclude Exe, Com or SCR process”, enter the name of the process along with its extension (you can look in the task manager by clicking on the desired process with the right mouse button – properties, or write the path to the program and the name of the program) and click “OK ”.

When you have entered all the required exceptions, close the settings window.

Remove Windows Defender Exceptions

1.Go to the Start menu and open Settings.

2.In the window that opens, select “Update and Security”.

3.In the left column, select “Windows Security”, in the right column, open “Virus and threat protection”.

4. Next to “Protection against viruses and other threats” click on “Manage settings”.

5. Next to “Exceptions”, click on “Add or remove exceptions”.

6. Click on the exclusion you want to remove.

7. Click on “Remove”.

When you remove all unnecessary exceptions, just close the preferences window.

That’s all for today, if you have any additions – write comments! Good luck ?