The built-in Microsoft Defender antivirus often reacts aggressively to files downloaded from the Internet. This is done to prevent leakage of your data or damage to equipment. But if you are sure about the file, you have the right to create a list of exclusions so that the system does not delete the data at the most inopportune moment. This manual tells you how to do this.
Guides for Windows 11
How to open Windows security window on Windows 10/11
There are several ways to open the required window, but we’ll cover two of the simplest.
First way
- Click the Windows icon on your keyboard or click the similar icon in the corner of the screen (Start button).
- Select an item “Options”which is represented by a gear icon.
- Click on rubric “Updates and Security”.
- Find an article “Windows Security” and click “Protection against viruses and threats”.
Second way
In the system tray (the system tray is located in the bottom right corner of the screen), find the shield icon and click on it painting once.
Add a file or folder to the exclusion list
In chapter “Virus and threat protection settings” click on “Settings Manager”.
Scroll through the new page all the way down to where the section is “Exceptions”. You have to click on this “Add or remove exceptions”.
If the system asks permission for this application to make changes to your device, click “Yes”. Now you can add files, folders, processes and even select a specific file type that the system will ignore. Security protocols are updated from time to time, so we recommend that you add all third-party applications to the exclusion list.
To add a file or folder, you must select the appropriate option in the window that opens. All contents of the selected folder will also be excluded while they are there.
The type of files and process names will have to be entered manually.
If necessary, you can also disable system protection completely. We’ve covered this in more detail in a separate guide.
How to recover files deleted by antivirus
Microsoft’s antivirus software is sometimes too fast, preventing you from adding files to exclusions. Initially, it quarantines disputed processes and offers the user several options to resolve the issue. All applications are in the section “Defense Journal”, where you can view details about each individual file and decide what to do with it. When you fix “threats” this way, don’t forget to add them to the exclusions so your files aren’t quarantined again when you scan the system again.
Source: VG Times