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Exclude Folders from Windows Defender (Windows 10)

How to Exclude a Folder from Windows Defender on Windows 10​

To exclude a folder from Windows Defender on Windows 10, follow these steps:

  1. Open Windows Security:

    • Click on the Start menu and type Windows Security. Click on the Windows Security app from the search results.

  2. Go to Virus & threat protection:

    • In the Windows Security window, click on Virus & threat protection.

  3. Open Virus & threat protection settings:

    • Scroll down and click on Manage settings under the Virus & threat protection settings section.

  4. Add or remove exclusions:

    • Scroll down to the Exclusions section and click on Add or remove exclusions.

  5. Add an exclusion:

    • Click on the Add an exclusion button (with a plus sign).

  6. Choose Folder:

    • From the drop-down menu, select Folder.

  7. Select the folder:

    • Navigate to the folder you want to exclude, select it, and click on Select Folder.

  8. Confirm the exclusion:

    • You might be prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to confirm your action. Click Yes if prompted.

Once you have completed these steps, the specified folder will be excluded from Windows Defender Antivirus scans. This means that files in that folder will not be scanned for viruses or threats, which can be useful if you have files that are mistakenly flagged as threats but are actually safe.