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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities.
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Getting a "Virus Detected" error while you're trying to download a file is annoying, especially if you know for a fact that the file you're trying to download does not have a virus. This wikiHow will teach you how to disable the "Virus Detected" error by turning off Windows Defender's real-time protection in Windows 10. After you disable Windows Defender, proceed to download the file at your own risk.
Steps
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![Step 1 Press ⊞ Win and type "Windows security".]()
Press ⊞ Win and type "Windows security". This will open your Start menu and begin a search for what you're typing. -
![Step 2 Click the "Windows Security" system settings result.]()
Click the "Windows Security" system settings result. Settings will open a window to the Windows Security suite.Advertisement -
![Step 3 Click Virus & threat protection.]()
Click Virus & threat protection. It has the icon of a shield and is usually the first listing in the menu. -
![Step 4 Click Manage settings under "Virus & threat protection settings.]()
Click Manage settings under "Virus & threat protection settings." This is usually the second listing in the menu. -
![Step 5 Click the switch under "Real-time protection" to turn it off icon.]()
Click the switch under "Real-time protection" to turn it off. You should be able to return to your download and complete it before the feature automatically turns back on.[1]
- You'll most likely need to repeat this process if you have multiple downloads failing due to the "Virus Detected" error.
Expert Q&A
Tips
Warnings
- Download the file only if you know that it does not contain a virus. You can use multiple tools to check a download for viruses.Thanks
References
About This Article
1. Press the Windows key and type "Windows security."
2. Click the "Windows Security" system settings result.
3. Click Virus & threat protection.
4. Click Manage settings.
5. Click the switch under "Real-time protection" to turn it off.
