Ensuring the safety and integrity of your computer system is paramount, and Microsoft has always been at the forefront of ensuring this with its robust security tool, Windows Defender (now known as Microsoft Defender). An integrated component of the Windows operating system, this antivirus solution serves as a primary defense line against malicious entities, including ransomware. While it’s efficient, there are times when certain files or folders are wrongly identified as potential threats, leading to unnecessary blockages. This can become particularly bothersome when you’re certain about the safety of a specific file or folder. Thankfully, Windows Defender on Windows 11 offers a feature to resolve this – the exclusions list. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to add or remove exclusions for Microsoft Defender on Windows 11, ensuring you have uninterrupted access to your crucial files while maintaining your system’s security.
How to Add Exclusions to Microsoft Defender on Windows 11?
To add a file or folder to the exclusion list of Microsoft Defender on Windows 11, perform the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Windows Security app.
For that, click the Search button in the taskbar and type “Windows Security.” In the search results, click on its entry to open the same.
Step 2. When Windows Security opens, select Virtus & threat protection in the left sidebar.
Step 3. Then, click the link Manage settings under the “Virus & threat protection settings” section.
Step 4. After that, scroll down on the right sidebar and click the Add or remove exclusions link under the Exclusions header.
Step 5. Next, if the “User Account Control” dialog appears, hit the Yes button.
Step 6. Now, click the + Add An Exclusion button.
Step 7. Here, you see a drop-down menu with four options:-
- File
- Folder
- File type
- Process
File: You can select a single file to add to the exclusion list.
Folder: If you want to exclude the entire folder and its sub-folder, choose this option.
File type: You can add file type in exclusion, for example, .docx.
Process: This option allows you to select a process to add to the exclusion list, for example, explorer.exe.
Select the appropriate option that you want to exclude from the list.
How to Remove Exclusions from Microsoft Defender on Windows 11?
To remove a file or folder in the exclusion list of Microsoft Defender on Windows 11, do the following:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Windows Security app.
For that, click the Search button in the taskbar and type “Windows Security.” In the search results, click on its entry to open the same.
Step 2. When Windows Security opens, select Virtus & threat protection in the left sidebar.
Step 3. Then, click the link Manage settings under the “Virus & threat protection settings” section.
Step 4. Next, scroll down on the right sidebar and click the Add or remove exclusions link under the Exclusions header.
Step 5. After that, if the “User Account Control” dialog appears, hit the Yes button.
Step 6. Now, click on an item already added to the exclusion list.
Step 7. Lastly, click on the Remove button to remove a file/folder/process/file type from the exclusion list.
Conclusion
Microsoft Defender, formerly known as Windows Defender, provides a robust security framework for Windows 11 users. However, it might sometimes flag genuine files or folders as threats. Fortunately, Windows 11 allows users to add or remove these files or folders from the exclusions list, ensuring a seamless and secure user experience. The above guide details the step-by-step process to both add and remove exclusions in Microsoft Defender, helping users strike the right balance between accessibility and security.
