Fixing MICROSOFT Anti-virus [Windows Defender (pre Windows 10)] False Positives
If MICROSOFT [Windows Defender (pre Windows 10)] is falsely alarming you about a program that you know is safe, this page shows you how to create file/folder exclusions in MICROSOFT antivirus.
How to Whitelist a File or Program within MICROSOFT Anti-Virus
For pre Windows 10 users, here are step by step instructions for whitelisting a file or program in Windows Defender. Go here for setting exclusions in Windows 10 Windows Defender
- Press the Windows Start button to make the start menu appear.
- In the search box at the bottom, type in the word
defender.
- In the start menu you should see the text
Windows Defender. If you DO NOT, then you either do not have Microsoft Windows defender on your system or it is not enabled.
- Click the menu item
Windows Defender to display the Microsoft antivirus program window.
- At the top of the program click the
⛭ Tools menu item.
- In the
Settings ----------- section click the ⛭ Options tile.
- On the left click the
Excluded files and folders list item.
- On the right look for the button with the text
Add.... Click it. A file-find dialog box will appear.
- Navigate to the path of the file or program you wish to whitelist or exclude in Microsoft antivirus.
- Click to select the file or program you wish to whitelist.
- Press the
OK button and that file/program will be in the exluded/left alone list. This will also cause the find-file dialog box to close.
- Back in the Microsoft antivirus main window click the
Save button to save your exclusion.
1 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Start.
![Image of 1 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Start.]( "Image of 1 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Start.")
1 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Start.
2 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Tools Options.
![Image of 2 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Tools Options.]( "Image of 2 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Tools Options.")
2 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Tools Options.
3 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Excluded Files Folders Add.
![Image of 3 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Excluded Files Folders Add.]( "Image of 3 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Excluded Files Folders Add.")
3 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Excluded Files Folders Add.
4 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus File Navigate Dialog Box.
![Image of 4 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus File Navigate Dialog Box.]( "Image of 4 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus File Navigate Dialog Box.")
4 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus File Navigate Dialog Box.
5 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Save Excluded Selections.
![Image of 5 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Save Excluded Selections.]( "Image of 5 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Save Excluded Selections.")
5 Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus Save Excluded Selections.
