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Disable the Windows 11 Antimalware Service Executable
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Antimalware Service Executable is the official name of the process Windows Defender uses to keep viruses and other kinds of malware away from your computer.
Windows Defender is an important piece of any Windows 11 system as it allows you to not worry about malware coming from the sites you visit or the files you download.
As soon as a threat appears, Windows Defender rushes in to defend you. Now, as good as Antimalware Service Executable can be, there are some issues with it. Namely, the process is a resource hog and eats up a lot of the CPU.
You couldinvest in a powerful eGPU for your computer, but this option would cost a lot more than tweaking your PC’s settings temporarily.
Because the Executable takes up a lot of system resources, this can cause other apps and the entire Windows 11 system to work very slowly and makes the overall experience frustrating to deal with.
That being said, if your PC is barely capable of running Windows 11, this temporary fix will notimprove your OS speed considerablyand will bother you continuously.
If that’s the case,be sure to check out some amazing Windows 11 laptops, orchoose a powerful tablet setupthat also offers great processing speeds without affecting your mobility.
If you’re not inclined to move around with your laptop or do work on road trips, then you could choose toinvest in a powerful Windows 11 enabled desktop PC.
The extra space allows for extra power, and thus you will never have to deal with lagging actions while using your device.
Another big advantage if you’re inclined to choose a desktop setup is the fact that it can harbora more powerful CPU, more storage space with great speeds, andeven a better GPU setup which offers an amazing immersive experienceno matter if playing games or watching your favorite shows.
Why does Antimalware Service Executable take so much resources?
Whenever you start a system scan, Antimalware Service Executable is activated and uses the CPU in this process. This causes the CPU to work overtime as it searches for any malware.
Even something as simple as a routine scan takes up a significant amount of the computer’s resources.This won’t prevent you from using other apps while Windows Defender scans, but you’ll notice a significant drop in performance.
It is technically possible to delete the Antimalware Service Executable, but this isn’t recommended.
The process is the main driving force behind Windows Defender and deleting it can put your computer at risk of infection if you don’t have a backup antivirus app with great performance, we recommend to installESETwhich is one the best currently available on the market. And even if you could, you probably won’t be able to do it since it’s a System process and Windows 11 won’t allow you to delete it.
The best thing you can do is disable Antimalware Service Executable, even if it’s temporary. This guide will show you the different methods you can use to disable Antimalware Service Executable, from the simplest method to the more complex ones.
How can I turn off Antimalware Service Executable?
1. Use the Settings app
2. Use the Registry Editor
3. Add the process to the Exclusion List
4. Change Scan Scheduling settings
How to fix issues caused by disabling the Antimalware Service Executable
For the most part, performing the earlier steps will do the job, but you don’t want the program to be off forever. Your computer still needs that protection, and as such,it’s recommended that you get proper antivirus software.
If it wasn’t for the high CPU consumption, Windows Defender would be perfect, but many third-party apps are better optimized.
What’s so beneficial about these apps is that they aren’t resources hogs and have a much better-looking user interface making the process more enjoyable and less of a headache.
Some even come with cool features like webcam support and high-level file encryption capabilities.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions on other Windows 11 apps or features. Also, leave comments about guides that you’d like to see.
More about the topics:antimalware,Microsoft Windows Defender,Windows 11
Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar has been writing for and about technology going on for 6 years when he first started writing tech articles for his university paper. Since then, his passion for technology blossomed into a prosperous writing career. He first started writing about tech in the entertainment world and would later move on to write about smart life tech and social media. He was recently a Technical Writer for tech company Extron where he wrote user guides for audio and video equipment.
He has since moved on to being a freelance writer looking to have a career in copywriting and hopes to share his love and knowledge of technology with the world. Recently, Cesar has written for the cryptocurrency news site, BTCPro and helping people understand tech.
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Cesar Cadenas
Networking & Security Specialist
Cesar is a tech expert passionate about Windows, Microsoft, and anything surrounding the world of PCs.
