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Disable Defender Antivirus verification task

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables the Defender Antivirus verification scheduled task.

Microsoft refers to this task as:

  • Windows Defender Verification 1 2 3 4
  • Periodic verification task 3 4

This task is a Defender Antivirus component 1. It checks for issues with Defender, such as update problems or system file errors 5. It is also linked to the creation of daily system restore points 2.

Disabling this task may improve privacy by reducing the system state data stored on the device.

It may also boost system performance by preventing unnecessary system slowdowns and restore point creation. This may conserve disk space and system resources.

However, disabling this task may leave your system more vulnerable to malware and reduce your ability to recover from system issues.

Caution

This action may reduce your system's security and recovery capabilities.

Technical Details

This task executes the following command: %PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe -IdleTask -TaskName WdVerification 1 3 4. The MpCmdRun.exe is a command-line tool used for various Defender Antivirus functions 6.

Overview of default task statuses

\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Verification 1 3 4:

OS VersionDefault status
Windows 10 22H2🟢 Ready
Windows 11 22H2🟢 Ready

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details
  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

This action belongs to Disable Defender Antivirus scheduled tasks category. This category contains scripts to disable maintenance tasks of Defender Antivirus. Scheduled tasks are automated operations that Windows runs at specific times or events. Defender uses these tasks to maintain its antivirus service. Disabling these tasks enhances privacy by: Stopping... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Defender Antivirus verification task.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide
  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt


Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Verification`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\'; $taskNamePattern='Windows Defender Verification'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Restore scheduled task(s) to default state: `\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Verification`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\'; $taskNamePattern='Windows Defender Verification'; $shouldDisable = $false; Write-Output "^""Enabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Warning ( "^""Missing task: Cannot enable, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found."^"" + "^"" This task appears to be not included in this version of Windows."^"" ); exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($shouldDisable) { if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; } else { if (($task.State -ne [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) -and ($task.State -ne [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Unknown)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already enabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; }; try { if ($shouldDisable) { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } else { $task | Enable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully enabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to restore task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to restore some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"

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