You can ensure Windows Security doesn’t sound false positive alarm bells for certain programs by adding them to its exclusion list. Programs, folders, and other files included on that list are excluded from the Microsoft Defender Antivirus scanning. This is how you can set Windows Security scanning exclusions within Microsoft’s latest desktop OS.
How to Add Exclusions With Windows Security’s Options
Windows Security’s built-in exclusion options enable you to exclude files, folders, processes, and file types from the antivirus scanning. It’s usually better to set exclusions for more specific program files and processes than entire folders. Adding folders like Program Files and Downloads to the exclusion list would leave your PC more vulnerable. You can add program file exclusions in the Windows Security app as follows:
To open Windows Security, double-click the app’s shield icon within the system tray. You might need to click a Show hidden icons arrow button to find it. Select Virus & threat protection on Windows Security’s Home tab. Click the Manage settings navigation option. Next, scroll down to the “Exclusions” subheading. Click the Add or remove exclusions option shown directly below. Press the Add an exclusion button to view an options menu. Select the File option. Choose an EXE (application) for a program to add to the exclusion list. Press the Open button to add the selected program to Windows Security’s exclusion list. Now Windows Security won’t scan the program you added to its exclusion list.
Windows Security also has a Controlled folder access feature that blocks programs from modifying folders. That feature can stop games from saving settings and files. If you have that feature enabled, you can also add program files to a Controlled folder access exclusion list like this:
Bring up the virus protection settings as covered in steps one to three above. Click Manage controlled folder access to reach the ransomware options shown directly below. Select the Allow an app through Controlled folder access navigation option to bring up its app exclusion settings. Press the button for the Add an allowed app option to select Browse all apps. Choose an app to allow through, and click Open to add it.
How to Add Exclusions With Defender Exclusion Tool
Windows Security’s exclusion list settings aren’t especially accessible since you need to click through a few navigation options to reach them. You can set exclusions quicker with the Defender Exclusion Tool software. That software enables its users to add files and folders to Windows Security’s exclusion list by selecting context menu options. This is how you can set program file exclusions with that software.
Open the Defender Exclusion Tool download page. Click the Direct Download option. Open the Explorer file manager to bring up the folder that contains the downloaded ExcTool. ZIP file. Right-click ExcTool. ZIP and select Extract All to bring up a tool for extracting ZIPs. Select Show extracted files and click the Extract button to open an ExcTool folder. Click the ExcTool v1. 3 subfolder to open it up. Double-click ExcTool. exe to open its window. You can add programs to the Windows Security list by clicking the Add files button. Select a program file within the Add file window and click Open. To add a directory, press the Add folder to exclusion list button and select one from the Browse window.
To add file and folder exclusions from the context menu, you’ll need to enable two options within Defender Exclusion Tool. Click the Options menu and select the Add to context menu submenu. Select the Add to File Context Menu and Add to Folder Context Menu options.
Then check out the new Manage Defender Exclusion submenu on the context menu. Right-click a file or folder in Explorer to select Show more options at the bottom of Windows 11’s context menu. Move the cursor over the Manage Defender Exclusion submenu to select Add an exclusion.
When you’ve added some files or folders, you’ll see them all listed within the Windows Security app’s exclusion list. You can also select to remove them from there by right-clicking the files and folders to select the Remove this exclusion option. Alternatively, select items in the Defender Exclusion Tool window and click the Delete Selected button there.
Stop Windows Security Blocking Programs
If you ever encounter any issues with launching games or other software, it may sometimes be the case that Windows Security’s antivirus scanning has wrongly flagged them. Adding program files to Windows Security’s exclusion list as outlined above will stop that antivirus utility from blocking them. So, setting antivirus exclusions for program files is a standard troubleshooting step.
