Windows 8.1 Defender

[James G]

I updated to 8.1 last week. This morning Windows Defender informed me that it had prevented Avast from starting and that it, Defender, was now protecting my machine. I've been using Avast since Windows 7 came out and I trust it. But Defender seems to be built into 8.1, and I can't figure out how to switch back to Avast. Does anyone know how to do it?

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Here's how you can disable Windows Defender

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-windows-defender-on-off#turn-windows-defender-on-off=windows-7

[James G]

Here's how you can disable Windows Defender

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-windows-defender-on-off#turn-windows-defender-on-off=windows-7

That doesn't apply to Windows 8.1, but thanks.

[essexboy]

8.1 should automatically disable defender when it detects Avast, what version of Avast do you have ? 

[Dch48]

Here's how you can disable Windows Defender

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-windows-defender-on-off#turn-windows-defender-on-off=windows-7

That doesn't apply to Windows 8.1, but thanks.

In 8.1 you still turn defender on or off through it's Windows Control Panel applet.

[James G]

8.1 should automatically disable defender when it detects Avast, what version of Avast do you have ?

I no longer have Avast. When I updated from Windows 8 to 8.1, it <i>removed</i> Avast. But it should have been a recent version since I've only had the computer about a month, and I installed Avast as soon as I bought the computer.

[James G]

Here's how you can disable Windows Defender

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-windows-defender-on-off#turn-windows-defender-on-off=windows-7

That doesn't apply to Windows 8.1, but thanks.

In 8.1 you still turn defender on or off through it's Windows Control Panel applet.

Right, I found it.