Bitdefender is one of the most effective choices when it comes to antivirus software. If there’s a reason why you need to disable it we’ll explain how to do it. But before you do, see if there’s an alternative.
It’s unwise to turn off antivirus protection for any long period of time, and this is why the default is to temporarily disable Bitdefender for five minutes.
If the firewall is causing problems you can disable that module in the same sort of way, but you might want to consider adding an exception so the program which is being blocked can work, but the firewall continues to do its job for all other apps.
How do I disable Bitdefender temporarily
Open Bitdefender’s main interface. Either search for Bitdefender in Windows 10’s Start menu or look in the notification area of the system tray: click the little upward-facing arrow to the left of the date and time. The icon is a white B in a red square.
When you get to the Dashboard, click the Protection link immediately below Dashboard on the left-hand side.
Now click on Settings in the ANTIVIRUS box and you can toggle off Bitdefender Shield. When you do this, a Windows prompt will pop up asking if you want to allow changes: click Yes.
Now you can choose how long you want to turn off threat protection for, and we suggest keeping that time to a minimum so you can do whatever you need to to, and it will turn back on automatically after the time you set to ensure you don’t forget.
How do I completely turn off Bitdefender
If this doesn’t fix your problem, there are other modules you can turn off. Advanced Thread Protection, for example, scans apps for various types of exploits and this could prevent an app from running. If you’re sure it’s safe, then you can click Settings in the ADVANCED THREAT PROTECTION box and disable it there.
On the other hand, your issue might be a website or some other service online. To turn off Bitdefender’s web protection, click Settings under ONLINE THREAT PREVENTION and you’ll see a number of toggles which you can turn off, and note the Network threat prevention tab which contains a further toggle.
As before, it’s not a good idea to turn any of these off permanently since they’re all integral to keeping your computer, your data and your identity safe.
If you’re simply fed up of Bitdefender for some reason, here’s the best antivirus software so you can choose an alternative.
Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.