How to Undo and Stop Windows Defender Deleting Files - 7 Ways

Are you experiencing a similar trouble? You may ask: Does Windows Defender automatically delete files? Obviously YES.

When Windows Defender (also known as Windows Defender Antivirus) works to scan your hard disk, it might consider some safe files to be threats and remove them by mistake. Wondering how to stop Windows Defender from deleting files in Windows 11/10? And how to undo Windows Defender deleting files? Right answers here.

How to recover files deleted by Windows Defender?

In case that your useful files have been already deleted by Windows Defender, as the first aid, it’s an emergency to undo the Windows Defender deleting files and recover deleted items back to your PC. To achieve this, we have 2 options for your reference.

1# Recommended: Cisdem Data Recovery

Being a standard data retrieval tool trusted by over 2 million users, Cisdem Data Recovery dedicates to offer easy and reliable solutions to recover files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, partition loss, corrupted drive, system crash, virus infection, Windows update or downgrade, factory reset without backup or other unexpected reasons. 

With remarkably high recovery rate (99.7%), quick scan speed, advanced computer algorithm, and simple-to-use UI, Cisdem can efficiently restore your files getting deleted automatically by Windows Defender, such as downloaded archives, documents, photos, videos, audios, and more than 1000 file types.

Why choose Cisdem Data Recovery?

• Recover data from internal and external storage devices, both performing well
• Repair damaged images, videos and documents
• Restore files from specified folders: Recycle Bin, Desktop...
• Quick scan and deep scan applied to find most files
• Locate wanted files fast by filters: file type, file name, file size, keyword, etc.
• Preview files before recovering
• Support NAS recovery
• Retrieve data from a crashed PC
• Export or import scan results to avoid repeated scanning

Steps to recover files deleted by Windows Defender:

1. Download, install and run Cisdem Data Recovery on your PC.
   Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
2. Navigate to PC Recovery, select the location where your deleted files were stored, and click Search for Lost Data.
3. During or after scanning, specify the types of your deleted files and locate them. You can use file filters or search bar to find the desired items effortlessly. Also double click on them to have a preview.
4. Select the files you need to restore, and click Recover to revert them back onto PC.

2# Alternative: Restore with Protection History

In addition to deleting files directly, Windows Defender also blocks files in a certain area, where the files will stay temporarily and will be erased automatically later. So here comes to another method to restore files quarantined by Windows Defender on Windows 11 or 10. 

1. Press Win+I to launch Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Click Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
4. Under Current threats section, select Protection history.
5. From All recent items tab, change Filters to Quarantined Items.
6. Check if the deleted files you want are present. If yes, click Actions > Restore.

How to stop Windows Defender from deleting files?

Windows Defender keeps deleting files that you still need? Sounds quite annoying. To prevent this issue in the future, see below for 5 potential methods.

Method 1: Exclude files from Windows Defender

When you’re sure that some files, folders or progresses are safe with no harm to your computer, but Windows Defender still treats these files as malicious items and auto removes them, this solution is for you. All you should do is exclude your files from Windows Defender Antivirus scans.

How to stop Windows Defender deleting files by adding exclusions?

1. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection > Manage settings.
3. Under Exclusions, choose “Add or remove exclusions”.
4. Add an exclusion as per your case.
5. For example, if you need to stop Windows Defender from deleting .exe files, select File type, enter “exe” in the box, and click Add button.

Method 2: Turn off Automatic Remediation

Files getting deleted automatically from Windows 11/10 could be also caused by Automatic Remediation feature. To prevent Windows Defender deleting files, it’s proven to be helpful if we try to turn off Automatic Remediation through running a REG command.

How to stop Windows Defender from deleting files in CMD?

1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Copy and paste this command:
   REG ADD “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender” /v DisableRoutinelyTakingAction /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f.
3. 
4. Press Enter to execute this command.

Method 3: Disable Windows Defender

If the above methods fail to stop Windows Defender from quarantining files, your final attempt would be disabling Windows Defender. We’re going to explore 3 ways to complete this process. 

The first one will turn off Windows Defender just temporarily, and you’re allowed to enable it again at anytime. Bear in mind that when you restart your computer, WD will be turned on automatically.

While the latter 2 ways will disable Windows Defender in a permanent manner, so the security of your Windows 11/10 PC will be at risk of malware attacks. In that case you’d better install a third-party anti-virus program in place of Microsoft Windows Defender aforehand.

1# via Settings

1. Search and open Windows Security.
2. Continue to tap on Virus & threat protection > Manage settings.
3. Toggle off the option for Real-time protection.
4. Go to Firewall & network protection > Private network.
5. Turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall.
6. Exit Windows Settings to finish.

2# in Registry Editor

1. Input “regedit” to open Registry Editor.
2. Locate Microsoft Defenders location by expanding HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows Defender.
3. Right-click on Windows Defender folder > select New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. A new file will show up on the right side. Name it as “DisableAntiSpyware” and hit Enter.
5. Double click on this new file > enter the value data as 1 > click OK to save.
6. Reboot your PC to stop Windows Defender deleting files.

3# through Local Group Policy Editor

1. Press Win+R to initiate Run box.
2. Type gpedit.msc > click OK to open Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.
4. From the right side, locate and double click on “Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus”.
5. On the pop-up windows, highlight Enable option > click Apply and OK.
6. Restart your system to disable Windows Defender and stop files from being auto deleted.

Stop Windows Defender deleting files & restore deleted files

Microsoft Windows Defender is a free and popular anti-virus tool utilized to keep Windows PC away from possible threat and malicious damage. But every coin has its two sides. It would be a troublesome business if Windows Defender gets into errors and removes needed files automatically. We believe that one of the methods from above should have taught you how to stop Windows Defender from deleting files successfully. To rescue those files deleted by WD, Cisdem Data Recovery must be a worthwhile option.