Windows Defender Blocked By Group Policy: Quick and Effective Solutions

Sometimes, when you are trying to turn on the Windows Defender, you might get an error message saying’ This program is blocked by group policy. For more information contact your system administrator. (Error Code: 0x800704ec)’ on the screen. It means Windows Defender is blocked by group policy. And as a result, you can not turn on the Windows Defender.

Most of the time, you might encounter this error, if a security software that is currently installed, disables the Windows Defender.

This is a quite common problem but you need to troubleshoot it immediately. As until you resolve the issue, you will not be able to turn on the Windows Defender.

So, if you want to overcome this issue, you should focus on the rest of the article, as here we are going to discuss some easy and effective techniques which will surely help you to fix the issue.

Resolve Windows Defender Blocked by Group Policy Issue with Some Premium Solutions

There are several solutions that you can try to fix the Windows Defender blocked by group policy issue. Here we highlighted some of them. Check them out.

Solution 1- Uninstall your Antivirus

This is the first solution that you can try to fix the “Windows Defender: this program is blocked by group policy” problem. Sometimes, this trouble can be resolved by simply uninstalling the other antivirus software from your computer. Here are the steps that you need to follow to apply this solution on your computer.

Step 1

In the beginning, you have to open a Run dialog box and to do so, you should press the Windows + R keys simultaneously on the keyboard.

Step 2

Once the Run dialog box opens, type ‘appwiz.cpl’ within the command field and press the OK button. Next, you have to search for the Antivirus program that you want to uninstall. Once, you find it, right click on it and after that, tap on the Uninstall button.

Step 3

Now, your system might ask you if you want to uninstall the software or not and you have to click on the Yes button. Next, you should wait until the uninstall procedure completes. Once done, reboot your PC and try to turn on the Windows Defender.

However, if the above three steps do not work for you, then you can try the below steps.

Step 4

At first, you should press the Windows key for one time. Then, you need to select the Control Panel option.

Step 5

Thereafter, you should type ‘Windows Defender’ within the search bar located on the top right corner of the page.

Step 6

Next, you need to click on the Windows Defender. You have to make sure that the Windows Defender is turned on.

Once you have assured about it, exit from the page and reboot your machine and after that, try to open Windows Defender. Hopefully, this time you’ll not face the Windows Defender blocked by group policy issue. If you can not do that, then have a look at the solution 2.

Solution 2- Use the ‘regedit’ Command

If solution 1 fails to resolve the Windows defender blocked by group policy windows 7 issue, then we suggest you, use the ‘regedit. Exc’ command. In order, to use it, you should follow the steps which are below given.

Step 1

At first, you should press and hold the Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box. Then, you have to type ‘regedit.exe’ within the Run dialog box and press the Enter button.

Step 2

Next, you have to double click on the ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’ located on the left pane of the page. Thereafter, a new window will pop up on the screen. Here, you should drop down and double click on the Software option.

Step 3

Thereafter, you need to navigate to the Policies option and then you should double click on it. After that, you have to double click on the Microsoft option. Then, a new page will appear on the screen. From there, you need to select the Windows Defender option.

Step 4

Thereafter, you should double-click on ‘Default’ which is located on the right pane of the screen. Next, a box will pop up on the screen. Here, you should enter the value ‘0’. Then, press on the OK button to save the change.

Step 5

Now, you should again press the Windows key and choose Control Panel. Thereafter, you should type ‘Windows Defender’ in the search field which is located on the top right corner of the page.

You have to make sure that the Windows Defender is turned on. Finally, restart your computer to see if the issue still persists or not. If yes, then immediately move to the next solution.

Solution 3-  Use the Local Group Policy

Sometimes, there might be a problem with the Local Group Policy and in your case, if this the reason, then we suggest you check the settings and enable the Windows Defender from the Local Group Policy. In order to do so, at first, you need to hold the Windows key and press the R key to open the Run dialog box.

After that, you have to type  ‘gpedit.msc’ within the given filed and press the Enter button.

It will lead you to a new window. From there, you should search for the ‘Administrative Templates’ option. Once you see it, you have to double click on it. Then a new page will appear on the screen. Under this section, you need to double click on the ‘Windows Components’ which is located on the left pane of the page.

Thereafter, you should tap on the Windows Defender option. Then, you need to double click on the ‘Turn off Windows Defender’ option.

Now, you have to make sure that the Windows Defender is not enabled. Next, you have to click on the Not Configured option and after that press the Apply button. Then, you should follow the online instructions and click on the Ok button.

Next, you need to turn on the Windows Defender and check if the Windows Defender blocked by group policy trouble still occur or not. If you can not fix the issue this time as well, then here is another solution at your rescue.

Solution 4- Use the Settings App

If you get an error message ‘Windows Defender is deactivated by Group Policy’ then you can fix it by simply turning the Windows Defender on from the Settings application.  This is one of the easiest solutions. In order to perform this task on your computer, you need to follow the undermentioned steps.

Step 1

At first, you should open the Settings app. For that, you need to press the Windows + I keys together on your keyboard.

Step 2

When the Settings app opens, you should navigate to the Update & Security section. Under this part, you need to choose the Windows Defender option.

Step 3

Next, you have to click on the ‘Open Windows Defender Security Center’ option. Thereafter, a new page will show on the screen. From there, you have to scroll down and click on the ‘Virus & threat protection’.

Step 4

After that, you have to navigate to the Virus & threat protection settings. Next, you have to locate Real-time protection and then you should enable it.

Once you have successfully completed the above four steps, reboot your system and now the Windows Defender should be enabled.

Solution 5-  Use the Command Line

So, you are still dealing with the Windows Defender blocked by group policy, right?. Don’t worry, here is another alternative for you. In order to apply this solution, at first, you should press and hold down the Windows + S keys together and after that type ‘powershell’ within the search field.

Once the Windows Powershell opens, you need to expand the full list and click on the Run as administrator option. Next, you have to enter the following command and after that press the Enter button.

Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring 0.

Then, the Windows Defender should be enabled and the problem should be resolved.

Solution 6- Use the Command Prompt

This is the last solution that you can try to fix the Windows Defender blocked by group policy trouble. Sometimes, with the help of the Command prompt, you can turn on the Windows Defender. Well, this is not a difficult task, here are the steps that you have to follow to apply this solution on your device.

  1. At first, press the Windows + S keys together on the keyboard. Then, choose Command Prompt from the available options.
  2. When the Command Prompt opens, you have to enter the following command and hit the OK button.

REG DELETE “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender” /v DisableAntiSpyware

  1. Now, the selected value will be deleted from the registry and the Windows Defender should start working again.

That’s it! We believe with the help of the above solutions, you can resolve the Windows Defender problem on your own. However, if you face any problems in applying these solutions on your own, then we recommend you to be on the safe side and take expert help to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

Nathaniel Villa
Nathaniel Villa

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