Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 automatically enrolls you in certain exclusions, as defined by your specified server role. These exclusions do not appear in the standard exclusion lists that are shown in the Windows Security app.
In addition to server role-defined automatic exclusions, you can add or remove custom exclusions. To do that, refer to these articles:
- Configure and validate exclusions based on file name, extension, and folder location
- Configure and validate exclusions for files opened by processes
A few points to keep in mind
Keep the following important points in mind:
- Custom exclusions take precedence over automatic exclusions.
- Automatic exclusions only apply to Real-time protection (RTP) scanning. Automatic exclusions are not honored during a full, quick, or on-demand scan.
- Custom and duplicate exclusions do not conflict with automatic exclusions.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus uses the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools to determine which roles are installed on your computer.
- Automatic exclusions for server roles don’t work on Windows Server 2012 R2 unless those servers are onboarded to Defender for Endpoint. (See Onboard Windows servers to the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint service.)
This article provides an overview of exclusions for Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows Server 2016 or later.
Because Microsoft Defender Antivirus is built into Windows Server 2016 and later, exclusions for operating system files and server roles happen automatically. However, you can define custom exclusions. You can also opt out of automatic exclusions if necessary.
This article includes the following sections:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic exclusions on Windows Server 2016 or later | Describes the two main types of automatic exclusions and includes a detailed list of automatic exclusions |
| Opting out of automatic exclusions | Includes important considerations and procedures describing how to opt out of automatic exclusions |
| Defining custom exclusions | Provides links to how-to information for defining custom exclusions |
Automatic exclusions on Windows Server 2016 or later
On Windows Server 2016 or later, you should not need to define the following exclusions:
- Operating system files
- Server roles and any files that are added through server roles
Because Microsoft Defender Antivirus is built in, it does not require exclusions for operating system files on Windows Server 2016 or later. In addition, when you run Windows Server 2016 or later and install a role, Microsoft Defender Antivirus includes automatic exclusions for the server role and any files that are added while installing the role.
Operating system exclusions and server role exclusions do not appear in the standard exclusion lists that are shown in the Windows Security app.
Note
Automatic exclusions for server roles and operating system files do not apply to Windows Server 2012. Automatic exclusions can apply if your servers running Windows Server 2012 R2 are onboarded to Defender for Endpoint. (See Onboard Windows servers to the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint service.)
The list of automatic exclusions
The following sections contain the exclusions that are delivered with automatic exclusions file paths and file types.
Default exclusions for all roles
This section lists the default exclusions for all roles in Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022.
Note
The default locations could be different than what’s listed in this article.
Windows “temp.edb” files
%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\tmp.edb%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\windows.edb
Windows Update files or Automatic Update files
%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\Datastore.edb%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\edb.chk%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\edb\*.log%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\Edb\*.jrs%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\*\Res\*.log
Windows Security files
%windir%\Security\database\*.chk%windir%\Security\database\*.edb%windir%\Security\database\*.jrs%windir%\Security\database\*.log%windir%\Security\database\*.sdb
Group Policy files
%allusersprofile%\NTUser.pol%SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\registry.pol%SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy\User\registry.pol
WINS files
%systemroot%\System32\Wins\*\*.chk%systemroot%\System32\Wins\*\*.log%systemroot%\System32\Wins\*\*.mdb%systemroot%\System32\LogFiles\%systemroot%\SysWow64\LogFiles\
File Replication Service (FRS) exclusions
- Files in the File Replication Service (FRS) working folder. The FRS working folder is specified in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\Working Directory%windir%\Ntfrs\jet\sys\*\edb.chk%windir%\Ntfrs\jet\*\Ntfrs.jdb%windir%\Ntfrs\jet\log\*\*.log
- FRS Database log files. The FRS Database log file folder is specified in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ntfrs\Parameters\DB Log File Directory%windir%\Ntfrs\*\Edb\*.log
- The FRS staging folder. The staging folder is specified in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NtFrs\Parameters\Replica Sets\GUID\Replica Set Stage%systemroot%\Sysvol\*\Ntfrs_cmp*\
- The FRS preinstall folder. This folder is specified by the folder
Replica_root\DO_NOT_REMOVE_NtFrs_PreInstall_Directory%systemroot%\SYSVOL\domain\DO_NOT_REMOVE_NtFrs_PreInstall_Directory\*\Ntfrs*\
- The Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) database and working folders. These folders are specified by the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\DFSR\Parameters\Replication Groups\GUID\Replica Set Configuration FileNote
For custom locations, see Opting out of automatic exclusions.
%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\$db_normal$%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\FileIDTable_*%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\SimilarityTable_*%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\*.XML%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\$db_dirty$%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\$db_clean$%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\$db_lostl$%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\Dfsr.db%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\*.frx%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\*.log%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\Fsr*.jrs%systemdrive%\System Volume Information\DFSR\Tmp.edb
Process exclusions
%systemroot%\System32\dfsr.exe%systemroot%\System32\dfsrs.exe
Hyper-V exclusions
The following table lists the file type exclusions, folder exclusions, and process exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the Hyper-V role.
| Exclusion type | Specifics |
|---|---|
| File types | *.vhd*.vhdx*.avhd*.avhdx*.vsv*.iso*.rct*.vmcx*.vmrs |
| Folders | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Hyper-V%ProgramFiles%\Hyper-V%SystemDrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Hyper-V\Snapshots%Public%\Documents\Hyper-V\Virtual Hard Disks |
| Processes | %systemroot%\System32\Vmms.exe%systemroot%\System32\Vmwp.exe |
SYSVOL files
%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.adm%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.admx%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.adml%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\Registry.pol%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.aas%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.inf%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*Scripts.ini%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\*.ins%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain\Oscfilter.ini
Active Directory exclusions
This section lists the exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
NTDS database files
The database files are specified in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters\DSA Database File
%windir%\Ntds\ntds.dit%windir%\Ntds\ntds.pat
The AD DS transaction log files
The transaction log files are specified in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters\Database Log Files Path
%windir%\Ntds\EDB*.log%windir%\Ntds\Res*.log%windir%\Ntds\Edb*.jrs%windir%\Ntds\Ntds*.pat%windir%\Ntds\TEMP.edb
The NTDS working folder
This folder is specified in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters\DSA Working Directory
%windir%\Ntds\Temp.edb%windir%\Ntds\Edb.chk
Process exclusions for AD DS and AD DS-related support files
%systemroot%\System32\ntfrs.exe%systemroot%\System32\lsass.exe
DHCP Server exclusions
This section lists the exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the DHCP Server role. The DHCP Server file locations are specified by the DatabasePath, DhcpLogFilePath, and BackupDatabasePath parameters in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCPServer\Parameters
%systemroot%\System32\DHCP\*\*.mdb%systemroot%\System32\DHCP\*\*.pat%systemroot%\System32\DHCP\*\*.log%systemroot%\System32\DHCP\*\*.chk%systemroot%\System32\DHCP\*\*.edb
DNS Server exclusions
This section lists the file and folder exclusions and the process exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the DNS Server role.
File and folder exclusions for the DNS Server role
%systemroot%\System32\Dns\*\*.log%systemroot%\System32\Dns\*\*.dns%systemroot%\System32\Dns\*\*.scc%systemroot%\System32\Dns\*\BOOT
Process exclusions for the DNS Server role
%systemroot%\System32\dns.exe
File and Storage Services exclusions
This section lists the file and folder exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the File and Storage Services role. The exclusions listed below do not include exclusions for the Clustering role.
%SystemDrive%\ClusterStorage%clusterserviceaccount%\Local Settings\Temp%SystemDrive%\mscs
Print Server exclusions
This section lists the file type exclusions, folder exclusions, and the process exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the Print Server role.
File type exclusions
*.shd*.spl
Folder exclusions
This folder is specified in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\DefaultSpoolDirectory
%system32%\spool\printers\*
Process exclusions
spoolsv.exe
Web Server exclusions
This section lists the folder exclusions and the process exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the Web Server role.
Folder exclusions
%SystemRoot%\IIS Temporary Compressed Files%SystemDrive%\inetpub\temp\IIS Temporary Compressed Files%SystemDrive%\inetpub\temp\ASP Compiled Templates%systemDrive%\inetpub\logs%systemDrive%\inetpub\wwwroot
Process exclusions
%SystemRoot%\system32\inetsrv\w3wp.exe%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\inetsrv\w3wp.exe%SystemDrive%\PHP5433\php-cgi.exe
Turning off scanning of files in the Sysvol\Sysvol folder or the SYSVOL_DFSR\Sysvol folder
The current location of the Sysvol\Sysvol or SYSVOL_DFSR\Sysvol folder and all the subfolders is the file system reparse target of the replica set root. The Sysvol\Sysvol and SYSVOL_DFSR\Sysvol folders use the following locations by default:
%systemroot%\Sysvol\Domain%systemroot%\Sysvol_DFSR\Domain
The path to the currently active SYSVOL is referenced by the NETLOGON share and can be determined by the SysVol value name in the following subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Netlogon\Parameters
Exclude the following files from this folder and all its subfolders:
*.adm*.admx*.admlRegistry.polRegistry.tmp*.aas*.infScripts.ini*.insOscfilter.ini
Windows Server Update Services exclusions
This section lists the folder exclusions that are delivered automatically when you install the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) role. The WSUS folder is specified in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Update Services\Server\Setup
%systemroot%\WSUS\WSUSContent%systemroot%\WSUS\UpdateServicesDBFiles%systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore%systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download
Opting out of automatic exclusions
In Windows Server 2016 and later, the predefined exclusions delivered by Security intelligence updates only exclude the default paths for a role or feature. If you installed a role or feature in a custom path, or you want to manually control the set of exclusions, make sure to opt out of the automatic exclusions delivered in Security intelligence updates. But keep in mind that the exclusions that are delivered automatically are optimized for Windows Server 2016 and later. See Recommendations for defining exclusions before defining your exclusion lists.
Warning
Opting out of automatic exclusions may adversely impact performance, or result in data corruption. The exclusions that are delivered automatically are optimized for Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022 roles.
Because predefined exclusions only exclude default paths, if you move NTDS and SYSVOL folders to another drive or path that is different from the original path, you must add exclusions manually. See Configure the list of exclusions based on folder name or file extension.
You can disable the automatic exclusion lists with Group Policy, PowerShell cmdlets, and WMI.
Use Group Policy to disable the auto-exclusions list on Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022
- On your Group Policy management computer, open the Group Policy Management Console. Right-click the Group Policy Object you want to configure, and then select Edit.
- In the Group Policy Management Editor go to Computer configuration, and then select Administrative templates.
- Expand the tree to Windows components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus > Exclusions.
- Double-click Turn off Auto Exclusions, and set the option to Enabled. Then select OK.
Use PowerShell cmdlets to disable the auto-exclusions list on Windows Server
Use the following cmdlets:
Set-MpPreference -DisableAutoExclusions $true
To learn more, see the following resources:
- Use PowerShell cmdlets to configure and run Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
- Use PowerShell with Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
Use Windows Management Instruction (WMI) to disable the auto-exclusions list on Windows Server
Use the Set method of the MSFT_MpPreference class for the following properties:
DisableAutoExclusions
See the following for more information and allowed parameters: