By default, Microsoft Defender Antivirus settings that are deployed via a Group Policy Object to the endpoints in your network will prevent users from locally changing the settings. You can change this in some instances.
For example, it may be necessary to allow certain user groups (such as security researchers and threat investigators) further control over individual settings on the endpoints they use.
Configure local overrides for Microsoft Defender Antivirus settings
The default setting for these policies is Disabled.
If they are set to Enabled, users on endpoints can make changes to the associated setting with the Windows Security app, local Group Policy settings, and PowerShell cmdlets (where appropriate).
The following table lists each of the override policy setting and the configuration instructions for the associated feature or setting.
To configure these settings:
- On your Group Policy management computer, open the Group Policy Management Console, right-click the Group Policy Object you want to configure and click Edit.
- In the Group Policy Management Editor go to Computer configuration and click Administrative templates.
- Expand the tree to Windows components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus and then the Location specified in the table of settings (in this article).
- Double-click the policy Setting as specified in the table below, and set the option to your desired configuration. Click OK, and repeat for any other settings.
- Deploy the Group Policy Object as usual.
Table of settings
| Location | Setting | Article |
|---|---|---|
| MAPS | Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS | Enable cloud-delivered protection |
| Quarantine | Configure local setting override for the removal of items from Quarantine folder | Configure remediation for scans |
| Real-time protection | Configure local setting override for monitoring file and program activity on your computer | Enable and configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus always-on protection and monitoring |
| Real-time protection | Configure local setting override for monitoring for incoming and outgoing file activity | Enable and configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus always-on protection and monitoring |
| Real-time protection | Configure local setting override for scanning all downloaded files and attachments | Enable and configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus always-on protection and monitoring |
| Real-time protection | Configure local setting override for turn on behavior monitoring | Enable and configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus always-on protection and monitoring |
| Real-time protection | Configure local setting override to turn on real-time protection | Enable and configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus always-on protection and monitoring |
| Remediation | Configure local setting override for the time of day to run a scheduled full scan to complete remediation | Configure remediation for scans |
| Scan | Configure local setting override for maximum percentage of CPU utilization | Configure and run scans |
| Scan | Configure local setting override for schedule scan day | Configure scheduled scans |
| Scan | Configure local setting override for scheduled quick scan time | Configure scheduled scans |
| Scan | Configure local setting override for scheduled scan time | Configure scheduled scans |
| Scan | Configure local setting override for the scan type to use for a scheduled scan | Configure scheduled scans |
Configure how locally and globally defined threat remediation and exclusions lists are merged
You can also configure how locally defined lists are combined or merged with globally defined lists. This setting applies to exclusion lists, specified remediation lists, and attack surface reduction.
By default, lists that have been configured in local group policy and the Windows Security app are merged with lists that are defined by the appropriate Group Policy Object that you have deployed on your network. Where there are conflicts, the globally-defined list takes precedence.
You can disable this setting to ensure that only globally-defined lists (such as those from any deployed GPOs) are used.
Use Group Policy to disable local list merging
- On your Group Policy management computer, open the Group Policy Management Console, right-click the Group Policy Object you want to configure and click Edit.
- In the Group Policy Management Editor go to Computer configuration and click Administrative templates.
- Expand the tree to Windows components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
- Double-click Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists and set the option to Disabled. Click OK.
Note
If you disable local list merging, it will override controlled folder access settings. It also overrides any protected folders or allowed apps set by the local administrator. For more information about controlled folder access settings, see Allow a blocked app in Windows Security.