Microsoft Defender: “Managed by your administrator” or “Your IT administrator has limited access”

In the aftermath of a malware attack, the Windows Defender Security settings page may show the message Some settings are managed by your organization or This setting is managed by your administrator. The real-time protection and cloud-based protection options may remain disabled or grayed out.

Here is what the Windows Defender Settings page might look like. The controls for real-time protection, cloud-based protection, and Automatic sample submission options may be disabled and locked down or grayed out.

If you’ve installed a 3rd party anti-virus, Windows Defender gets disabled automatically. It’s normal. In that case, you’ll see the message “You’re using other antivirus providers.” instead.

If Microsoft Defender group policies or registry-based policy settings are in effect, the following error appears when opening the Security at a glance page:

Page not available

Your IT administrator has limited access to some areas of this app, and the item you tried to access is not available. Contact IT helpdesk for more information.

Virus & Threat Protection is Missing?

In some situations, the Virus & threat protection section may be missing. The Virus & threat protection section in the Windows Security user interface lets you configure every aspect of the Microsoft Defender Antivirus — such as real-time protection, tamper protection, ransomware protection, Controlled folder access, and other important settings.

Malware and viruses may add registry entries that hide the Virus & threat protection section from the user interface. This is caused by some registry-based Policy settings. (Jump to this part.)

This post tells you how to activate Microsoft Defender real-time protection and other settings by removing the entire Microsoft Defender Antivirus registry-based policies previously added by malware, a 3rd party tweaker, or a privacy protection tool. The “Virus & Threat Protection” section should also be restored automatically after removing all the Policies.

Cause

Third-party privacy protection tools

If you have used third-party anti-spy tools such as O&O ShutUp, make sure you reset all “Windows Defender and Microsoft SpyNet” settings in that program.

Connected to Domain/Azure AD?

If you’ve connected your computer to a domain or work/school account, please contact your IT administrator or disconnect the system from the work/school account.

Or disconnect from your Work/School/Azure AD by opening Settings → Accounts → Access work or school and click on your Azure AD account, and click Disconnect.

Malware?

Malware can add registry entries that disable the real-time monitoring capabilities of Windows Defender, and also hide certain parts of the Windows Defender user interface from users.

First, make sure you eliminate malware with help from an expert or friend — given the complexity of the malware infestation, professional help may be suggested. You may also try Windows Defender Offline. in addition.

The malware removal procedure is complex and is beyond the scope of this article. After eradicating the malware, remove the registry-based policy settings added by malware.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\UX Configuration]
Value: UILockdown

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Virus and threat protection]
Value: UILockdown

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Policy Manager]
Value: AllowUserUIAccess

Remove All the Microsoft Defender Policies

Option 1: Remove Microsoft Defender Registry-based Policies

Automate the following registry modifications using defender-policies-remove.reg (zipped). Unzip and run the enclosed REG file. After running it, you may want to open the Registry Editor to ensure the “Windows Defender” Policies key doesn’t exist. Once done, restart Windows for the changes to take effect. If you’re unable to apply the above registry file, launch Windows in Safe Mode and try merging the file again.

To manually remove Microsoft Defender Antivirus policies using Regedit:

1. Start the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and go to the following branch:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

2. Export the branch to a .reg file.
3. Right-click “Windows Defender” and choose Delete.

   

4. Similarly, backup the following branch (if exists) to a .reg file:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Advanced Threat Protection

5. Delete the “Windows Advanced Threat Protection” key.
6. Next, backup the following branch (if exists) to a .reg file:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center

7. Delete the “Windows Defender Security Center” key.
8. Exit the Registry Editor.
9. Restart Windows.

Note that this completely clears the policy settings for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Windows Security page. By default, in a clean installation of Windows, no policies are set for Defender.

After removing all the policies, you may want to enable PUA or adware protection in Windows Defender. If you had already enabled the setting before, you’d need to redo the procedure now.

Option 2: Remove Windows Defender Policies using Group Policy Editor

If you have previously enabled Defender Policies using gpedit.msc (Windows 10/11 Professional or higher editions), you’ll need to use the same tool to remove the policies. The relevant Microsoft Defender Antivirus Group Policies are available in the following branch of the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Security

Note that in earlier versions of Windows 10, the policy settings would be located under “Windows Defender” instead of “Microsoft Defender Antivirus”.

There are 100+ policy settings in Windows 10/11, with the items in every sub-branch put together.

Running the Resultant Set of Policy utility (Rsop.msc) or gpresult /h <path>\gpreport.html command shows you which policies are currently enabled.

You need to make sure they’re set to “Not configured.”

Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Allow antimalware service to startup with normal priority
Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists
Turn off routine remediation
Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
Define addresses to bypass proxy server
Define proxy auto-config (.pac) for connecting to the network
Define proxy server for connecting to the network
Randomize scheduled task times
Configure detection for potentially unwanted applications
Allow antimalware service to remain running always

Also, check the following sub-branches in the above location, and set each policy setting to “Not configured.”

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Client Interface

Display additional text to clients when they need to perform an action
Suppress all notifications
Suppresses reboot notifications
Enable headless UI mode

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Device Control

Define device control policy groups
Define device control policy rules

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Exclusions

Turn off Auto Exclusions
Extension Exclusions
Path Exclusions
Process Exclusions

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\MAPS

Configure the 'Block at First Sight' feature
Join Microsoft MAPS
Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS
Send file samples when further analysis is required

Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard\Attack Surface Reduction

Exclude files and paths from Attack Surface Reduction Rules
Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules

Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access

Configure allowed applications
Configure Controlled folder access
Configure protected folders

Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection

Prevent users and apps from accessing dangerous websites

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\MpEngine

Enable file hash computation feature
Configure extended cloud check
Select cloud protection level

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Network Inspection System

Turn on definition retirement
Specify additional definition sets for network traffic inspection
Turn on protocol recognition

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Quarantine

Configure local setting override for the removal of items from Quarantine folder
Configure removal of items from Quarantine folder

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Real-time Protection

Turn off real-time protection
Turn on behavior monitoring
Scan all downloaded files and attachments
Monitor file and program activity on your computer
Turn on raw volume write notifications
Turn on process scanning whenever real-time protection is enabled
Define the maximum size of downloaded files and attachments to be scanned
Configure local setting override for turn on behavior monitoring
Configure local setting override for scanning all downloaded files and attachments
Configure local setting override for monitoring file and program activity on your computer
Configure local setting override to turn on real-time protection
Configure local setting override for monitoring for incoming and outgoing file activity
Configure monitoring for incoming and outgoing file and program activity

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Remediation

Configure local setting override for the time of day to run a scheduled full scan to complete remediation
Specify the day of the week to run a scheduled full scan to complete remediation
Specify the time of day to run a scheduled full scan to complete remediation

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Reporting

Configure time out for detections requiring additional action
Configure time out for detections in critically failed state
Turn off enhanced notifications
Configure Watson events
Configure time out for detections in non-critical failed state
Configure time out for detections in recently remediated state
Configure Windows software trace preprocessor components
Configure WPP tracing level

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Scan

Check for the latest virus and spyware security intellgence before running a scheduled scan
Allow users to pause scan
Specify the maximum depth to scan archive files
Specify the maximum size of archive files to be scanned
Specify the maximum percentage of CPU utilization during a scan
Scan archive files
Turn on catch-up full scan
Turn on catch-up quick scan
Turn on e-mail scanning
Turn on heuristics
Scan packed executables
Scan removable drives
Turn on reparse point scanning
Create a system restore point
Run full scan on mapped network drives
Scan network files
Configure local setting override for maximum percentage of CPU utilization
Configure local setting override for the scan type to use for a scheduled scan
Configure local setting override for schedule scan day
Configure local setting override for scheduled quick scan time
Configure local setting override for scheduled scan time
Configure low CPU priority for scheduled scans
Define the number of days after which a catch-up scan is forced
Turn on removal of items from scan history folder
Specify the interval to run quick scans per day
Start the scheduled scan only when computer is on but not in use
Specify the scan type to use for a scheduled scan
Specify the day of the week to run a scheduled scan
Specify the time for a daily quick scan
Specify the time of day to run a scheduled scan

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Security Intelligence Updates

Define the number of days before spyware security intelligence is considered out of date
Define the number of days before virus security intelligence is considered out of date
Define file shares for downloading security intelligence updates
Turn on scan after security intelligence update
Allow security intelligence updates when running on battery power
Initiate security intelligence update on startup
Define the order of sources for downloading security intelligence updates
Allow security intelligence updates from Microsoft Update
Allow real-time security intelligence updates based on reports to Microsoft MAPS
Specify the day of the week to check for security intelligence updates
Specify the time to check for security intelligence updates
Define security intelligence location for VDI clients
Allow notifications to disable security intelligence based reports to Microsoft MAPS
Define the number of days after which a catch-up security intelligence update is required
Specify the interval to check for security intelligence updates
Check for the latest virus and spyware security intelligence on startup

Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Threats

Specify threats upon which default action should not be taken when detected
Specify threat alert levels at which default action should not be taken when detected

Windows Components\Windows Security\Account Protection

Hide the Account protection area

Windows Components\Windows Security\App and browser protection

Prevent users from modifying settings
Hide the App and browser protection area

Windows Components\Windows Security\Device performance and health

Hide the Device performance and health area

Windows Components\Windows Security\Device performance and health

Disable the Clear TPM button
Hide the TPM Firmware Update recommendation
Hide the Secure boot area
Hide the Security processor (TPM) troubleshooter page
Hide the Device security area

Windows Components\Windows Security\Enterprise Customization

Specify contact company name
Specify contact email address or Email ID
Configure customized notifications
Configure customized contact information
Specify contact phone number or Skype ID
Specify contact website

Windows Components\Windows Security\Family options

Hide the Family options area

Windows Components\Windows Security\Firewall and network protection

Hide the Firewall and network protection area

Windows Components\Windows Security\Notifications

Hide non-critical notifications
Hide all notifications

Windows Components\Windows Security\Systray

Hide Windows Security systray

Windows Components\Windows Security\Virus and threat protection

Hide the Ransomware data recovery area
Hide the Virus and threat protection area

If some of them already read as “Not configured”, set it to “Enable, click Apply and set it back to “Not configured.” This is to clear the registry values successfully.

Last updated on 17-Aug-2022 for Windows 10 21H2.