Microsoft Defender, built into Windows, is a reliable antivirus but has some drawbacks: a complex settings interface and hidden features unavailable to most users. DefenderUI is a free utility that simplifies managing Microsoft Defender settings by providing access to all features in one place. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at how to use it.
DefenderUI editions and installation
DefenderUI is available in two versions:
1) Free — a free edition with most features suitable for standard users.
2) Pro — an edition with additional capabilities, which will also remain free until 2025.
You can download DefenderUI from the official website or directly from our server:
Installing DefenderUI Free is straightforward. After installation, the utility launches automatically. On first launch, you’ll be prompted to choose a security profile. The following profiles are available:
Recommended — for most users.
Interactive — requires user participation.
Aggressive — maximum protection.
Default — standard Microsoft Defender settings.
You can change the profile in the application title bar. After that, you’ll be taken to the main interface.
Overview of DefenderUI Free tabs
1) Main — manage protection modules, start scans, configure DefenderUI autorun, manage exclusions, work with files in quarantine, and adjust basic settings. Each option has a description you can view by clicking the “i” icon.
2) Basic — security, privacy, notification, and sample submission settings.
3) Advanced — configure CPU load, scanning parameters, and automatic actions when threats are detected.
4) ASR Rules — manage Attack Surface Reduction rules. By default, all rules are disabled.
5) DefenderGuard — control enabling/disabling protection modules. For example, disabled features may automatically re-enable after 15 minutes, but this interval can be changed or re-enabling can be prevented.
6) Context Menu — quick access to Microsoft Defender actions via the DefenderUI tray icon.
All changes to settings are applied immediately. If needed, you can save custom profiles.
DefenderUI Pro
The Pro version adds the “Lockdown” tab, which allows you to:
Configure “Kernel Lockdown” for additional protection.
Manage WDAC (Windows Defender Application Control) behavior.
The Pro version also includes a built-in WDAC policy editor optimized for DefenderUI, as well as an extended context menu not available in the free version. These features can be useful for system administrators.
And the tray icon context menu differs from the Free version and includes additional items.
Advantages of DefenderUI
DefenderUI significantly simplifies working with Microsoft Defender settings. The utility lets you easily manage parameters that in the standard interface require using PowerShell or manual policy editing. For everyday users, the Free version is sufficiently capable, while the Pro version can be useful in more advanced scenarios.
If you need convenient access to Microsoft Defender settings or want to use the antivirus’s hidden features, DefenderUI is an excellent choice.
