# How to Add File / Folder Exclusion using Group Policy Editor

This article explains how to "manually add folders and files to Windows Defender exclusions list using Group Policy Editor". Follow steps below:
## Steps to Add File / Folder Exclusion using Group Policy Editor

1. Press **Win+R** on your keyboard, type "**gpedit.msc**" in the input field then hit Enter key / **OK** to open **Local Group Policy Editor**.
2. Once opened, on the left-hand side navigate the folder tree to
"**Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus > Exclusions**".
3. On the right-hand side, you will see "**Path Exclusion**", double click it.
4. A window will appear, click "**Enabled**", then click "**Show...**" button under the Options pane.
5. A window will appear, double click on left empty column under "Value name", input the path to folder or file you want to exclude from Windows Defender protection e.g. "**D:\Downloads**". Then on the right empty column under "Value", input "**0**". You can keep adding folders/files on next row. Like image below.
6. Click **OK**.
7. Click **Apply**, then **OK**.
8. **Done**! you can safely close everything now.

The folders / files will be excluded from Windows Defender protection. Now you can run, open, extract "suspicious" files that previously auto-deleted/quarantined by Windows Defender under those folders.

Note: please carefully make sure the file you are trying to use is safe because Windows Defender will no longer check it for you, do this at your own risk.

## Why do you need to "manually add folders and files to Windows Defender exclusions list using Group Policy Editor"
This is useful on solving the following scenarios/issues you might encounter:

- How to solve: Error Code 0x800700E1 Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus or potentially unwanted software. While copying some files that you belive is safe, and want to run anyway.
- How to solve: Unable to to disable Windows Defender when trying to force run a file that is blocked/deleted/quarantined by Windows Defender.

You [have tried disabling Windows Defender](https://www.howto-connect.com/error-code-0x800700e1-operation-did-not-complete-successfully-windows-10/) in different ways (regedit, gpedit, etc.), tried to add exclusions from [Windows Defender control panel UI](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/add-an-exclusion-to-windows-security-811816c0-4dfd-af4a-47e4-c301afe13b26), and all of them still fails.

So the solution is to "manually add folders and files to Windows Defender exclusions list using Group Policy Editor" explained in this article.