GuideGetting started

Windows Defender exclusions

Why the scanner flags a tweaking tool, and the two exclusions to add before you start.

Why Defender flags the utility

The Adamx Tweaking Utility configures Windows in ways that Windows Defender's heuristic scanner can't tell apart from malware doing the same thing; disabling security mitigation features such as Memory Integrity, DEP, ASLR, modifying the Windows Registry, and executing commands that modify system behavior, and so Windows Defender may flag the installer or the running app as a virus which may result in the application getting deleted or blocked from installation completely.

So it's recommended to add the utility's installer and app files as exclusions in Windows Defender once before you start so you don't face any of these issues. You may also completely disable Windows Defender if you prefer doing so to reduce its usage of system resources like CPU, RAM, and disk, using software like Sordum's dControl, but keep in mind that doing so puts your system at risk and keeps it more vulnerable to malicious software.

If you do disable Defender, also turn off Smart App Control on the Mitigations tab. With SAC on but Defender off, app launches and installs can hang for minutes while Windows waits on a validation provider that no longer exists.

Add two Windows Defender exclusions

Open Start → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings, scroll to Exclusions → Add or remove exclusions, then add both. The exact paths depend on which installer you used, the .msi or the .exe:

  1. The downloaded setup file. Click Add an exclusion → File and pick the installer you downloaded (usually in Downloads folder):
    MSI: %UserProfile%\Downloads\Adamx_Tweaking_Utility-Setup.msi
    EXE: %UserProfile%\Downloads\Adamx_Tweaking_Utility-Setup.exe
  2. The install folder. Click Add an exclusion → Folder and pick the one matching your installer:
    MSI: %ProgramFiles%\Adamx_Tweaking_Utility\ (e.g. C:\Program Files\Adamx_Tweaking_Utility\)
    EXE: %LocalAppData%\Adamx_Tweaking_Utility\

Done with the exclusions? Head back to the setup checklist or start with the General tab.