Are you having any issues with your antivirus software while changing to Windows 11? If you get the error “You are using other antivirus providers” on Windows 11, it implies that Windows 11 has identified a conflict between the installed antivirus software and the system’s built-in Windows Defender. You might be unable to use several Windows 11 functions due to this problem, which also poses a security risk to your computer. The solution to the issue and instructions for securing your Windows 11 device are provided in this post.
Solutions to Fix Error “You are using other antivirus providers” in Windows 11
Let’s first analyze the meaning of the error message before moving on to possible remedies. Windows Defender is immediately disabled when a third-party antivirus program is installed on a Windows 11 system. This is because having two antivirus programs running simultaneously can cause conflicts, and neither of them can work effectively. Even after you uninstalled your third-party antivirus programme, Windows 11 may still be able to detect its services since they may not have been totally stopped. The error notice “You are using other antivirus providers” could appear on your device in such circumstances.
There are several solutions you can try to fix the “You are using other antivirus providers” error on your Windows 11 device. Let’s discuss them one by one:
Solution 1: Uninstall Your Third-Party Antivirus Software
The primary remedy is to remove the third-party antivirus program that is incompatible with Windows Defender.
Follow these steps to accomplish this:
- Use your keyboard’s Windows key and X to exit.
- Select “Apps and Features” from the menu.
- Find and click on your third-party antivirus program in the list of installed programmes.
- Click the “Uninstall” button and adhere to the on-screen directions to fully remove the software from your device.
- Restart your device and check if the error message is gone.
Solution 2: Use the Antivirus Removal Tool
It’s possible that parts of your third-party antivirus program’s background services are still active if you’ve already removed it but are still seeing the error message. In such circumstances, you can completely delete the program from your computer by using the antivirus removal application offered by the software developer.
How you do it is as follows:
- Visit the website of the manufacturer of your antivirus program.
- Download the antivirus removal tool for your software and save it on your device.
- Run the removal tool and follow to the instructions to completely erase the program from your device.
- Restart your device and check if the error message is gone.
Solution 3: Disable Windows Defender
You might decide to disable Windows Defender and just use the third-party antivirus program if you use it and trust it more than Windows Defender. How to do it is as follows:
- Press the Windows key and R on your keyboard to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type “gpedit.msc” in the text field and press Enter.
- Go to “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Windows Components” > “Windows Defender Antivirus”.
- Double-click on the “Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus” policy.
- Select the “Enabled” option and click on “Apply” and then “OK”.
- Restart your device and check if the error message is gone.
Conclusion
The “You are using other antivirus providers” error message can be frustrating, but it is relatively easy to fix. By implementing the aforementioned fixes, you can make sure that Windows Defender and your antivirus program work in harmony to safeguard your Windows 11 device.
