How to Add a Game to Antivirus Exclusions on Windows

Antivirus programs scan every file that your game accesses in real time. This can cause two types of problems: false positives (where a legitimate game executable is quarantined) and performance hits (where constant scanning causes stuttering or long loading times). Adding your game folder to the exclusion list tells the antivirus to skip it entirely.

Windows Defender (Windows Security)

1. 1
   Press Win + S and search for Windows Security. Open it.
2. 2

   Go to Virus & threat protection → under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.

3. 3
   Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or remove exclusions.
4. 4

   Click Add an exclusion → Folder, then browse to your game's install directory (for example C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\GameName).

5. 5

   Confirm the folder. Defender will skip it in all future scans and real-time protection.

Malwarebytes

1. 1
   Open Malwarebytes and click the Settings gear icon.
2. 2
   Go to the Allow List tab.
3. 3
   Click Add, choose Allow a folder, and browse to the game directory.

Avast / AVG

1. 1
   Open Avast (or AVG) and go to Menu → Settings.
2. 2
   Navigate to General → Exceptions.
3. 3
   Click Add Exception, browse to the game folder, and confirm.

Bitdefender

1. 1
   Open Bitdefender and go to Protection → Antivirus → Settings.
2. 2
   Click Manage Exceptions.
3. 3

   Click Add an exception, enter the game folder path, and select which modules to exclude (scan, access, behavior).

After adding the exclusion

1. Restore quarantined files — check your antivirus quarantine/history and restore any game files that were blocked.
2. Verify game files in your launcher (Steam / Epic / GOG) so the launcher re-downloads anything that was deleted.
3. Launch the game and check whether the issue is resolved.