This article provides an alternate method to set the exclusion for Windows Defender.
The method uses group policy which only implements in Windows Pro or higher version.
Press Win + R
, type in gpedit.msc
then Press enter.
You’ll need administrator privilege to do this.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows .PNG Group PolicyComponents > Windows Defender Antivirus > Exclusions
Added your exclusions to the corresponding keys on the right.
In this example, the network location is added to exclusion to prevent the files on the cloud from being accidentally deleted by MSE.
The exclusion you add will show in MSD list and the only way to remove it is to delete it in the group policy.
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