Software & Apps > Windows Exclude Programs From Windows DEP (Data Execution Prevention) DEP can cause conflicts with legitimate Windows programs By Mary Landesman Mary Landesman Writer Brevard College Mary Landesman is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a security expert. She was named as one of the women to watch in IT security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 25, 2020 Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Trending Videos Close this video player Data Execution Prevention is a security feature intended to prevent damage to your computer. Sometimes, however, DEP can cause conflicts with legitimate programs. If this happens to you, here's how to disable Windows DEP for specific applications. Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, 8, and 7. What Is Data Execution Prevention? Microsoft introduced Data Execution Prevention to the Windows operating system beginning with Windows XP. DEP raises an exception if it detects code loading from the default heap or stack. Because this behavior is indicative of malicious code, DEP protects the browser against attacks by preventing suspicious code from running. Older, non-Microsoft programs that rely on Windows Services are most likely to be flagged by DEP. To run such programs, you must either create an exception in your system settings or disable DEP altogether. Outdated device drivers may also cause DEP errors. How to Disable Windows DEP for Specific Applications To exclude certain programs from Windows DEP: Open Windows Control Panel and select System and Security. Select System. Select Advanced system settings. Select the Advanced tab in the System Properties window that opens and then select Settings under Performance. Select the Data Execution Prevention tab and select Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select. To disable DEP for most programs, select Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only. Select Add and choose the programs you want to exclude. It is not possible to exclude 64-bit programs from Windows DEP. Most conflicts are caused by 32-bit programs. Select Apply and OK. You must restart your computer for changes to take effect. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit