Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can add a trusted file or folder to Norton’s exclusions list, but doing so means Norton may no longer scan that item as it otherwise would. Only make an exception when you are confident the item is safe. Norton warns that creating an exception for something it considers malicious is a security risk and is not recommended.
Before you exclude anything
If Norton flags a file or app you believe is legitimate, an exclusion should not be your first response. Update Norton’s definitions and investigate or report a suspected false positive before reducing protection. Norton’s guidance on repeated detections says, “Please be aware that doing so is a security risk and we don’t recommend it,” referring to an exception for an item Norton considers malicious. Norton Support: repeated Norton detections.
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The steps below apply to the current Norton device-security interface described by Norton Support. Menu wording can vary by app version or language; Norton’s Windows instructions also differ on whether the final confirmation button says “Save” or “Add.”
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Exclude a file or folder on Windows
- Open Norton device security.
- Select Security in the left pane.
- Go to Advanced Security > Computer > Antivirus.
- In the Antivirus window, open Exclusions and choose Add.
- Select the file or folder you want to exclude, then use the confirmation control shown in your version of Norton to save or add it.
Norton’s current Windows guidance is available in its articles on incorrect Norton alerts and repeated detections.
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Exclude a file or folder on Mac
- Open Norton device security and select Security.
- In the Security dashboard’s Scans tile, choose Open.
- Open Exclusions and choose Add exclusion.
- Select the file or folder, then choose Open.
These Mac steps are documented in Norton’s instructions for responding to incorrect alerts.
Remove an exclusion
To restore scanning for an item, return to the Exclusions list. Hover over the entry and click its delete X. Norton documents this removal control for both Windows and Mac in its file and folder exclusion instructions.
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What an exclusion does—and what it does not do
Use the Exclusions list for the file or folder scan workflow above. Do not confuse it with a Safe Web exception for a website, a signature exclusion, or an exclusion from cloud backup; those are different settings and are not the procedure described here.
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