py-win-mp-exclude

py-win-mp-exclude

py-win-mp-exclude is a Windows package for adding, removing, and listing Microsoft Defender path exclusions from a CLI, a small GUI, or Python code.

The tool uses PowerShell's Defender cmdlets:

• Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath
• Remove-MpPreference -ExclusionPath
• Get-MpPreference

When a CLI subcommand or the GUI starts without administrator privileges, the program relaunches itself once through py-admin-launch. A hidden startup flag prevents repeated elevation attempts. --dry-run commands only print the PowerShell script and do not request elevation.

Installation

pip install py-win-mp-exclude

CLI

Add a file or folder exclusion:

win-mp-exclude add C:\path\to\file.exe
win-mp-exclude add C:\path\to\folder

Remove a file or folder exclusion:

win-mp-exclude remove C:\path\to\file.exe
win-mp-exclude remove C:\path\to\folder

List configured path exclusions:

win-mp-exclude list

Preview the PowerShell command without running it:

win-mp-exclude --dry-run add C:\path\to\folder

The package also installs the alias py-win-mp-exclude.

GUI

Launch the graphical interface:

win-mp-exclude-gui

The GUI can add exclusions, remove exclusions, remove a selected exclusion, list current exclusions, and refresh the list. The package also installs the alias py-win-mp-exclude-gui.

Python API

The Python API exposes the same add, remove, list, and dry-run capabilities used by the CLI and GUI:

from win_mp_exclude import add_exclusion, list_exclusions, remove_exclusion

add_result = add_exclusion(r"C:\path\to\folder")
print(add_result.message)

for path in list_exclusions().exclusions:
    print(path)

remove_result = remove_exclusion(r"C:\path\to\folder")
print(remove_result.message)

Use dry_run=True to inspect the PowerShell script without applying a change:

from win_mp_exclude import add_exclusion

result = add_exclusion(r"C:\path\to\folder", dry_run=True)
print(result.script)

By default, Python mutating calls can request administrator elevation once. Pass elevate=False if your program wants to handle elevation itself.

Development

Build with Poetry:

poetry build

Publish with Poetry:

poetry publish