To turn off Download Intelligence in Norton 360 v6, open Norton 360, click Settings, click Firewall, open the Intrusion and Browser Protection tab, switch Download Intelligence to Off, click Apply, choose a duration, and click OK.
Download Intelligence is the Norton feature that checks files you download from the internet and blocks or removes the ones it does not trust. Norton also calls the same protection Download Insight in some windows, so you may see both names. Turning it off lets a blocked download finish, but it also removes a layer of protection, so only do it for a file you are certain is safe, and turn it back on right away.
Before You Start
- Version: The first set of steps is for Norton 360 version 6 on a Windows computer, which is the layout shown in the screenshots. Norton 360 v6 is a very old release, so a later section covers the current Norton app, where the setting has moved.
- Account: Norton says you need to be signed in to Windows with an Administrator account to turn off its protection features. On a Standard account, some settings may appear grayed out.
- What it affects: This switch only changes how Norton treats downloaded files. Your other protection, such as Auto-Protect and the firewall, stays on.
- Warning: With Download Intelligence off, Norton will not stop an unsafe download for you. Do not turn it off because a website or a pop-up message tells you to. If you are unsure about a file that did download, you can scan an individual file with Norton 360 before you open it.
How to Turn Off Download Intelligence in Norton 360 v6
These steps turn the feature off for a set amount of time. Norton asks how long before it makes the change.
Step 1: Open Norton 360
Find the Norton 360 icon in the system tray, which is the group of small icons at the bottom-right corner of the Windows screen near the clock. Right-click the icon, then click Open Norton 360. If you do not see the icon, click the small arrow in the tray to show hidden icons, or open Norton 360 from the Start menu.
Step 2: Click Settings
Click Settings at the top of the Norton 360 window. The Settings window opens with a list of categories.
Step 3: Click Firewall
Click Firewall in the list at the left side of the window. Download Intelligence is grouped with the firewall settings in this version, even though it is about downloads.
Step 4: Open the Intrusion and Browser Protection tab
Click Intrusion and Browser Protection in the row of tabs at the top of the window. The Download Intelligence row is on this tab.
Step 5: Switch Download Intelligence to Off and click Apply
Click the switch to the right of Download Intelligence so that it reads Off. Then click Apply at the bottom of the window. Nothing changes until you click Apply.
Step 6: Choose a duration and click OK
Norton opens a Security Request window. Open the Select the duration drop-down list and pick how long the feature should stay off. Choose the shortest time that covers your download, then click OK. Norton turns the feature back on by itself when that time runs out.
You can now download the file again. If Norton already removed the first copy, you will need to start the download over.
How to Turn Off Download Intelligence in the Current Norton App
Newer Norton products no longer keep this switch under Firewall. Norton Support currently lists these steps in its article on how to respond to incorrect Norton alerts:
- Open your Norton device security product.
- In the left pane, click Security.
- Go to Advanced Security > Web > Safe Web.
- In the Safe Web window, on the Settings tab, click the slider next to Download Intelligence to turn it Off.
- In the Security Request dialog box, pick a time in the Select the duration drop-down list, then click OK.
- Click Close.
Norton tells readers to use these steps only if they are certain the file is safe, or if they are the developer who created it. If your Norton window matches neither layout in this article, you likely have a version in between. In those versions, look for Download Intelligence under Settings > Firewall > Intrusion and Browser Protection first, since that location was used for many years.
How to Confirm It Worked and Turn It Back On
Go back to the same screen and look at the Download Intelligence switch. It should read Off. Then try the download again.
To undo the change before the timer ends, follow the same steps and move the switch back to On. In Norton 360 v6, click Apply afterward so the change is saved. After the duration you picked has passed, open the screen once more and check that the switch reads On.
Why Norton Blocks Files You Know Are Safe
Download Intelligence judges an executable file (a program or installer, usually ending in .exe) partly by its reputation, which is based on what Norton already knows about that file. A brand-new or rarely downloaded program has little history, so Norton may treat it as suspicious even when nothing is wrong with it. In older versions this kind of detection is often named WS.Reputation.1.
Norton calls this a false positive, meaning a safe file that was flagged by mistake. It is most common with software from small developers and with files you built yourself.
A reputation warning is not proof that a file is safe, though. Malware is also new and rarely downloaded. Before you switch anything off, make sure the file comes from the official website of the developer and that you went looking for it yourself.
Options That Leave Download Intelligence On
Turning the feature off is the quickest fix, but Norton suggests other steps first.
- Update Norton. Run LiveUpdate so Norton has its latest definitions, then try the download again. Norton recommends doing this before you treat a detection as a mistake.
- Report the false positive. Norton accepts reports of wrongly flagged files. Its support article says a submitted file is analyzed and updated definitions are released within 48 hours.
- Exclude the file or folder. In the current Norton app for Windows, go to Security > Advanced Security > Computer > Antivirus, open the Exclusions tab, click Add, choose the file or folder, and click Save. Excluded items are skipped by scans, so only exclude things you trust.
- Restore a removed file. If Norton already took the file, it may be in quarantine. See our guide on how to view quarantined files in Norton 360.
If the download finishes but Norton stops the program from going online afterward, that is a firewall rule and not Download Intelligence. Our guide on how to stop Norton from blocking a program covers that case. If the program that cannot get online is your browser, see how to let Google Chrome through the Norton firewall.
Troubleshooting
The switch is grayed out
Norton says some settings appear disabled on a Standard Windows account. Sign in to Windows with an Administrator account and try again.
There is no Intrusion and Browser Protection tab
You are probably using a newer Norton version. Use the Security > Advanced Security > Web > Safe Web route described above.
The file is still blocked or removed
Check that you clicked Apply and that the duration has not already run out. If the switch is off and the file is still removed, another Norton feature is probably acting on it, such as Auto-Protect, which scans files as they are saved. Your web browser or Windows may also block downloads on their own. In that case, an exclusion or a false positive report is a better route than switching off more protection.
The setting turned itself back on
That is expected. Norton re-enables the feature after the duration you chose in the Security Request window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to turn off Download Intelligence in Norton 360?
It is only reasonable when you are certain the file is safe and you turn the feature back on afterward. While Download Intelligence is off, Norton does not check the reputation of files you download, so a harmful file could get through. Norton warns that turning off protection leaves a computer vulnerable.
Are Download Intelligence and Download Insight the same thing?
They refer to the same protection. In Norton 360, Download Intelligence is the name of the on/off switch, and Download Insight is the name Norton uses for the feature in alerts and in the duration window. Turning off Download Intelligence turns off Download Insight.
Does turning off Download Intelligence turn off the Norton firewall?
No. In Norton 360 v6 the switch is located in the Firewall settings, but it is a separate option. The firewall keeps running. For more on that screen, see our overview of Norton 360 firewall settings.
How long does Download Intelligence stay off?
It stays off for the duration you select in the Security Request window, and Norton turns it back on automatically afterward. You can also turn it back on yourself at any time from the same screen.
Should I still be using Norton 360 v6?
Norton 360 v6 was released many years ago, and Norton support articles now describe a different, newer app. If your subscription is active, it is worth checking your Norton account for the current version, since old security software may not receive the latest protection. This article cannot confirm what updates a v6 installation still receives.
Next Step
Once your download is finished, go back and confirm that Download Intelligence reads On. If you need Norton out of the way for more than one file, Norton also explains how to temporarily turn off Norton protection, and the same advice applies: keep it short and turn it back on.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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