Summary :

Windows Defender not turning on

Is your Windows Defender not turning on? Are you looking for full solutions to get rid of this consequence? This post will show you how to repair Windows Defender in Windows x/8/7 then your PC can be protected from viruses. We will too introduce a professional fill-in software for PC protection.

Quick Navigation :

  • Windows Defender Volition Not Turn on Windows ten/eight/vii
  • How to Repair Windows Defender Windows x/8/7
  • Employ MiniTool ShadowMaker to Protect Your PC from Viruses and Other Threats
  • Bottom Line
  • Windows Defender Not Turning on FAQ
  • User Comments

Windows Defender Will Not Plough on Windows 10/viii/7

Windows Defender (also called Windows Defender Security Heart in Windows 10 1703 or later on), a fully integrated role of Windows, is an antivirus program. Information technology can offer real-time protection from various threats similar spyware, malware, and viruses to your PC. Once it scans and finds potential threats, this programme will terminate them.

However, many users take reported that their Windows Defender tin can't be turned on for virus defense force in Windows 10/8/7 when they click on thePlow onpush.

Windows Defender will not turn on Windows 10

One Windows 10 user from tomsguide said:

"A few days back I turned it off completely using group edit policy, but now when I attempt to put on the real-time protection slider, it asks for permission just then nothing happens..."tomsguide

In improver to the case when Windows Defender could be turned off by group policy, some users said Windows Defender gets an unexpected error and cannot be opened or Windows Defender tin can't open later on uninstalling Avast, Bitdefender, McAfee, AVG.

To put information technology simply, this consequence is perchance caused by the installation of third-party antivirus software, a corrupted registry, software conflicts, and so on. For Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows x users, it is fairly common.

Well and so, what to do if y'all are troubled by Windows Defender not working? How to plow on Windows Defender in Windows eight/ten/seven successfully? Take it easy! Get the full solutions from the following function to help you out.

Further tip: If your Windows Defender can work unremarkably, but you lot have a need to disable it, you tin sentinel the following video.

How to Repair Windows Defender Windows ten/8/7

Method 1: Uninstall Third-party Antivirus Software

If y'all accept installed whatever third-political party software on your estimator, Windows operating organization will automatically detect information technology and turn itself down. Thus, the first matter y'all tin can effort is to disable your other security programs.

disable avast thumbnail

How to disable (stop or close), remove (or uninstall) Avast antivirus in Windows and Mac? This post shows you multiple methods for this work.

If that is not working, the all-time manner is to completely remove them. To exercise this, go toControl Panel >Programs and Features in Windows 7 or navigate toControl Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program in Windows 10/8.

So find your third-party programme, right-click on it and cullUninstallor Uninstall/Change to remove it to get rid of Windows Defender non turning on issue.

uninstall third-party antivirus program

Alternatively, you can use a professional removal tool to uninstall your security applications, remove all files (including undetected files) and registry entries associated with the application, which may also prevent you lot from running Windows Defender.

Finally, restart your PC and try launching Windows Defender once more to meet if it can be turned on for virus, spyware and other threats protection.

Method ii: Restart the Security Center Service

In order to let Windows Defender work properly, you lot demand to enable certain services. If those services aren't running well, the outcome of Windows Defender not turning on will happen on Windows 10/8/vii. So, follow the instructions to restart necessary services, and here we will show you enabling Security Center service.

Pace i: Click Win and R keys on your keyboard to launch the Run box.

Step 2: Input services.msc in the box and printing Enter.

Footstep three: In the Services interface, search for Security Center service and right-click on it to choose the Restart choice.

restart Security Center

Once this service is restarted, you can bank check if the issue -Windows Defender not starting is solved.

Method 3: Run an SFC Scan

If Windows Defender will not turn on Windows ten/8/vii and runs into an unexpected error, mayhap in that location is something wrong with your system files. Then, you can perform an SFC scan.

SFC, known as System File Checker, is a utility in Windows that allows you to scan for corruptions in Windows arrangement files and restore them. How to browse your system files and repair missing or corrupted files? Here are the steps.

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box of Windows vii/viii/10 and correct-click on it to run this program as administrator.

Stride 2: In the Command Prompt window, blazon sfc /scannow command line and press the Enter key.

And then, this utility volition brainstorm a organisation scan. This procedure will take some time, and so please wait patiently until verification reaches 100%.

Step 3: Later, leave the CMD window to check whether Windows Defender unexpected error is resolved.

sfc scannow command line

Tip:Sometimes, SFC scan volition fail to work with an error message. Fortunately, you lot can find solutions from this post - Quickly Set SFC Scannow Not Working (Focus on 2 Cases).

In lodge to fix the issue of Windows Defender Antivirus non turning on, you tin try using DISM scan instead. To exercise that, follow the guide:

Step 1: Run Command Prompt as ambassador.

Stride 2: In the pop-up window, enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Prototype /RestoreHealth and hitting Enter to execute this command line. Similarly, this scan will take some fourth dimension, simply wait and don't interrupt information technology.

DISM scan to fix Windows Defender not turning on

Method iv: Install the Latest Update

An outdated Windows operating arrangement may cause the upshot of Windows Defender non turning on. Some users reported that they had been able to prepare the outcome simply by installing the latest Windows update - latest signature updates are necessary for Windows Defender to keep your PC secure.

Note: Installing Windows update may give ascension to data loss, thus, you had better back upwards your important files before an update so that you can restore the figurer to a previous state in instance of accidents.

recover files after windows update thumbnail

You must be eager to know the mode to recover lost files afterwards Windows update if you observe needed files disappear afterward the update is finished.

Back up Files or Windows OS before an Update

To back upward crucial files, you can choose the professional backup software for Windows ten/eight/7, MiniTool ShadowMaker since information technology allows you to back upward files into an epitome and sync files or folders to other condom locations. Now, become MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition on your reckoner and and then install information technology for file backup.

Free Download

Step 1: Run MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial.

Step 2: In the Backup page, become to Source > Folders and Files to cull important files that you lot desire to back up.

choose files to back up

Then go to Destination to choose the place where you need to salvage the fill-in. Here an external hard drive, USB drive, NAS, etc. can be bachelor.

Stride 3: Later finishing all the selections, click Back upwards Now button to start the backup functioning.

MiniTool ShadowMaker file backup

In improver, yous can have full reward of the Sync characteristic to synchronize your important files. This tutorial - How to Sync Folders Windows x to External Drive? 3 Tools Are Here shows you detailed operating steps.

Upgrade Windows Bone

Now, it is time for you to install the latest Windows operating system. How to perform a Windows update? Here is the guide:

Pace 1: In Windows vii, go to Control Panel and click Windows Update. In Windows 8, go to Control Panel > Arrangement and Security > Windows Update. In Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Update & security to enter the Windows Update interface.

Stride two: Click Cheque for updates. If there are available updates, install them and restart your PC.

After completing Windows updates, the problem of Windows Defender not turning on maybe disappeared.

Tip: Windows failed to bank check for updates? Read this article Windows Update Cannot Currently Check for Updates to look for solutions.

Method 5: Change Your Group Policy

Sometimes, Windows Defender won't turn on in Windows 10/8/7 because information technology is turned off by your group policy. This can be a problem but you lot are able to gear up it simply by changing the group policy.

To do that, follow the step-by-step guide:

Pace i: Open up the Run dialog by clicking Win + R keys on the keyboard.

Step 2: Type gpedit.msc and press the OK push.

Step 3: In the Local Group Policy Editor interface, go to the left pane and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.

Step 4: In the right pane, double-click on Plow off Windows Defender Antivirus.

Pace 5: In the pop-up window, choose Non Configured, click the Apply and OK push button.

change Windows Defender by group policy

After these changes are brought into effect, the issue of Windows Defender not working due to the group policy beingness turned off should exist solved, and you can run it to protect your PC.

Method six: Modify Windows Registry

When you fail to enable Windows Defender in Windows 10/8/7, the problem may be related to your registry. And then, y'all tin change it to fix this issue.

Annotation: Nosotros strongly recommend you to back up Windows registry before modifying it to avoid system accidents.

Stride i: Input regedit in the text box of the Run window.

Step two: In the Registry Editor interface, go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Footstep 3: Detect DisableAntiSpyware fundamental. If this key is non listed, please correct-click the blank, choose New and DWORD (32-scrap) Value to create it.

Step 4: Right-click on it and set up its Value data to 0.

set DisableAntiSpyware value data of Windows Defender to 0

After yous have changed Windows Defender using Registry Editor, you lot can check if Windows Defender Antivirus not turning on is solved.

Method 7: Perform a Clean Boot

If y'all start the Windows system in normal start-up operation, there might be many third-political party applications running in the background. These applications tin can cause software conflicts and interfere with Windows. As a result, you tin't turn on Windows Defender in Windows 10/eight/seven.

To Repair Windows Defender issue, you tin perform a Clean Kicking. This method is quite uncomplicated and you lot can practice by following these instructions:

Step 1: Launch the Run window, and enter msconfig in the textbox.

Step ii: In the System Configuration interface, go to the General tab, cull Selective startup and uncheck Load startup items.

selective startup

Step iii: Under the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable all.

hide all Microsoft services

Step 4: Click the OK and Restart button to reboot your PC.

Note:Later finishing your troubleshooting, go to System Configuration > Full general to change the startup setting to Normal startup. And enter the Services tab to enable all Microsoft services.

Now, all of the possible ways to fix Windows Defender not turning on accept been shown to you. But endeavour them one by i to repair Windows Defender in Windows 10/8/7. If you think these ways are helpful, you tin can also share them on Twitter to permit more people know.

Click to tweet

In order to protect your computer against spyware, ransomware, adware, viruses and other threats, yous tin can try some other way that is to use MiniTool ShadowMaker to support your computer.

MiniTool ShadowMaker, one of the best backup software for Windows 10/8/7 users, is really worth recommending. In addition to backing upward your of import files (every bit mentioned above), it tin help you hands and effectively back up your Windows operating organisation, disk, and partitioning. If your organization ever goes wrong, y'all can utilize the fill-in to restore it to a normal state.

Additionally, it supports deejay cloning, which helps you transfer all the content on a deejay to another for the entire disk information backup. For system deejay cloning, the cloned bulldoze can exist used to boot the PC in case of a system crash.

Are y'all interested in this backup software? Now get MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition (30 days trial) from the following push.

Free Download

Step ane: Run this free backup software, keep to use the Trial Edition and cull the local backup mode.

Step 2: After entering the Backup page, you can see this program will back up your Windows system by default since the organization partitions and destination path are called. Of class, you lot can click the Source and Destination module to decide what y'all desire to back up and where you lot need to relieve the epitome.

Next, only click Back up Now button to execute the operation in Manage folio.

use MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up your PC

Tip: In order to protect your PC well, you lot tin can take full advantage of its Schedule option to automatically dorsum up your files or the Windows Os.

In improver, you lot can choose the entire organization disk to create a difficult drive image. Or go to Tools folio to use its Clone Disk feature to perform a disk cloning for backup.

Related article: How to Clone a Hard Drive to SSD in Windows 10/eight/seven?

Bottom Line

Tin can't plow on Windows Defender Windows ten/eight/seven? How to turn on Windows Defender in Windows x/viii/7? We have shown you solutions to set up the issue of Windows Defender not turning on; but try them one by one.

To keep your PC condom, yous should utilise the professional and reliable PC fill-in software, MiniTool ShadowMaker to back up the of import files or Windows system automatically.

If you have any other solution to repair Windows Defender or any question related to MiniTool software, please contact united states of america via [email protected] or leave your thought in the comment part below.

Windows Defender Not Turning on FAQ

What to do if Windows Defender is not working?

  1. Uninstall third-party antivirus software
  2. Restart the Security Center Service
  3. Run an SFC scan
  4. Install the latest update
  5. Alter your group policy
  6. Modify Windows Registry
  7. Perform a clean boot

Why my Windows Defender is not updating?

The causes for Windows Defender not updating are various, such every bit connectivity problems, Windows Defender services non running, corrupted organization files, a Windows update trouble, etc. The solutions should depend on the error message that you lot have received. Just search the specific error online for the fixes.

How practise I make Windows Defender default?

By default, Windows Defender automatically enables deject-based protection, sample submission, and existent-time protection. Y'all tin become to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Defender > Open Windows Defender Security Center. Then, click Settings > Virus & threat protection settings to check these settings.

Exercise I demand antivirus if I have Windows Defender?

Although you lot have Windows Defender - the built-in antivirus software in Windows 10, you may also need a third-party antivirus program. This post- Is Windows Defender Enough? More Solutions to Protect PC shows you some things that Windows Defender cannot do, besides every bit some other methods for keeping PC safe.