Windows Defender is a security program that is included in the Windows operating system and provides protection against virus, malware, spyware, and other online threats. If you find that Windows Defender is not working properly, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue.
1. Restart Your Computer: The first step in troubleshooting Windows Defender is to restart your computer. This will terminate any processes that may be interfering with Windows Defender and will clear any cached data.
2. Check Firewall Settings: Another possible solution to fix Windows Defender is to check the Windows Firewall settings. Go to the Control Panel, then “Windows Firewall” and make sure that the Windows Defender firewall service is enabled.
3. Uninstall Third Party Security Software: If you have other security software installed on your computer, this can interfere with Windows Defender. To ensure that Windows Defender is functioning properly, temporarily uninstall any third party security software and reboot your computer.
4. Update Windows: To make sure Windows Defender is up-to-date, it is important to keep Windows updated. Visit the Windows Update website and download any available updates for Windows.
5. Run a Full Scan: If viruses or malware are the cause of the issue, it is important to run a full scan with Windows Defender. Click “Start”, then type “Windows Defender” into the search field. Select “Windows Defender”, then click the “Scan Now” button to start a full scan.
6. Check Device Manager: If the issue is caused by a conflict with a device driver, you can check the Device Manager to see if there are any conflicts. Right-click “My Computer” and select “Properties”. Then click the “Device Manager” link on the left side of the window. Look for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark next to them and update the drivers for those devices.
7. Repair Windows Defender: If none of the above steps fix the problem, you can try repairing Windows Defender itself. Go back to the “Windows Defender” program, click “Tools”, then select “Options”. On the “General” tab, click “Repair”. If the repair fails, go to the “Advanced” tab and click “Uninstall”.
8. Reinstall Windows Defender: If repairing Windows Defender does not work, you may need to reinstall it. To do this, visit the Microsoft website and download an installer for Windows Defender. Once the download is complete, double-click the installer to reinstall Windows Defender.
9. Check Service Status: Check the service status of Windows Defender to make sure that it is running. Press “Windows + R” to open the “Run” box. Type “services.msc” and hit “Enter”. Scroll down to “Windows Defender”, make sure the status is set to “Started” and the startup type is set to “Automatic”.
10. Check for Conflicting Programs: Conflicting programs can cause issues with Windows Defender. To check for conflicting programs, go to “Programs and Features” in the Control Panel. Click on each program listed, then check the “Compatibility” tab to make sure the program is compatible with Windows Defender. If it is not, uninstall the program and reboot your computer.
By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot Windows Defender and get it running properly again. However, if the issue persists, it may be necessary to contact Microsoft support for additional help.