Where to find Windows Defender. What is windows built-in defender? How to enable, disable and configure it? What to do if Windows Defender won't turn on

Microsoft developers have built into the operating system Windows Defender 7, which is designed to provide reliable protection against virus attacks and malware, while experts state the fact that it is not reliable enough. As a result, third-party antivirus software is installed on almost all computers, and accordingly they try to disable this tool so that it does not take up space in random access memory... Although sometimes the situation develops in such a way that this service, on the contrary, needs to be activated, for example, in a situation when the user does not have enough funds to renew the license of other antivirus programs and they need at least some kind of system protection.

After that, the downloaded file must be run. The interface here is quite simple and contains only one button "Uninstall Windows Defender", for which this program is actually needed.

This application can work as in 32-bit version operating systemand 64-bit.

Note: it is better not to perform this action, but use one of the above two methods to disable the built-in antivirus software. The fact is that if the user wants to activate it back, then when performing the third option, it will be much more difficult to do it. It takes up very little physical space, and in fact, this is the difference between disconnecting and deleting. At the same time, in order to avoid conflicts with other antivirus programs and free up space in RAM, shutdown is quite enough.

How to enable Windows Defender 7

These actions are actually the same as the above shutdown methods. The only thing is that when performing the last steps, in the first method, on the contrary, put a tick on the "Use this program" item, and in the second, in the "Startup type" field, use the pop-up menu to set the "Enabled" option.

If this is a built-in anti-virus software was completely removed from the system, then a reinstallation is required here. At the same time, it is worth considering the fact that instead of Microsoft Defender, Microsoft offers to install Microsoft Security Essentials... Essentially, these malware tracking apps are identical in software. functionality and they differ only in name. In order to download it, go to the official website of the developers, select desired language interface and click on the "Download" button. After that, you just need to run the installation package and install this application in standard mode, there should be no difficulties here.

In contact with

Very often, users are interested in how to disable the standard antivirus in the new OS from Microsoft "Ten". But over time, this tendency weakens and people, on the contrary, begin to ask about its inclusion. Today we will just talk about how to start Windows 10 Defender if it is disabled and does not want to open. It is impossible to uninstall, as well as reinstall, our application, so you need to restore it.

A regular defender can be disabled for various reasons. For example, another antivirus or if error 557 occurs. The methods given in the article will solve the problem, regardless of its origin.

Turn on Windows 10 Defender

So, let's look at several options for activating Windows 10 Defender when it does not turn on. Try to apply them in order until your antivirus works. Attention! Follow our instructions carefully, checking your actions with the screenshots.

We use standard OS tools

Initially, we will use the tools that are present in the operating system by default. If their capabilities are not enough, let's move on to third-party software.

In system settings

Let's start from the very easy way... You can enable and disable the full-time defender in Windows 10 in the system parameters. Perhaps you are in luck, and this is exactly the situation. For windows activation Defender do this:

  1. Open the menu, whose name is Start, and click on the gear icon.
  1. In the settings search bar, write the defender and select the marked option from the search results.
  1. Click on the "Open Windows Defender Security Center" button.
  1. Here we just turn on the native antivirus program.
  1. If after activation you still see the alarm icon, go to the utility settings by clicking on the gear indicated below.
  1. Next, click on the item marked in the screenshot below.
  1. We activate all triggers that will be disabled.

That's all. The defender should turn on and start monitoring your OS. If something doesn't work out and your computer's security is at risk, try the methods described below.

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

Windows 10 has another interesting and useful tool that is capable of making changes to the OS configuration. This is the local group policy editor. This method will help especially when you encounter the error "this application is disabled by group policy".

Step-by-step instruction:

  1. First, you need to run the utility. The easiest way to do this is through a small program called Run by Microsoft's OS. We use a combination of "hot" keys Win + R. In the window that appears, write gpedit.msc and click OK.
  1. We follow the path (left side half of the program window) Computer configurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows componentsWindows Defender Antivirus... Open the marked key by double-clicking the left mouse button.
  1. Switch the trigger to the Disabled position and click OK.

That's all, you can proceed to checking the performance of our antivirus.

Attention: in order for the changes to apply, you must restart your Windows 10 computer or laptop.

Using the registry editor

Who among you have not heard of the notorious registry editor. For many, this is a terrible taboo and it is like to climb into the death program ... But no, in fact it is real waythat will help us. For example, in our case it will be the inclusion of the defender.

  1. Using the Run utility launches the registry. To do this, press Win + R, enter the regedit command and click OK.
  1. We go along the way Computer \\ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\ SOFTWARE \\ Policies \\ Microsoft \\ Windows Defender double-click the left mouse button to open the key marked with number 2.
  1. Set the value to 0 and press the button called OK.

In the same way as in the case of the local group editor, the policy needs to restart the PC to enable the program.

Important: to work with system registry you will need administrator privileges. Otherwise, the editor program simply cannot access the necessary entries, and you will see the inscription: "Some parameters are managed by your organization."

Windows Defender Service

If none of the above options work, try checking if the service you want is running. It is its inactivity that prevents you from protecting your PC. Sometimes the system displays the error "Threat Service has stopped, restart it." To fix this and configure protection, we do this:

  1. Using the combination of buttons Win + R, you need to go into the Run utility, enter the command into it and click on OK.
  1. In the list of processes, you need to find the service of our antivirus and check if it works. If not, open the entry by double clicking on the right mouse button and enable the task.

Note: an icon that appears on the taskbar indicates a running application.

We use third-party software

There are many programs that can help with this issue. There is no point in describing their duplicate functionality, so let's talk about the two best and dissolute representatives.

Win Updates Disabler

You can download the program for free on its official website. When it's done, run the setup file.

  1. Check the box for agreeing to the terms of the license and click Next.
  1. Skip the installation information and move on to the next step.
  1. If necessary, you can change the installation path here. In our case, this is not required, so click Next.
  1. We set a shortcut in the Start menu or leave everything as it is.

Beginning with the Seven, Microsoft began to provide its operating systems with a built-in utility to protect the computer from viruses and called it "Windows Defender". And we must pay tribute to this innovation, since in Windows 10 this defender can cope well and protect Windows from most of the negative consequences of malware infection, but only if its databases are regularly updated. However, in our country it has historically developed that a significant number of users work in pirated operating systems and therefore are forced to disable the Windows update service.

It is obvious that after that the Windows Defender anti-virus database, updated through packages windows updates 10, as a rule, is no longer relevant. Thus, it is not recommended for owners of official OS versions to disable this built-in protection in Windows 10. But there are times when even in the licensed Top Ten this antivirus program, which functions by default, creates significant problems for the user, for example, does not allow the installation of an application or a computer toy, prohibits the launch of applications, or uninstalls some program files. It is reasonable that in such circumstances, PC owners immediately have a question: "How to disable Windows Defender?" Below are the step by step guides to solve this problem in Windows 10, to remove once and for all problems related to Defender.

How to remove Windows 10 Defender?

One very important detail should be noted right away that it is impossible to delete this application built into the system. However, you can easily disable Windows 10 Defender or check its activity by following the steps of the following instructions:

Disconnection by standard method

To disable Windows 10 Defender, you need to follow these sequential steps:


With these actions, you can temporarily turn off the Defender, because it is in automatic mode reactivated after a quarter of an hour. If you need to deactivate the built-in protection for an unlimited period of time, you will need to use the instructions below.

Disable forever

For this purpose, you must use the Local Group Policy Editor. The sequence of actions is as follows:


If in the future an attempt is made to start the embedded protection service again, a notification will be immediately displayed on the monitor.

If for some reason the user was unable to deactivate Windows 10 Defender in the above way, then this can be achieved using the registry editor.

2 way to permanently disable built-in system protection

To do this, follow these steps:


Note: the icon displayed in the system. At first, the tray will still continue to "plague" the eyes of the user, but it will disappear immediately after restarting the PC. After the first restart of the computer, a message about the disabled antivirus will pop up. If it interferes, then you just need to click on the message and then in the menu that appears, click "Do not receive notifications about anti-virus protection."

Windows 10 Defender or Windows Defender is a free built-in antivirus from Microsoft that runs on a PC until the user installs third-party software. There are several ways to enable Windows 10 Defender. And although it does not guarantee 100% system protection, it works stably and does not affect the performance of Windows 10.

How do I enable embedded Windows Defender on a new operating system?

Complete operating room protection windows systems 10 is carried out using three components, namely:

  • Built-in Defender antivirus;
  • Firewall or firewall;
  • Smart Screen filter.

Basic windows protection 10 provides a defender. It starts automatically after system installation. To check if it works or enable protection, you should follow these steps:

  • Click "Start", "Settings" and select "Update and Security".
  • In the left menu select "Windows Defender". In the "Real-time protection" section, the slider should be set to the "Enabled" position. If not, then we exhibit. This is how we turn on Defender.

  • If you enable Cloud Protection, all information about viruses and attacks on your PC will be sent to the Microsoft server. If you do not want to share data, this option can be disabled. The "Send samples" function is similar to the previous one.

  • If you go down below, you can see the "Exceptions" item. If you click on the "Add exclusions" button, the settings window will open.

  • You can add both a file and a folder of a program.

  • By clicking on the corresponding button, the Explorer will open. We specify the file to exclude.

  • At the very bottom of the "Windows Defender" section there is a button "Use Windows Defender". If you open this link, a window will appear windows programs Defender. It has three tabs: Home, Refresh and Journal. If you click the Options button, you can enable or disable the service.

You can also enable Windows Defender antivirus through the registry. To do this, do the following:

  • Click "Win + R" and enter "regedit".

  • Go to the branch "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "SOFTWARE", "Policies", "Microsoft", "Windows Defender". We press right click mouse on the last section and select "New", "DWORD Parameter". Name this parameter "DisableAntiSpyware". Set the value to "0" to enable the defender, or "1" to disable it.

IMPORTANT! Before making changes to the registry, you should create a backup in case of an error.

Also manually enable standard antivirus Windows 10 is available through the Local Group Policy Editor. To do this, do the following:

  • Press "Win + R" and enter "msc".

  • The Group Policy Management Editor will open. Go to the address: "Computer Configuration", "Administrative Templates", "Windows Components" and find in the list "Windows Defender". It can also be referred to as "Windows Defender". Double click to start the service " Turn off Windows Defender "(disable Defender).

  • The settings window will open. We put the mark "Disabled" to activate the antivirus.

  • Close the Group Policy Management Editor and restart your PC.

How to manually disable Windows 10 Defender?

If you are planning to install a third-party antivirus and do not know how to turn off Windows 10 Defender, you should follow these guidelines.

  • Click "Start", select "Control Panel", "System and Security", "Administrative Tools".

  • Choosing services. If you want to manually disable the antivirus, find in the list "Windows Defender Service" or "Windows Defender" and double-click to open the settings.

  • Set the startup type to "Disabled".

You can also disable the defender through the registry. In it, go to the branch "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", "SOFTWARE", "Policies", "Microsoft", "Windows Defender" and set the value "1" in the parameter "DisableAntiSpyware".

Also, if you are interested in the question of how to disable Windows 10 Defender programmatically, it is worth noting that only some utilities are suitable for this purpose. Among them it is worth highlighting "Win Updates Disabler" and "Destroy Windows 10 Spying".

The principle of their work is as follows: download and install programs. We launch them on our PC. In the "Win Updates Disabler" check the box "Disable Windows Defender".

In "Destroy Windows 10 Spying" we put a mark "Disable Windows Defender".

You can also uninstall some applications using this program.

If, when you try to disable the built-in antivirus, you receive a notification that "The application is disabled and is not monitoring your computer," then you have installed a third-party defender or disabled Defender yourself. Alternatively, go to Control Panel and select Support Center. In the "Parameters of the support center" we enable the defender.

After completing these steps, it is worth restarting your computer or laptop.

Also on how to turn off Windows 10 Defender, see the video:

Many users don't use third-party antivirus software and rely on Microsoft's built-in solution. With each new major system update, the antivirus shows better and better results. At the moment, he shows himself no worse free antivirus, but with less load on the system. In this article, we will describe the main issues and difficulties that describe how to enable Windows Defender (Windows) 10.

Windows Defender. Inclusion, problems and difficulties

The Creators Update (version 1703) introduces a new application that includes the basic device security settings - Security Center. It includes antivirus and threat protection, account settings and family access, firewall settings, security and more.

If you want to know how to turn on Windows 10 Defender Security Center, we will explain in more detail below.

First you need to open Security Center... To do this, display hidden icons or find the "Shield" symbol in the tray. Depending on the state of the system, it can be "red" - there is a threat, "yellow" - a notification or warning, and "green" - everything is fine. To open, double-click on the icon.

The main window of the Security Center displays the statuses of all key metrics - firewall protection, accounts, viruses, applications, security and performance.

The main role of the Defender is to search for and protect against viruses and malware. Therefore, the main thing is that protection is enabled. To do this, follow these steps:

  • In the Security Center open “ Protection from viruses and threats »
  • Go to " Protection against viruses and other threats »
  • Make sure cloud and real-time protection are enabled.
  • If suddenly they are turned off, then another antivirus can be installed on your device, which works more than the built-in from Microsoft.

In the case when you want to know what to do if Windows Defender is disabled, and how to fix it, the above tips will definitely help you.

There are times when Windows 10 Defender suddenly turned off, how to enable it in a similar situation: we advise you to just check for third-party antiviruses. Some device threat protection programs automatically turn off Standard Defender in favor of their firewall and security features.

"Don't forget to check for a third-party antivirus"

Challenges and difficulties with the Defender

Some users may face the fact that they cannot start it, since the switches are inactive (as in the screenshot).

Sometimes this situation may be accompanied by the error "Windows Defender is disabled by group policy", how to enable it if you have Home version systems and its presence is not implied? Let's look at several possible solutions to this error.

How to enable via group policies

If you are using the Pro or Enterprise version of the system, there is a possibility that the built-in antivirus is simply disabled through group policies. Follow these steps to test it:

  • Press Win + R and enter mscto open the editor Group policies
  • Go through "Computer configuration" - "Administrative Templates" - Windows Components - Windows Defender Antivirus (the section was called Endpoint Protection in versions prior to 1703).
  • Select an option "Switch off antivirus program…» and press " Change policy setting "
  • In the window, select "Not configured" or "Disabled". If the "Enabled" item is active, the Defender will not work.

How to enable via the registry

Some software to disable telemetry Microsoft can also disable the built-in antivirus. A value is created in the registry with the DisableAntiSpyware parameter, which prevents correct work service. Even when the Windows 10 Defender Service is not running, you can find out how to enable it below.

To run the program, follow these steps:

  • Open the window command line or PowerShell as administrator.

  • Copy the following command. For Defender to work, the / d value must be 0 or if you want to disable it - 1.

reg add "HKLM \\ SOFTWARE \\ Policies \\ Microsoft \\ Windows Defender" / v DisableAntiSpyware / t REG_DWORD / d 0

Defender on older versions of Windows

Defender is not only available for Windows 10, it was present in previous versions as well. In Windows 7 and 8.1, it had such rich functionality as in version 10 of the system. Next, let's look at launching separately on each system.

Follow the next steps if you want to know how to enable Windows 7 Defender:

  • Open the Start window and select " Control Panel».

  • Select small or large icons and go to Windows Defender.

  • Open Settings and go to the Administrator tab. In order for Defender to be turned on, at point "Use this program" there should be a check mark.

It's pretty simple, but don't forget about the presence of third-party antiviruses - they can interfere with or disable Defender.

If you want to know how to enable Windows 8 Defender, follow the next steps:

  • The main actions completely repeat the algorithm from the 7th version of the system, but there is a slight difference. Go to Control Panel and open "Support Center"

  • Expand the "Security" tab and click on