How to turn on Windows Defender in Windows 11

The safety of your PC is of paramount significance, it doesn’t matter what you do it. Being the world’s hottest working system, Windows customers are the goal of loads of on-line and malware assaults. Fortunately, Windows’ security measures have remained forward of the sport due to a slew of options.

Even in case you have a third-party antivirus put in, Windows’ in-built safety system – the Windows Defender – which is a part of a but wider suite of security measures, can present an extra layer of safety. In this information, we take an in-depth look into what Windows Defender is, why it’s best to keep it on, and the way to do it. 

What is Windows Defender?

Windows Defender is Windows’ native anti-virus program. When taken along with different security measures like cloud safety, firewall & network safety, and managed folder entry, we now have Windows Security – a central hub for all of your safety settings. Over the years, Windows has been upgrading its security measures and including an increasing number of methods to maintain your system and your information safe. But Windows Defender has been round for some time, and now finds itself part of a bigger retinue that serves Windows Security on the entire. 

: How to disable Windows Defender in Windows 11

Why must you keep Windows Defender turned on?

When turned on, Windows Defender will actively shield your system from the second you flip it on. The Windows Security suite will scan for viruses, malware, and different threats. On prime of this safety provided in real-time, Windows Defender will make sure that the most recent signature updates are in place in order that your device stays shielded from the ever-changing sorts and sorts of laptop viruses. 

For all these causes it’s best to keep Windows Defender turned on. Moreover, in the event you haven’t put in an antivirus software program individually, it’s best to positively flip Windows Defender on now in the event you don’t need to be on the mercy of on-line assaults.  

: How to Scan for Malware on Windows 11 in 2022 [AIO]

How to examine if Windows Defender is operating

If you have got by no means made any modifications to the Windows Defender, in all chance it could be turned on and operating within the background. Nevertheless, if you wish to verify the identical, right here’s how one can examine if Windows Defender is operating in your system:

1. Press Start, kind windows safety, and hit Enter.
   
2. On the ‘Home’ web page, if there’s a examine next to Virus & risk safety, Windows Defender is turned on.
   
3. There’s one other, less complicated, technique to examine if Windows Defender is operating. Click on the up arrow simply earlier than the system tray.
   
4. Here, search for a small defend icon. If it has a inexperienced tick, then Windows Defender is on and operating usually.
   
5. If there’s a yellow exclamation mark on it, then there are Windows Security options which can be turned off and your system would possibly expertise some safety points.
   
6. If there’s a crimson cross on it, it signifies that some vital elements of Windows Security are turned off.
   
7. Simply click on on it to get to the Windows Security app.

: How to make use of the PC Manager App on Windows 11

How to activate Windows Defender in Windows 11 (5 methods)

There are a number of methods to activate Windows Defender on Windows 11. Here’s a have a look at how to make sure that it’s turned on and your system is properly protected within the absence of a third-party antivirus. 

Method 1: Using Windows Security

1. Press Start, kind windows safety, and hit Enter.
   
2. Now, on the ‘Security at a glance’ web page, click on on Turn on underneath ‘Virus & threat protection’.
   
3. Alternatively, click on on Virus & risk safety within the left pane.
   
4. If you see the choice to Turn on ‘Virus & threat protection settings’, then click on on it.
   
5. Otherwise, click on on Manage settings underneath ‘Virus & threat protection settings’.
   
6. Now, underneath Real-time safety, toggle the swap to On.
   
7. You may also activate different security measures contained in the Windows Security app.
   
8. All you must do is click on on ‘Turn on’ underneath the options that you simply need to activate, or toggle particular person capabilities to the ‘On’ place.

Method 2: Using Settings

Another technique to entry the Windows Security app so as to activate Windows Defender is to take action from the Settings app. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Firstly, press Win+I to open the Settings app. Then click on on Privacy & Security within the left pane.
   
2. Then click on on Windows Security.
   
3. Here, click on on Virus & risk safety underneath ‘Protection areas’.
   
4. This will open up the Virus & risk safety web page of the Windows Security app. Here, merely click on on Turn on underneath ‘Virus & threat protection settings’.
   
5. Alternatively, click on on ‘Manage settings’ and activate Real-time safety as proven within the earlier technique. 

Method 3: Using PowerShell

Before we transfer on to enabling Windows Defender from outdoors of the Windows Security app, there’s one characteristic that that you must find out about – Tamper Protection.

Tamper Protection is an added safety characteristic that stops customers and apps from making modifications to Windows Defender from outdoors the Windows Security app. If that is turned on, no modifications could be made to Windows Defender. 

1. The Tamper Protection settings could be discovered on the ‘Virus & threat protection settings’ web page. Make positive it’s turned off earlier than shifting on.
    
2. Then, press Start, kind powershell, then right-click the best-match end result, and click on on Run as administrator.
   
3. Now kind the next command to activate the Windows Defender antivirus: Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false
   
4. Then hit Enter. Real-time safety will now be turned on. You can examine this from the Windows Security app’s ‘Virus & threat protection settings’ web page.
5. Alternatively, you too can examine this from inside PowerShell as properly. Type the next command: Get-MpPreference | Select-Object DisableRealtimeMonitoring
   
6. Then hit Enter. If you get the ‘False’ message, that signifies that Windows Defender’s real-time monitoring is turned on and is serving its anti-viral function.
   

Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor (GPE)

Windows Defender will also be turned on from the Group Policy Editor. Of course, as earlier than, any modifications to Windows Defender from the surface can solely be made if Tamper Protection is turned off. Refer to the sooner technique to understand how to show it off. 

1. Once Tamper Protection is turned off, press Start, kind gpedit, then hit Enter.
   
2. Under ‘Computer Configuration’, broaden the Administrative Templates department.
   
3. Then broaden the Windows Components department.
   
4. Scroll down and click on on Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
   
5. On the suitable, double-click on Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
   
6. Now, ensure you both choose Not Configured or Disabled.
   
7. Then click on OK.

This will make sure that Windows Defender will not be turned off. 

Method 5: Using Registry Editor

This technique is for customers who wish to tinker with the registry editor to make modifications to their system. If you used the registry to disable Windows Defender, which could be a quite tedious course of because it includes taking possession of the Windows Defender folder (typically from the Safe Mode), then that is how one can re-enable it:

1. Press Start, kind regedit, and hit Enter.
   
2. Navigate to the next deal with: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Defender
   Alternatively, copy the above and paste it into the registry editor’s deal with bar as proven beneath.
   
3. Then hit Enter. On the suitable, double-click on DisableAntiVirus.
   
4. Change the worth information to 0.
   
5. Then click on OK.
   
6. Now double-click on DisableAntiSpyware.
   
7. Change the worth information to 0.
   
8. Then click on OK.
   
9. Restart your laptop for the modifications to take impact.

How to activate Windows Defender Firewall (2 methods)

Windows Defender Firewall is a crucial safety part of Windows Security that safeguards customers from on-line assaults. If you’re going to offer your system all-round safety, the firewall needs to be turned on as properly. Here’s how to take action using a few strategies.

Method 1: Using Windows Security

1. Press Start, kind window safety, and hit enter.
   
2. On the Home web page, you will note Firewall & network safety. Click on the Turn on button beneath it.
   
3. Alternatively, you possibly can go inside this setting and select which network kind you need to flip the firewall for. To accomplish that, click on on Firewall & network safety.
   
4. To activate the firewall for the Domain network, click on on Turn on underneath “Domain network”.
   
5. To activate the firewall for the Private network, click on on Turn on underneath “Private network”.
   
6. To activate the firewall for the Public network, click on on Turn on underneath “Public network”.
   
7. Alternatively, to activate the firewall for all three concurrently, click on on Restore settings.
   
8. And identical to that, you should have turned on Firewall & network safety in your system.
   

Method 2: Using PowerShell

Here’s how you should use PowerShell to activate the firewall for various network sorts:

1. Press Start, kind powershell, then right-click on the best-matched end result and choose Run as administrator.
   
2. Now, to activate the firewall in your domain network, kind the next command: Set-InternetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain -Enabled True
   
3. Then hit Enter.
4. To activate the firewall in your non-public network, kind the next command: Set-InternetFirewallProfile -Profile Private - Enabled True
   
5. Then hit Enter.
6. To activate the firewall for a public network, kind the next command: Set-InternetFirewallProfile -Profile Public - Enabled True
   
7. Then hit Enter.
8. To activate the firewall for all network sorts and profiles, kind the next command: Set-InternetFirewallProfile -Enabled True
   
9. Then hit Enter. All your network profiles will now obtain firewall safety.

How to reset or reinstall Windows Defender?

In case your Windows Defender is experiencing points, it’s possible you’ll have to reinstall or reset it.  However, since Windows Defender (and Windows Security) will not be put in in the identical trend as different apps in your system, you’ll primarily be resetting the entire Windows Security suite. Here are a few methods to take action:

Method 1: From the Settings app

1. Press Win+I to open the Settings app. Then click on on Apps within the left pane.
   
2. Now click on on Installed Apps.
   
3. Search for ‘Windows security’ within the discipline above, then click on on the three-dot menu to the suitable of Windows Security.
   
4. Click on Advanced choices.
   
5. Now scroll down and click on on the Reset button.
   
6. Click on Reset once more.
   
7. Once completed, it’s best to see a tick mark seem next to the ‘Reset’ button.
   

This will reset not simply the Windows Defender, however the entire Windows Security suite. 

Method 2: From PowerShell

1. Press Start, kind powershell, right-click on the best-matched end result, and click on on Run as administrator.
   
2. Now kind the next command: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllCustomers | Reset-AppxPackage
   
3. Then hit Enter. This will begin the method to reset Windows Defender (and Windows Security) to its default settings in order that it capabilities as a newly put in app.
   

FIX: Can’t activate Windows Defender

If you’re unable to activate Windows defender, then there are a variety of potential the explanation why which may be so. In this part, we undergo the assorted potential situations for why Windows Defender gained’t activate and supply options to repair the issue.

1. Check if a third-party antivirus is put in

The most typical motive why Windows Defender gained’t activate is that if you have already got a third-party antivirus software program put in. This is as a result of Windows Defender mechanically turns itself off if it detects the presence of one other safety software in your system.

1. To examine if that’s the case, open Windows Security as proven earlier than. Then click on on Virus & risk safety.
   
2. Here, in the event you see that one other antivirus is turned on, then that’s the reason why Windows Defender isn’t turned on.
   
3. All you must do is to uninstall the antivirus software after which activate Windows Defender by way of one of many strategies given above

If that doesn’t repair the problem, transfer on to the next fixes. 

2. Run Windows Update

Windows not being updated is one other frequent motive why your Windows Defender is perhaps malfunctioning. Just like another software, Windows Defender too wants the most recent options and fixes to function optimally. So, make certain to update Windows usually.

1. To examine if there are any updates pending, open the Settings app (press Win+I key mixture), after which click on on Windows update within the left pane.
   
2. Then click on on Check updates after which set up any updates that there is perhaps.
   

3. Check the date and time in your system

Most Windows capabilities depend on the date and time of your system. If your system clock will not be set proper, there will probably be a mismatch between your system and the servers that many Windows options depend on. Check out our information on How to vary date and time on Windows 11 to know more.

4. Check Registry settings for Windows Defender

Another motive why it’s possible you’ll not have the ability to activate Windows Defender could possibly be the Windows Defender’s registry settings. If you ever made modifications to the registry keys that correspond to Windows Defender, then you’ll have to undo these. Check out technique #5 within the information above to understand how to show Windows Defender on by way of the registry editor. 

5. Check the Group Policy Settings for Windows Defender

Similar to the registry, modifications comprised of the Group Policy Settings app might additionally hinder you from turning on Windows Defender. To understand how to show it on, check with technique #4 within the information above. 

6. Restart the Windows Defender service

Windows Defender depends on the automated startup of a service by the identical title. To make sure that this service is operating, comply with the steps beneath:

1. Firstly, open up the Services app from the Start Menu.
   
2. Then scroll down the checklist of providers and double-click on Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service.
   
3. Click on the drop-down menu next to Startup kind.
   
4. Select Automatic.
   
5. Then click on Apply.
   
6. Then click on on Start to begin the service instantly.
   

7. Scan your PC for malware and virus

It’s additionally a chance that malware or virus in your system could possibly be blocking Windows Defender itself. To resolve this problem, you’ll have to set up a third-party antivirus and scan your PC for and remove malware and virus. 

FAQs

In this part, we check out a number of generally requested queries about Windows Defender and look to reply the identical. 

Why can’t I open Windows Defender in Windows 11?

There is a spate of the explanation why it’s possible you’ll not have the ability to activate Windows Defender. Refer to the earlier part on fixing this to understand how to resolve the problem. 

How do I flip Windows Defender on?

Windows Defender could be turned on in a variety of methods. The quickest means is thru the Windows Security app. To know more, check with our information above.

Does Windows 11 have Windows Defender?

Yes, Windows 11 has Windows Defender which serves as Windows’ native antivirus characteristic. There are a variety of different options as properly that altogether make up the Windows Security suite. Taken collectively, these options work to maintain your system protected and safe.

We hope you discovered this information helpful in turning on Windows Defender in your system in addition to fixing points to the identical. Until next time, keep protected!