How do I turn Windows Defender back on Windows 10?

Look for “Virus & threat protection” If “Virus & threat protection” is not enabled, please do so if you wish.

If your Windows 10 Defender is turned off, it could be due to malware infection. Malware can disable Defender and prevent you from turning it back on. In such cases, it is recommended to install and run another malware detection tool to identify and remove the infection. This will help you regain control of your Defender.

To get Windows Defender back, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows logo on your desktop.
2. Scroll down and click on “Windows Security” to open the application.
3. Check if any other antivirus program is installed and running on your computer.
4. Click on “Virus & threat protection” on the Windows Security screen.
5. Select the Virus & threat protection icon.
By following these steps, you can enable Windows Defender and start using it for your system’s protection.

If your Windows Defender is turned off and you want to fix it, here is what you can do:

1. Navigate to the Control Panel and double-click on “Windows Defender”.
2. In the Windows Defender information window, you will see that it is turned off.
3. Click on the link that says “Turn on and open Windows Defender”.
4. Close all the windows and restart your computer.
This should turn on Windows Defender and resolve the issue of it being turned off.

There can be several reasons why Windows Defender won’t turn on. Some common causes include:
1. Another security software installed on your system that interferes with Defender.
2. Incorrect time and date settings on your computer.
3. Using an outdated version of Windows 10.
Identifying the specific cause can help you troubleshoot and fix the issue.

To check if Windows Defender is disabled, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the system tray icon to expand running programs.
2. Look for the shield icon, which indicates that Windows Defender is running and active.
3. If you see the shield icon, then your Windows Defender is enabled and protecting your system.

To force Windows Defender to turn on, you can try the following steps:

1. Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “gpedit.msc” and press OK.
3. In the Local Group Policy Editor interface, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus.
4. Configure the settings to enable Windows Defender and save the changes.

To manually enable Windows Defender Firewall, you can follow these steps:

1. Select Start and open Settings.
2. Under Windows Security, select a network profile: Domain network, Private network, or Public network.
3. Switch the setting under Microsoft Defender Firewall to On.
You can turn it off by switching the setting to Off.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus, formerly known as Windows Defender, is an antivirus software component of Microsoft Windows. It was initially released as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP and later shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Windows Security, which includes Windows Defender, comes pre-installed and is ready to use on your system. If you want to use Windows Security, make sure to uninstall any other antivirus programs. Once you do that, Windows Security will automatically turn on and protect your system.

To check if Windows Defender is enabled, you can follow these steps:

1. Select “Update and Security” from the settings menu.
2. Go to “Windows Security” on the following page.
3. Look for “Virus & threat protection”.
If “Virus & threat protection” is not enabled, you can enable it manually to ensure that Windows Defender is working properly.