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Last updated: Sep 06, 2021

What should you do if Windows Defender won't turn on?

Windows Defender won't turn on

In this article you will find out:

what is Windows Defender

7 ways to repair Windows Defender

how to protect your data

Are you ready? Let's read!

What is Windows Defender?

Windows Defender is built-in antivirus software that protects your PC from various threats (spyware, malware, and viruses) in real-time. As soon as the Defender detects potential threats, he will stop them. However, there are times when users click the "Turn on" Windows Defender button and nothing happens.

Most often, this problem can be caused by installing third-party antivirus software, software conflicts, etc.

Read on to find out what to do if you cannot turn on Windows Defender

1. Delete the antivirus

Remove any installed third-party antivirus applications from your computer. In Control Panel, select Programs and Features. Here, find the applications you want and uninstall them by right-clicking on the utility and choosing Uninstall. After that, you should restart your computer and see if the “Windows Defender Will Not Turn On” problem is solved.

2. Reboot security center service

Try restarting the required services, such as the Security Center service.

To do this, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously to open the Run window (type services.msc and press Enter). Now, right-click on the Security Center service and select the Restart option. Windows Defender should now work fine.

3. SFC Scan

Check system files and fix a possible problem of the non-working defender; sfc will help you.

To do this, enter cmd in the Windows 7/8/10 search box, then run this program as administrator, and in the command prompt window, enter the command line sfc / scannow and press the Enter key.

Wait until the process is 100% complete before checking if the unexpected Windows Defender error has been resolved.

4. Update Windows

Be sure to use this method, the latest system updates can fix many errors that have occurred, including Windows Defender won't turn on Windows 7. You can search for updates on the official website or run an automatic search for system updates.

5. Check your group policy

If Windows Defender is disabled by your group policy, it will not function. Therefore, check and change the Group Policy, if necessary.

To do this, open the Run dialog box as shown above and enter gpedit.msc and click OK. In the left pane, go to Computer Configuration and select Administrative Template. Next, click Windows Components and select Windows Defender Antivirus.

Next, double-click Disable Windows Defender Antivirus and, in the new window, select "Not configured". Now, confirm all changes.

6. Modify registry

This method is not harmless at all, so be very careful not to accidentally damage the registry.

Open the Run window and type regedit. Click OK and, in the Registry Editor interface, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows Defender.

Then find the DisableAntiSpyware key. If this key is not listed, right-click an empty field, select New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. After that, right-click on it and set it to 0. Now, feel free to restart your computer and run Windows Defender Antivirus.

7. Try to clean boot

Clean boot will allow you to boot without any background or third-party programs that can cause software conflicts and prevent Windows Defender from being enabled in Windows 10/8/7.

So, open the Run window and enter msconfig in the text field, then click OK.

In the new window, open the General tab and select Selective startup. Now, deselect the Load Launcher Items checkbox.

Next, open the Services tab and select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then click Disable All. Click OK and Restart.

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Always be safe with DiskInternals Partition Recovery!

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