Windows 10: Any way to set Defender to update/scan?

Wondering if there is any option within Windows Defender to have it update and scan, I have MSE (W7) set to update and scan every day at 7:00pm and would like to do something similar with Defender in W10. I looked around and there doesn't seem to be anything within Defender, the other option is set up a task but I would think you could do it within the application. It did update itself for no apparent reason yesterday, also doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when it will update.

Seems like MS is moving more toward users having less and less input in using their individual device, ex: W10 Home version will have no choices on updating, never updating is not a good choice IMO but I would rather have control of when I allow an update(s) to install. I've usually waited a few days because there have been times, albeit few and far between when an update ends up getting pulled.

:)

 

Is there any way to set any of settings from "Settings menu" programmatically, from app?

Developer questions go to the
developer forum. You'll get better responses there.

 

Is there any way to set any of settings from "Settings menu" programmatically, from app?

Any API's detail please

 

Press Windows key on the keyboard to bring up Search interface.
Type “Schedule tasks” without quotes and select it from the list on the left hand side.
It will open up the Task Scheduler window, and create your task

 

Hello CmmTch,

Windows Defender definitions update automatically via Windows Update at the time you have Automatic Maintenance scheduled to run, or the next time Windows is running when the schedule is missed.

In addition to what Dude posted above, you might see if the Windows Defender context menu below may help. *Smile

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6...dows-10-a.html

 

Reading again I see you did not want to do it by a task. Brinks option works perfectly

 

With real time protection you don't really need to scan every day. AV's are working every time you use your browser, open a file and when a program open. The only "needed scan" is the initial, upon installation, and since Defender comes with and is built into Windows 10 you don't even need this. I use the Custom Scan to check downloaded zip files and ISO's to double check with Malwarebytes though.

 

Brink has a tutorial to scan files too

Scan with Windows Defender - Add in Windows 8

 

Thanks to everybody that took their time to reply, I didn't want to create a task but I went in task scheduler and there was already one existing. See highlighted line in the screen shot. Going to properties for that task you can enable it and set times for it to run.

To enable it was easy, it now will run every day, although after reading Cliff S response I might delete that task. Feeling the need to have an anti virus/anti malware type program run every day I guess is leftover from the days of XP and before that. I may just follow Brink's instruction and set up the context menu, or leave well enough alone since Defender is set for real time protection.

Again thanks for your responses and suggestions, I know I said I didn't want to mess around with task scheduler but the task was already built and just needed enabling, see included screen shot.

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