Windows 10: Unable to clear Windows Defender Protection History

Hello I wonder if anyone can help

I'm using Windows 10 Home & also use Windows Defender for protection

For some reason I am unable to clear the protection history , I have entries going back as far as 1/8/2020.

I have tried numerous ways to clear it , deleting scan history folder & turning off then on Real-time protection & Cloud-delivered protection,

Clearing Windows Defender logs in Event Viewer ,even changing the Local Group Policy Editor setting to delete scan item after 1 day ,

all with no success . I read in another post that adding other threats using Eicar might work , but I have also tried that & after deleting scan history folder

the Eicar Malware threats were removed but none of others in the list were.

Using Powershell I have set my preference to remove all threats & also change the scan purge items after delay to 1 day .

I have to admit that I am no that Tech savvy , but have run out of ideas & would appreciate any help given

thanks Chris

:)

 

Unable to clear protection history

I am using Windows 10 Home build 1909 and I am unable to clear the Windows Security Protection History...

I have tried...

Open Event viewer and find Log "Operational" under Application and service logs / Microsoft / Windows / Windows defender

Right click on it and select clear log.

and

Delete folder Service C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service .

After deleting the folder Service, off and turn on (OFF>ON) Real-Time protection and Cloud protection.

And neither suggestion works. Are there any other suggestions to clear the protection history

Microsoft needs to reinstall the clear button.

I have entries because I had Controlled folder access turned on by accident... I have it off now.

 

Clearing Windows Defender history

Hey, what you need to do is so simple, just follow the steps below exactly in order:

1. Turn OFF Real-time Protection
2. Turn OFF Cloud-delivered Protection
3. Go to this folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service
4. Delete the contents in the folder
5. Turn ON Real-time Protection
6. Turn ON Cloud-delivered Protection

That's it... Now check protection History, it's empty.
Done!

 

Clear Windows Security Center (Defender) Protection History

While Windows Defender can be configured via Powershell cmdlet "Set-MpPreference" thus changing Group Policy and Registry settings to purge after 1 day minimum, however, this fails to accomplish the objective which is to clear the protection history manually and/or instantly as this topic suggests.

I tried this with no success... even tried rebooting to make sure at no avail.

This is the procedure that does indeed work.
I previously had tried deleting the folder before with no success but turning off, then on said protections is what apparently allows this to work. Thank you and the OP "LiNer2" from windows forum for this.

To anyone who wishes to try this and you don't happen to have any current protection history...
you can utilize the "EICAR Anti-Malware Testfile" to check the solution.