Windows 10: Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?"

Discus and support Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?" in AntiVirus, Firewalls and System Security to solve the problem; It's my understanding that Defender scans according to Microsoft's maintenance schedule. But I get a notice in the Action Center that "Windows Defender... Discussion in 'AntiVirus, Firewalls and System Security' started by ALN, Jul 13, 2016.

  1. ALN
    ALN Win User

    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?"


    It's my understanding that Defender scans according to Microsoft's maintenance schedule. But I get a notice in the Action Center that "Windows Defender needs to scan." My last scan occurred 4-5 days ago when I noticed the alert.

    Is it possible that since my computer is powered down at bed time that the scheduled scan is skipped (and not started next morning when I power it up?

    How often is Defender scheduled to scan?

    Thanks for your help!
    Al

    :)
     
    ALN, Jul 13, 2016
    #1
  2. PA BEAR - MS MVP
    PA Bear - MS MVP Win User

    MALWARE ATTACK 20th January 2017

    Me, too.

    When you start the computer, does the Action Center tell
    you that Windows Defender is not enabled/turned on?
     
    PA Bear - MS MVP, Jul 13, 2016
    #2
  3. COOKIEC25
    CookieC25 Win User
    Windows 10 will not let me disable Windows Firewall and Antivirus

    The Windows 10 Action Center keeps on telling me the Windows Defender needs to scan my computer.
     
    CookieC25, Jul 13, 2016
    #3
  4. CLIFF S
    Cliff S New Member

    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?"

    If the computer is powered down at maintenance time, it will do it the next time you power up(and after a few minutes when the PC is idle).

    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?" [​IMG]



    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?" [​IMG]

    Do you possibly have Windows Defender checked in Disk Cleanup?

    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?" [​IMG]

    Uncheck as it clears Defenders logs, and Windows will think you have not run a scan yet.

    Same thing goes if you have Ccleaner:

    Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?" [​IMG]
     
    Cliff S, Jul 13, 2016
    #4
  5. ALN
    ALN Win User
    Thanks Cliff S for the very detailed reply. My Task Scheduler settings are as shown in your illustrations, so looks like Defender is scheduled to run at power up. I do run Disk Cleanup on occasion, and if it detects Defender files, I would not have omitted them from the clean up options (At this time, Defender does not show up in clean up). I also run CCleaner regularly, and I did have Defender ticked for clean up. So looks like that was the issue. Thanks again for your work on this site!
     
    ALN, Jul 13, 2016
    #5
  6. CLIFF S
    Cliff S New Member
    You're most welcome*Smile
     
    Cliff S, Jul 14, 2016
    #6
  7. ELPUSHER
    eLPuSHeR Win User
    I have never had any trouble cleaning WD data with the built-in disk cleanup util. CC on the other hand...
     
    eLPuSHeR, Apr 5, 2018
    #7
Thema:

Why does Action Center tell me "Windows Defender needs to scan?"

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