Windows 10: Win Defender is on but grayed out. Why?

Hey all,

Windows Defender shows being on but it's grayed out. I can't change it, and the downloadable .reg file to turn it on or off does nothing.

I run AVG antivirus, and I tried turning it off to see if it was getting in the way...didn't help.
This is Windows 10 Home, by the way.
Any ideas?

Thanks,



:)

 

Real-time is set to on, but it is grayed out and I am being notified that I do not have real-time protection

Good to know that restarting the computer after installing a new battery seems to have resolved the issue.

Regards...

 

Real-time is set to on, but it is grayed out and I am being notified that I do not have real-time protection

Any other security program installed?

The behavior you are describing may occur if there are remnants of a third party program installed.



Go to Security and Maintenance, look in 'Security' and see what program is listed under Virus Protection. Windows Defender will not be enabled if there is a program other than Windows
Defender listed.



Have you tried the steps recommended in Problems
starting Windows Defender in Windows 8/8.1/10 to include running the software removal tools for any security software (AVG, McAfee, Norton, whatever) that may have previously been on the computer followed by a restart of the
computer?

For further information see the reply of quietman7 in
this thread: Windows Defender.

How to Use the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10

Regards…

 

..............Windows Defender shows being on but it's grayed out. ..................

Are you talking about making changes in Services ?
If yes, you can't make changes if WD is already On.
Screenshot on my WD................

 

I probably do not have a solution for you, but if you elaborate why you want to make changes in WD, someone will most likely have an answer for you.

 

No, I don't necessarily need to make any changes. I just noticed that when I go to Settings > Update and Security > Windows Defender, it shows the sliders on but grayed out. I guess I would like to turn off the Cloud option, but that's about it. Just wondering why.

 

Yes, you do have reason of concern.
My WD slider is NOT grayed out.
Don' know why.

 

You misread my statement! I never said I had no reason for concern, quite the contrary.

Wait! by "Yes, you do have reason of concern," do you mean something like, "Yeah, that is an issue," in which case I agree. If, however, you're under the assumption I am not concerned but should be, then you did misread my statement; I would like to know why the settings are grayed out. For sure.

 

Using two full time active/resident AVs is not recommended and potentially detrimental. Third party AVs have protection built in and don't allow it's services to be turned off because malware could do same thing and so disable protection.
Installing a third party AV turns Defender off and just shutting down AVG is not going to turn it on. You need to uninstall AVG completely using their tool to do it. That should activate Defender again.

 

Are you signed in as an administrator? If you are signed as a restricted user, then settings should be greyed.

 

AndreTen - Yeah, I'm in as Admin.

CountMike - thanks for the input.

AVG is probably the culprit, but since it is most likely turning off Windows Defender, I doubt that there is much to be worried about having two AV programs running; one isn't running!

I'd really like to choose my own AV program, particularly since WD is on the very low end of the totem pole for protection.

Well, thanks much, all,

 

It's 100% sure that AVG turned WD off, no doubt about it but you are in good hands with AVG although WD is nothing to be sneezed on as of lately. I have been using WD since W10 came out and didn't need any other overhead from 3rd party AVs. Was using Avast before that.

 

Yup, just uninstalled AVG and that kicked in Windows Defender.
Now, what about adding EMET 5.5 (Defender, I know, is something of the EMET line...or vice versa)? The 5.5 is compatible with Windows 10, so the two should work in tandem, I would think, and be that much better. What do you think?

I was going to go with AVAST as well instead of AVG, but if Defender and EMET get along fine (and apparently they do), then I think you're right that I'm good to go.

 

They do get together but I'd rather ad Malwarebytes pro because it deals with stuff that AVs don't. I just comb system with it and Advance cleaner every now and than and that proved to be enough for me.

 

Yeah, I agree. Can't afford to pay for Mal Pro right now, but I do run the free version periodically.

Thanks much,