Windows 10: Windows Defender is missing, please help.

Hiya guys.

In a nutshell my windows defender is missing. I first noticed the issue when i tried to click on the open security control center option (where you would manage exceptions to the antivirus for example) in the update & security tab in the settings, and nothing happened. If i click on the windef icon on the taskbar same result, it dosent react, no hung processes or nothing. If i try to open it in safe mode it gets wierder: it closes the settings window as soon as i try to click on the update & security tab.

In the policy editor (gpedit.msc) i dont even have a windef folder just windef antivirus and windef smartscreen and one more which i cant recall (in work atm).

I tried to run the sfc scan which stops at 50% in both normal and safe modes. It says it cannot perform the requested operation.

I tried the DISM scan/restore thing i get an error message saying that the specified buffer contains ill formed data.

Antivirus says everythings a-okay.

Im at about my wits end here, any help would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Sage

PS: First time poster, hope i did everything correctly .

:)

 

my phone is missing, Please help.

Thanks!

 

my phone is missing, Please help.

Thanks!

 

Strange. Windows defender is missing in my windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Fix: - YouTube

 

Welcome to tenforums. When you say Anti Virus says everything is OK, I assume you have a third party Anti Virus. If that is the case, third party anti virus's will disable Defender.

 

No i dont have any third party antivirus.
Im talking about the windows defender antivirus.

 

In the YT video shows a solution where you have to open the windows defender folder in the policy editor. As i said thats one of the problems im experiencing that i dont have the plain defender folder in there; just defender antivirus and defender smartscreen.

 

System Restore Windows 10


May consider a System Restore to a point before the issue.

 

Left click on Winkey to reveal apps.
Scroll down to "Windows Accessories".....scroll down to the bottom one.....is it "Windows Defender Security Centre"?
If it is there click on it...

 

Nope. Unfortunately its not there neither.

 

Shameful, i know, but i neglected to create one...

 

Long shot, but check Services to see if Windows Defender Antivirus Service and Windows Defender Security Center Service are running and set to Automatic.

 

Okay so not a proper solution but for anyone struggling with this in the future:
What Microsoft IT says that if the sfc and the DISM both fails than the system files are already corrupted and the easiest fix for it to perform an Upgrade Install, which will keep all personal files and requires no product key or activation.

Just pop in your WIN10 ISO and select upgrade install.

 

These are my services

 

Hey SageofRage,
Since your considering an Upgrade Install, you might want to try FixWin for Win10. It's got an option under it's System Tools to repair/reset Windows Defender. I've never used it, but don't think it would hurt anything at this point *Smile

FixWin for Windows 10: Repair problems and issues in a click