Windows 10: Windows Defender won't scan automatically

I just ditched Norton 360, opting to use just Windows Security. I thought that Windows would automatically scan my computer at various times without me doing a thing. Instead, I can go over 24 hours, and find that Windows has not done any scans at all. I have to manually go into Windows Security and tell it to run a scan for it to anything. Is that normal? Is there a way to get Windows to do a quick scan automatically, without me telling it to? At least with Norton, it would scan my computer usually at least once a day if not more than that without me having to manually tell it to. If W

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defender scans

Hi Ian,

Thanks for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

This issue might occur if you have set any task scheduler for Windows Defender.

I suggest you to delete the task for Windows defender and check if it helps.

Follow the below steps:

• 
  Search and open Schedule tasks.
  
• 
  In the left-hand menu, open the Task Scheduler Library, then select
  Microsoft >Windows >Windows Defender.
  
• 
  Double-click Windows Defender Scheduled Scan.
  
• 
  Select the Triggers panel, then select Delete.
  

Hope it helps, reply to us with the status of your issue. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Windows Defender not completing scans

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

As per the description, I understand that you are facing issues using Windows Defender.

I would suggest you to go through the below methods:

Method 1: Set Windows Defender to Automatic

You can set the Windows Defender service to Automatic, Disabled or Manual. Setting it to automatic might solve the problem. Follow these steps:

• 
  Click Start > type services in the Search box > click Services in the Programs list.
  
  2. Search for Windows defender.
  
  3. Double-click Windows Defender, and click Automatic in the start-up box > click OK.
  
• 
  

Method 2: Run SFC scan, it will check, if there is any kind of corruption on the operating system.

• 
  Press WIN+X.
  
• 
  Click on command prompt with admin.
  
• 
  Type sfc /scannow and press enter.
  
• 
  Reboot the computer once finished.
  

Method 3: Try the below link:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/931849

Hope this information helps. Please let us know if you need any other assistance with Windows in future. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Windows 10 Automatic Scanning in Defender

You need to read this thread; very thoroughly, and very carefully:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_defender-protect_scanning/windows-defender-scheduled-task-not-working-on/7b19274c-cf3d-4a36-8242-f577c685cdd5


In a nutshell, we now know that the Microsoft how-to for scheduling a scan not only suffers from a flawed rationale, but that it also creates a dysfunctional scheduled scan. The scan that it creates runs in the same wait-for-idle
mode that’s used by the Automatic Maintenance engine, and it also appears to conflict seriously with the Automatic Maintenance scan.

If you set up a scheduled scan following these steps:

Schedule a scan in Microsoft Defender Antivirus

This is what you’ll get:

• A scan that doesn’t add any protection whatsoever, because Automatic Maintenance is already running the same scan daily.
• A scan that doesn’t run like a normal scheduled scan at all, but rather runs with the same wait-for-idle constraint as the Automatic Maintenance scan.
• A scan that appears to conflict with the Automatic Maintenance scan, judging from the slowdown, and the strange behavior exhibited in the user interface when both of these wait-for-idle scans are running concurrently.
  

That’s probably not what you’re looking for.