Share via

How to run a MS Defender Virus sca for dummies

MARY 20 Reputation points
2026-02-03T00:54:48.6866667+00:00

Can't figure out how to run the defender scan; please help

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Gunasekar N 56,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-03T01:38:18.61+00:00

    Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

    If you already have any third-party antivirus software such as McAfee, Norton, etc. installed on your computer, you may not be able to run a Windows Security scan. These apps can take over and block the Virus & threat protection settings in Windows Security. If you have any of these apps installed, uninstall them first, then run a full system scan using Microsoft Defender. Here's how:

    1. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
    2. To perform a quick scan, click Quick scan on the main screen.
    3. To run other types of scans, select Scan options.
    4. You can choose between Quick scan, Full scan, Custom scan, and Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
    5. Once the scan is complete, Windows will show the scan results and notify you if any threats are found.

    For reference, see

    Stay Protected With the Windows Security App

    You and 1 other person found this answer helpful.

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-03T00:55:31.9933333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To run a Microsoft Defender Antivirus scan, follow these steps:

    1. Open the Windows Security app:
      • Search for Windows Security in the Start menu and open it.
    2. Navigate to Virus & threat protection:
      • Click on the Virus & threat protection tile (or the shield icon on the left menu).
    3. Choose the scan type:
      • For a quick scan, click on Quick scan.
      • For a more thorough check, click on Scan options, then select Full scan or another option you prefer.
    4. Start the scan:
      • Click Scan now to begin the scan.
    5. Review the results:
      • After the scan completes, you can review any threats that were detected in the same Virus & threat protection section.

    If you need to run a scan remotely or using PowerShell, there are additional methods available as well.

    References:

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.