How to configure Windows Defender in Windows 10

Turn Windows Security real-time protection on or off

Help protect my device with Windows Security

If you have Windows 10, you’ll get the latest antivirus protection with Windows Security. When you start up Windows 10 for the first time, Windows Security is on and actively helping to protect your PC by scanning for malware (malicious software), viruses, and security threats. Windows Security uses real-time protection to scan everything you download or run on your PC.

Windows Update downloads updates for Windows Security automatically to help keep your PC safe and protect it from threats.

If you have an earlier version of Windows and are using Microsoft Security Essentials, it’s a good idea to move to Windows Security.

Schedule a scan in Windows Security

Windows Security regularly scans your PC to help keep it safe. If you want to set your own scan schedule:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Task Scheduler and then select Task Scheduler in the list of results.
2. In the left pane of Task Scheduler, expand Task Scheduler Library >Microsoft >Windows and then scroll down and double-click the Windows Defender folder.
3. In the top-center pane, double-click Windows Defender Scheduled Scan.
4. Select the Triggers tab, and then select New.
5. Set your time and frequency, and then select OK.

Turn Windows Security real-time protection on or off

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings >Update & Security >Windows Security >Virus & threat protection.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the current version of Windows 10: Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings, and then switch the Real-time protection setting to On or Off.
   • In previous versions of Windows 10: Select Virus & threat protection settings, and then switch the Real-time protection setting to On or Off.

How to configure Windows Defender in Windows 10

Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender or Windows Security as it is called now, has become more powerful in Windows 10. It can be used as a dependable anti-malware in Windows 10, and most home users may not find it necessary to install 3rd-party antivirus software on the computer. However, Microsoft has changed a couple of things in Windows Defender and included several new technologies & features. Now, the Settings panel of Windows Defender has been migrated to the new Settings app of Windows 10. That is why you may find it difficult the first time to configure Windows Defender in Windows 10.

By following this guide, you will know some of the methods to open Windows Defender settings in Windows 10. We will also see how to how to turn on, turn off, enable, disable, open, configure & use Windows Defender.

Windows Defender in Windows 10

The user interface of Windows Defender is something you may have already seen in earlier versions of Windows. You have the Home tab, the Update tab, and the History tab. The Home tab shows you the PC status and offers Scan options. The Update tab is where you can manually update Defender. Under History, you can view the items that were detected as malware and quarantined or deleted.

To open Windows Defender settings, you can follow any of these methods.

1] From Windows Defender UI

You can open the Windows Defender Settings panel from the UI itself. Press Win+X menu, open Control Panel, and select Windows Defender.

Here you can click on the Settings link to access it.

2] From Settings App of Windows 10

Press Win+I to open the Settings app. Next, click Update & Security and then Windows Defender in the left panel.

3] Using Taskbar Search

The Search bar can also help you to open the Windows Defender settings panel directly. Just type Defender in Taskbar search box and click on the result. You will see Windows Security.

Windows Defender settings look like this:

Configure Windows Defender in Windows 10

• Turn On/Off Limited Periodic Scanning
• Turn On/Off Real-Time protection
• Turn On/Off Cloud-based Protection
• Turn Of/Off Sample submission
• Add Exclusions to scan
• Turn On/Off Enhanced Notifications
• Conduct an Offline Scan.

In Windows 10, Windows Defender gets Cloud Protection. This feature sends Microsoft information, based on which it may develop new anti-malware signatures to better deal with malware identification and removal.

Finally, towards the end, you see Version info. Clicking on the Use Windows Defender link at the bottom will open the Windows Defender UI.

If you do not want to let Windows Defender scans your specific files, folders, file types, or process, you can put that on the Exclusion list. To add anything to the Exclusion List, just click on Add an exclusion under Exclusions and add your file, folder, file type, or process.

Once you have done the basics, you can go on to harden Windows Defender protection to the highest levels on Windows 10 by changing a few Group Policy settings.

Windows Defender in Windows 10 also adds the ability to Turn On/Off Limited Periodic Scanning, Turn On/Off Enhanced Notifications and carry out a Windows Defender boot-time scan.

If you use Windows 10, you want to be familiar with this new Windows Defender settings app. Incidentally, Windows Server 10 will include Windows Defender.

1. How to disable Windows Defender completely
2. How to schedule Scans in Windows Defender
3. Update Windows Defender manually
4. How to remove Windows Defender icon in Windows 10
5. Windows Defender is turned off or not working
6. How to run Windows Defender from the Command-Line.