Windows 10 latest update does not offer a 'Defender Offline' option. Please help, Thanks. Windows 10 latest update does not offer a 'Defender Offline' option. Please help, Thanks. Click Advanced Scan -move Radio button to Windows Defender Offline Scan- choose Scan.

Since the advent of Windows 10, a considerable number of users are confronting somehow issues with Windows Defender. In this article, you will read an elaborated guide to fix Windows Defender not Working in Windows 10 comprising almost every variety of extrication and minute tweaks.

How to Fix Windows Defender Not Working in Windows 10

1. Restart

At first, Restart your system. There are certain services that need to work perfectly for Windows Defender, but somehow they get stuck and hence hinder the anti-threat program from working. Restarting the machine reboots all the components or services that are required for the Defender to trigger on. After attempting a restart, Windows Defender not working nevertheless continues, see the next one.

2. Get Rid of the Third Party Anti-Threat Software

With the presence of third party anti-threat software, there always arises a conflict between the third party programs which results in nothing good. These conflicts slow down your machine, applications get crashed, frequent freezing and lot more issues take place.

So, Windows Defender deactivates itself after it discovers the presence of other security programs. In the same way, if the outside program includes Firewall in it, then Windows Firewall also refuses to work.

Hence, to make Windows Defender perform correctly, get rid of the third party anti-threat software and restart the machine. After the restart, try to operate Windows Defender.

3. Scan for Malware

Another significant source behind not working of Windows Defender is the presence of any malware on your computer. A proper and thorough scan are required to find out them. The most used tools are the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware and Microsoft Safety Scanner.

Download the tool from their respective pages and make it run to search the malware. If you find some, remove the infections and reboot the system. See Windows Defender and if starts performing no issues, but if it refuses to not working look at the next step.

4. System File Checker Scan

Accidently or suddenly some files might get damaged on your computer which leads to the disturbance of Windows Defender. In order to ensure that your machine does not hold any of the destructed files, run the System File Checker Scan / SFC and when you find some, get them fixed. See how it is done:

• Jointly press Windows and X keys and from the appeared bar pick up Command Prompt (Admin).

• Say Yes to UAC.
• In the newly visible window, proceed ahead by typing this command: sfc /scannow

• Hit Enter key to run the command.
• Wait until it exhibits you the results.

If the System File Checker discovers any damage stuff, it thoroughly fixes it. Now, reboot the system and then try to start Windows Defender. And if nothing is found, try out the next one.

5. Confirm Whether Windows Defender is Not Disabled Through A Registry Key

Because of any previous mishandling of the registry keys it might happen that Windows Defender was turned off or may be its related keys has gone missing. The best advice is to check that in case Windows Defender went off with the registry key or not –

• On the Cortana text area, write regedit and she will present you the same as a result. Click on it.

• Once the Registry Editor window arrives, travel this way – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE => SOFTWARE => Policies => Microsoft => Windows Defender
• Now on the right pane look for the DWORD DisableAntiSpyware.

• See if the Value of the DWORD is set to 0 or not. If not, make a double click on it and upon the new Edit box, set the number to 0 and save the changes.

• If the right pane doesn’t show up any DWORD, make one then. Do a right-click on the empty area in the opposite pane of Windows Defender and opt for New, DWORD.

• Assign it a name DisableAntiSpyware and put its value as 0 only.

6. Set Date & Time Settings Accurately

Many Programs functions accordingly Date & Time on Windows. So anything wrong in it could trigger the mess up. Ensure whether you have put its values accurately.

7. Ensure to download the latest update

Windows update is often proves to be a big factor when you confront Windows Defender Not Working in Windows 10. So continuously set to automatically update your System. Apart from this check when you encounter the issue.

8. Check for wrong Zone settings and update Proxy Server in Internet Explorer

Inaccurate Zone entry on Internet Explorer produces flaw when Windows Defender from functioning. The only and straightforward process to overcome this problem is resetting of the browser. Hence reset Internet Explorer.

But Proxy Server could not be updated. For this purpose you will have to go manually. Follow the underneath steps:

• Jointly press Winkey+X. Move off with the choice on the 8th position from lowermost which says Command prompt (Admin).
• Copy the underneath codes and paste

NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY 1.1.1.1:8080 or NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY MYPROXY.NET:8080

• Hit Enter.

With these many steps, we are connived to fix Windows Defender not working. Based on diverse machines, the causes tend to be different. One step might resolve your machine’s Windows Defender and the other one might work well for another’s system.

Occasionally, malware [malicious software]

'>malware prevents your anti-malware'>anti-malware tools from running, or is designed in such a way that anti-malware tools may not be able to actually eradicate the infection while Windows is running.

One of the most common solutions in the past has been to boot your computer from a DVD or USB

'>USB drive that contains its own operating system, bypassing both Windows and the malware that might be interfering. Once running, this isolated operating system can run anti-malware tools that are much more likely to resolve the issue.

Windows 10 actually built in this capability. Without needing to download anything, you can boot your computer into “Windows Defender Offline” – a copy of Windows 10’s built-in anti-malware tool, running in a separate, isolated, dedicated copy of Windows 10.

Windows Defender?

It’s important to understand exactly which “Defender” we’re talking about, since Microsoft continues to confuse us with their choice of product names.

Windows Defender was the name of a tool that only scanned for spyware Spyware is a class of malware that, as its name implies, is typically designed to spy on you or your computer, silently collecting information that is subsequently sent on to others for typically nefarious purposes. (Click on the term for full definition.) '>spyware, and not other forms of malware, that ran in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), a tool that scanned for all types of malware, could be downloaded, and replaced Windows Defender when installed. A separate tool called “Windows Defender Offline” (WDO), which was actually equivalent to MSE, could be downloaded for Windows versions up to and including Windows 7. MSE was renamed Windows Defender in Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.

Windows Defender Offline is, effectively, the same Windows Defender anti-malware tool that comes with Windows 10.

Running Windows Defender Offline

There’s nothing to download. Windows Defender Offline is already installed in Windows 10.

Click on the Start menu, and then the gear icon in the left-hand column, to run the Settings app.

In the Settings app, click on Update and security.

On the resulting page, click on Windows Defender in the left-hand column.

On the resulting page, scroll down to locate the Windows Defender Offline section. Make sure any open documents are saved and any running programs or applications closed. Click Scan Offline to begin the scan.

The Windows Defender Offline Scan

Your machine will reboot

'>reboot and then automatically run Windows Defender Offline.

It will then automatically perform a scan of your machine.

If anything is found, it’ll be dealt with and reported.

Once the scan is complete, your machine will reboot again, returning to your normal Windows installation.

Results

To locate the results of a Windows Defender scan, run Windows Defender. Using the Settings App, return to the Windows Defender page as detailed above.

How To Update Windows Defender

This time, click on Open Windows Defender.

In Windows Defender, click on the History tab to see a list of malware detected in prior runs.

Windows Defender Offline Update File

You may need to click on a View details button for the actual list to be displayed.

When Windows Defender Offline doesn’t work

Since Windows Defender Offline is actually stored on your machine, it’s possible it could be damaged – perhaps by the very malware you’re attempting to remove. Similarly, it’s possible that the process of running it – which is initiated within Windows – may not work due to the malware’s presence.

In situations like this, you need to run a different off-line anti-malware tool.

I’ll provide a list soon.

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