Troubleshooting Microsoft Defender Antivirus Snooze Issue

Reviving Microsoft Defender Antivirus: A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve all been there – one minute Microsoft Defender Antivirus is running smoothly, protecting our devices from malware threats, and the next it’s mysteriously snoozed or deactivated. Suddenly we find ourselves scrambling to get this vital program up and running again.

The good news is, there are a number of straightforward troubleshooting steps we can take to successfully reactivate Microsoft Defender and regain that crucial layer of security. In this post, we’ll walk through the top recommendations from Windows experts for bringing Microsoft Defender Antivirus back from its slumber.

Check Windows Services

The first thing to check is whether the Windows services associated with Microsoft Defender are running properly. These background services work together to power Defender, so any issues with them can shut the whole thing down.

Does Microsoft Defender Antivirus enter passive mode automatically when installing a non-Microsoft product?

On Windows Server 2019, Windows Server, version 1803 or newer, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft Defender Antivirus doesn’t enter passive mode automatically when you install a non-Microsoft antivirus product.

What happens if I uninstall Microsoft Defender Antivirus?

(In early versions of Windows 10, Windows Security is called Windows Defender Security Center). If you have another antivirus app installed and turned on, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will turn off automatically. If you uninstall the other app, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will turn back on automatically.

Let’s open the Services app and inspect three key services:

• Security Center– This should be running and set to Automatic (delayed start). If not, right-click it and set it to Automatic, then click Start.

• Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service– This should also be running and set to Automatic start. If not, make it Automatic and click Start.

• Windows Security Service– This helps manage various security features, including Defender. It should be running and set to Manual start.

Take the time to ensure all three services are in their proper state. As they interact closely, one being misconfigured can throw the others off.

Scan for Malware

An underlying malware infection is another common culprit behind a snoozed Defender. Sneaky viruses will often disable antivirus protection as a means of self-preservation.

To check for this, we can run a scan with a trusted third-party antivirus tool like Malwarebytes. Download it from malwarebytes.com and do a full system scan, enabling the option to detect rootkits. If any nasties are found, let Malwarebytes remove them.

How do I run an antivirus scan on Windows 10?

Here’s how this works: Step 1. Open the Windows Security app Step 2. Enable periodic scanning in Windows Security (Microsoft Defender Antivirus) Step 3. Run an antivirus scan on your Windows 10 PC, with Microsoft Defender Antivirus Do you like getting a second opinion from Microsoft Defender Antivirus?

How do I enable Windows Defender?

If you have trouble enabling Windows Defender from the Windows Security app, try the alternative methods like Windows Registry and Local Group Policy Editor to activate the tool. Use the Windows Registry method if you’re running the Windows Home edition. If you’re on the Pro or Enterprise edition, use the Local Group Policy Editor method.

Why is defender not working?

One common reason Defender stops working is that you’re using a third-party antivirus program. Other causes include corrupt system files, an obsolete Windows version, and more. We’ll walk you through the steps to get Defender working on your computer. 1. Update the Windows Operating System 2. Reset Windows Security 3.

With any lurking malware cleared out, Defender should be able to start back up.

Repair the WMI Repository

The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) repository is a core system component that Defender relies on. If this database gets corrupted, it can stop Defender from turning on and produce an error about using other antivirus software.

Luckily, rebuilding the repository is straightforward:

1. Type "command prompt" into the search bar and run it as admin.

2. Enter the commandwinmgmt /resetrepositoryand press Enter.

3. Restart your PC and test if Defender is back up.

This quick rebuild often does the trick when WMI issues strike.

Try an SFC Scan

System File Checker (SFC) is a handy Windows tool that sniffs out and replaces corrupted system files. Running an SFC scan could potentially fix files related to Defender that have gone bad.

To run a scan, type "command prompt" in the search bar again, but this time run it normally. Typesfc /scannowand hit Enter to initiate the scan. Once finished, restart your computer and see if Defender is running again.

Is Microsoft Defender better than Windows Security?

They usually provide more features and better antivirus protection than the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus found in Windows Security. The thing is that, when you install a third-party Windows antivirus, the Microsoft Defender Antivirus gets disabled.

Does Windows security prevent Microsoft Defender from being disabled?

In this example, the value is IsTamperProtected=True, which means that Windows Security prevents Microsoft Defender from being disabled. In earlier Windows 10 versions, check the value of the local GPO parameter specified above using gpedit.msc (the option must be set to Not configured or Disabled) or with PowerShell:

Perform a Clean Boot

If all else fails, try booting up in clean startup mode. This prevents any third-party apps from loading at boot, isolating potential software conflicts affecting Defender.

Follow these steps for a clean boot:

1. Type "msconfig" in the search bar and open the System Configuration utility.

2. Go to the Services tab and check "Hide all Microsoft services."

3. Click Disable all, apply the changes, and restart your PC.

Only Windows apps and services will now launch at startup. Check if Defender has been un-snoozed in this stripped-down mode. If the issue persists, a deeper problem may be at hand.

When All Else Fails, Seek Expert Help

If our various troubleshooting steps prove fruitless, Microsoft’s dedicated support teams may have more advanced solutions up their sleeves. Defender is too critical of a security tool to stay inactive for long. With a mix of common sense DIY fixes and guidance from the experts, we can get this antivirus guardian up and defending our system once again.

How do I know if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is running?

You can use one of several methods to confirm the state of Microsoft Defender Antivirus. You can: Use the Windows Security app to identify your antivirus app. Use Task Manager to confirm that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is running. Use Windows PowerShell to confirm that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is running.

Does Windows Defender Security Center support Windows 10?

Windows Defender Security Center includes a suite of protection tools for your Windows 10 device, these include: Antivirus, Performance, Firewall, App and Browser Control and Family Safety. This also means, users don’t need uninstall third party Antivirus products compatible with Windows 10.

Why is Windows Defender not working?

Microsoft Defender won’t catch active malware unless you have Real-time protection turned on. This step is useful if, in your situation, “Windows Defender not working” simply means that it isn’t checking for malware. If you can’t open Windows Security in Settings, then move on to the next step. Repair or reset Windows Security.

References

1. https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/defender-snoozed-other-antivirus-providers/
2. https://blog.pcrisk.com/windows/12356-cant-turn-on-windows-defender-how-to-fix-it