How To Run Windows Defender Scan Windows 11

Running a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11 is essential to ensure the security of your system. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, it's crucial to regularly scan your computer for any potential malware or viruses. Did you know that malware attacks are on the rise, with hackers constantly coming up with new ways to infiltrate systems?

To run a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11, you can follow a few simple steps. First, open the Windows Security app by clicking on the Start button, typing "Windows Security," and then selecting the app from the search results. Once the app is open, click on the "Virus & threat protection" tab, and then click on the "Quick scan" or "Full scan" button to initiate the scan. It's recommended to perform a full scan periodically to thoroughly examine your system.

Windows Defender Scan Windows 11: An Expert Guide

Windows Defender is an essential security feature that comes built-in with Windows 11. It provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, and other security threats. However, to ensure the utmost security of your system, it is important to run regular scans using Windows Defender. In this expert guide, we will walk you through the process of running a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11 and explore advanced settings to optimize your scan experience.

1. Launching Windows Defender on Windows 11

Before you can run a scan, you need to access the Windows Defender Security Center on Windows 11. Here's how to launch Windows Defender:

• Click on the Start button, located in the bottom left corner of your screen. Alternatively, press the Windows key on your keyboard.
• Type "Windows Security" in the search bar.
• Click on the "Windows Security" app from the search results. This will open the Windows Security Center.

Once you have launched the Windows Defender Security Center, you are ready to initiate a scan on your Windows 11 system.

A. Quick Scan

Running a Quick Scan with Windows Defender is a fast way to check for any immediate threats on your system. Follow these steps to perform a Quick Scan:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Quick scan" section, click on "Quick scan" to start the scan process.
• Windows Defender will scan your system for malware and other threats. The duration of the scan will depend on the size of your files and the speed of your computer.
• Once the scan is complete, you will see the scan results, including any detected threats.

If the Quick Scan identifies any threats, Windows Defender will prompt you to take appropriate actions to remove or quarantine the detected items.

B. Full Scan

If you suspect that your system may be compromised or want to perform a comprehensive scan to ensure thorough protection, a Full Scan is recommended. Follow these steps:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Quick scan" section, click on the arrow next to "Quick scan" to expand the options.
• Select "Full scan" from the expanded menu to initiate the scan.
• Windows Defender will thoroughly scan all the files and folders on your system. This process can take a significant amount of time, depending on the size of your storage and the speed of your computer.
• After the Full Scan completes, you will be presented with a detailed summary of the scan results.

If any threats are detected during the Full Scan, Windows Defender will guide you through the necessary actions to resolve the issues.

C. Custom Scan

Windows Defender also allows you to perform a Custom Scan, where you can specify particular files, folders, or drives to scan. This can be useful when you want to target specific areas of your system. Here's how to perform a Custom Scan on Windows 11:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Quick scan" section, click on the arrow next to "Quick scan" to reveal more options.
• Select "Custom scan" from the dropdown menu.
• Click on the "Scan now" button.
• You will be prompted to choose the specific files, folders, or drives you want to include in the scan.
• Once you have made your selections, click on the "Scan now" button to start the scan.

The Custom Scan will focus on the areas you have specified, providing a more targeted inspection.

2. Advanced Scan Options

In addition to the Quick, Full, and Custom scan options, Windows Defender offers advanced settings to further customize your scan experience. Here are a few notable options:

A. Scan Exclusions

If you have certain files, folders, or drives that you want to exclude from Windows Defender scans, you can add them to the exclusion list. This is useful when you have trusted files or applications that you believe are being wrongly flagged as potential threats. To add exclusions, follow these steps:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Scroll down to the "Exclusions" section and click on "Add or remove exclusions."
• Select the type of exclusion you want to add, such as a file, folder, or process.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add the specific exclusions to the list.

Adding exclusions can help improve scan efficiency and prevent false positives.

B. Windows Defender Offline Scan

Windows Defender Offline Scan is a powerful feature that allows you to scan your system during startup, before potential threats have a chance to activate. This scan mode is particularly useful when dealing with advanced malware or persistent threats that may try to evade detection. To initiate a Windows Defender Offline Scan, follow these steps:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Quick scan" section, click on the arrow next to "Quick scan" to see additional options.
• Select "Windows Defender Offline scan" from the menu.
• Click on the "Scan now" button.
• Windows 11 will restart and initiate the scan during the reboot process.
• During the Windows Defender Offline Scan, your system will be thoroughly inspected for malware or other persistent threats.
• After the scan completes, your system will restart, and you will be able to view the results.

The Windows Defender Offline Scan provides enhanced security by booting into a separate environment to perform the scan.

C. Schedule Scans

To ensure regular system scans without manual intervention, you can set up scheduled scans with Windows Defender. Here's how:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Scroll down to the "Current threats" section and click on "Manage scans."
• Under the "Scan options" section, click on "Add or remove scans."
• Click on the "New scan" button.
• Configure the scan settings, including scan type, target locations, and frequency.
• Click on the "Save" button to schedule the scan.

Scheduled scans help ensure continuous protection without the need for manual initiation.

3. Optimizing Windows Defender Performance

While Windows Defender is designed to offer robust protection, you can optimize its performance to suit your specific needs. Here are a few tips:

A. Keep Windows Defender Definitions Updated

Windows Defender relies on up-to-date definitions to identify and block the latest threats. Ensure that your Windows 11 system is set to receive automatic updates for Windows Defender definitions. To check for updates, follow these steps:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Quick scan" section, click on the arrow next to "Quick scan" to expand the options.
• Select "Check for Updates" from the menu.
• Windows Defender will connect to the Microsoft server and download any available updates for the definitions.

Regularly updating Windows Defender will ensure that you have the latest protection against emerging threats.

B. Enable Cloud-Delivered Protection

Cloud-Delivered Protection is an advanced feature of Windows Defender that utilizes Microsoft's cloud infrastructure to enhance threat detection capabilities. When enabled, Windows Defender can rapidly identify and respond to new threats in real-time. To enable Cloud-Delivered Protection, follow these steps:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Virus & Threat Protection Settings" section, click on "Manage settings."
• Toggle the switch next to "Cloud-delivered protection" to enable it.
• Cloud-Delivered Protection will now provide additional security enhancements during scans.

Enabling Cloud-Delivered Protection ensures real-time threat intelligence and rapid response to emerging threats.

C. Adjust Windows Defender Notifications

To customize the notifications you receive from Windows Defender, you can modify the notification settings. Follow these steps to adjust the notifications:

• In the Windows Defender Security Center, click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" tab.
• Under the "Virus & Threat Protection Settings" section, click on "Manage settings."
• Scroll down to the "Notifications" section.
• Toggle the switches to enable or disable the desired notifications.
• You can choose between receiving notifications for all activities, only critical events, or disabling notifications altogether.

Customizing the notification preferences helps you stay informed about important security events without being overwhelmed with excessive notifications.

Taking Control of Windows Defender Scan on Windows 11

Running Windows Defender scans on Windows 11 is an essential part of maintaining a secure system. By following the steps outlined in this expert guide, you can ensure that your system remains protected against viruses, malware, and other security threats. Remember to regularly update Windows Defender definitions, enable Cloud-Delivered Protection, and customize the scan settings to optimize your scanning experience. With Windows Defender, you can have peace of mind knowing that your Windows 11 system is in good hands.

Running a Windows Defender Scan on Windows 11

If you are using Windows 11 and want to run a scan using Windows Defender, here are the steps:

Method 1: Using Windows Security App

• Click on the Start menu and search for "Windows Security".
• Open the Windows Security app from the search results.
• Click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" option.
• Select "Quick Scan" or "Full Scan" depending on your preference.
• Wait for the scan to complete.

Method 2: Using Windows Defender Offline Scan

If you suspect that your system might be infected with malware, you can perform an offline scan using Windows Defender. Here's how:

• Open the Windows Security app as mentioned in Method 1.
• Click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" option.
• Scroll down to the "Current threats" section and click on "Scan options".
• Choose "Windows Defender Offline Scan" and click "Scan now".
• Restart your computer and let Windows Defender scan for threats before it boots up.

Running regular scans

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we'll address some common questions related to running a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11.

1. How do I initiate a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11?

To initiate a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows logo on the taskbar.

Step 2: Type "Windows Security" and press Enter to open the Windows Security app.

Step 3: In the Windows Security app, click on "Virus & threat protection" in the left sidebar.

Step 4: Click on the "Quick scan" or "Full scan" option to initiate the scan.

After following these steps, Windows Defender will start scanning your computer for any potential threats or malware.

2. Can I schedule automatic scans with Windows Defender on Windows 11?

Yes, you can schedule automatic scans with Windows Defender on Windows 11. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Windows Security app as mentioned in the previous question.

Step 2: Click on "Virus & threat protection" in the left sidebar of the app.

Step 3: Scroll down to the "Current threats" section and click on "Manage settings" under it.

Step 4: In the new window, under the "Automatic sample submission" section, click on "Advanced options."

Step 5: Turn on the toggle switch next to "Automatic scanning" and choose the frequency and time for the scans.

By scheduling automatic scans, Windows Defender will regularly scan your system without manual intervention.

3. How long does a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11 typically take?

The duration of a Windows Defender scan on Windows 11 depends on various factors, including the size of your storage, the number of files, and the speed of your system. Generally, a quick scan can take around 15-30 minutes, while a full scan may take several hours.

During the scan, it's recommended to avoid running resource-intensive tasks on your computer to ensure optimal performance.

4. Can I customize the scan settings in Windows Defender on Windows 11?

Yes, you can customize the scan settings in Windows Defender on Windows 11 to suit your preferences. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Windows Security app, as mentioned earlier.

Step 2: Click on "Virus & threat protection" in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Scroll down to the "Current threats" section and click on "Manage settings."

Step 4: Under the "Scan options" section, click on "Quick scan" or "Full scan" to customize the settings for each type of scan.

Step 5: Here, you can specify additional folders or files to include/exclude from the scan and set other preferences.

By customizing the scan settings, you can optimize the scanning process according to your specific requirements.

5. How can I view the scan results in Windows Defender on Windows 11?

To view the scan results in Windows Defender on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Windows Security app.

Step 2: Click on "Virus & threat protection" in the left sidebar.

To summarize, running a Windows Defender scan in Windows 11 is an essential step to ensure the security of your computer. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily initiate a scan and protect your system from malicious software.

Remember to regularly update your Windows Defender definitions to stay protected against the latest threats. Regular scans will help detect and remove any potential threats, keeping your computer safe and secure.