Microsoft Defender Antivirus is a free security tool that comes pre-installed on Windows 10. It helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, and other malicious software. However, some users may not know how to enable it or may have accidentally disabled it. In this article, we will show you how to enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus on your Windows 10 computer.
Step 1: Open Windows Security
The first step is to open Windows Security. You can do this in several ways:
- Click on the Start menu and search for "Windows Security"
- Click on the shield icon in the taskbar
- Open the Settings app and click on "Update & Security" and then "Windows Security"
Step 2: Check if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is Enabled
Once you have opened Windows Security, you need to check if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is enabled. Here's how:
- Click on "Virus & threat protection"
- Under "Virus & threat protection settings", you should see "Microsoft Defender Antivirus" and the status should say "On"
Step 3: Enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus
If Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not enabled, you can enable it by following these steps:
- Click on "Virus & threat protection"
- Under "Virus & threat protection settings", click on "Manage settings"
- Turn on the toggle switch for "Real-time protection" and "Cloud-delivered protection"
Step 4: Check for Updates
It's important to make sure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is up-to-date. Here's how:
- Click on "Virus & threat protection"
- Under "Virus & threat protection settings", click on "Check for updates"
- If there are any updates available, they will be installed automatically
Step 5: Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Now that you have enabled Microsoft Defender Antivirus, you can configure it to suit your needs. Here are some things you can do:
- Click on "Virus & threat protection"
- Under "Virus & threat protection settings", click on "Manage settings"
- Here, you can turn on or off features such as "Tamper Protection" and "Cloud-delivered protection"
- You can also add exclusions for files, folders, and processes that you trust and don't want Microsoft Defender Antivirus to scan
Conclusion
Enabling Microsoft Defender Antivirus is an important step in keeping your computer safe and secure. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your computer is protected from viruses, malware, and other malicious software. Remember to keep Microsoft Defender Antivirus up-to-date and configure it to suit your needs.
