Windows Defender Missing

Question

From file explorer, right click on files freezing/ stop responding to missing defender?

Hello guys, i am having issue, win bug or not, paid licence software should not behave like that.

What happened?

1. Used to have malwarebytes installed, but removed it. Decided to rely only on microsoft and their defender/security intelligence features.
2. Also have installed iObit Uninstaller and it reports too there is no antivirus installed on my laptop.
3. Cant find windows defender folder in registry. Watched few online solutions of how to find and see if defender running or is up-to-date and all videos had files in registry editor -> windows defender folder, as you can see in screen shot I dont
4. Cant find in Local group policy editor too. Microsoft Defender Antivirus folder present but also no Windows Defender folder

Whats going on? Where is my defender lol. I run win10 pro for workstations.

Kindly let me know whats happening or defender there but i cant find it.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Do you mean when you want to scan a file with Windows Defender, you can't see Windows Defender option by right click the file in File Explorer, right?

If yes, we could add "Scan With Windows Defender" Option with the following measure manually. (Those measure also apply to Windows 10)

Scan with Windows Defender - Add in Windows 8

How to add the Windows defender into Windows Explorer's right click menu to scan a particular drive/folder/file on demand in Windows 8?

I would not relay on third party software report about Windows Defender as Windows Defender it is a system build software. We could go Settings\Update & Security\Windows Security. In previous versions of Windows 10, Windows Security is called Windows Defender Security Center, but now Windows Security includes an antivirus program called Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

By the way, my device shows Windows Defender registry key same with you, but I do not think it is a issue, which should be more likely a behavior that might different by system version build. For group policy about Windows Defender, we could go to Local Computer Policy > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus to check. I create a capture on my side. (system version: Windows 10 1909 version build 18363.959). If there is some option missing on your side, would you provide your version build and group policy capture?

Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

Bests,

Answer 2

Hello,

Do you have any other third-party AV installed? If yes, try uninstalling temporarily and see if this helps.

Regards.

Answer 3

Do you have any updates on this issue? I am experiencing this now after recently updating my Windows 10. I need defender for my work and they do not accept anything else.