This guide aims to address the issue of Windows Defender being missing or not showing up on Windows 11/10 PCs. Windows Defender is the default anti-malware tool on every Windows computer, providing the first line of defense against viruses and malware. Unfortunately, many users have reported that they are unable to find or locate Windows Defender on their PC or laptop. This has been a common issue for users who rely on Microsoft’s built-in antivirus software. In the past, users have expressed their frustration with Windows Defender being disabled, but some have reported not being able to find the software at all on their PC. This guide will provide a solution for users who are experiencing this issue.
Why Is There No Windows Defender On My Windows 11 PC
If you are wondering why don’t you have Windows defender on your Windows 11 PC?
- This could be due to many reasons including malware invasion and service issues.
- Additionally, modifications to the registry that disable Windows Defender could be the root of the problem.
With all said, now let us see the possible fixes for the issue.
Read Also: Is Windows Defender Good Enough For PC Protection
How to Fix Windows Defender Missing on Windows 11/10 PC
This article describes how to install Windows Defender on Windows 11/10 PC/laptops using the Settings app or PowerShell. So without further ado, Let’s get started.
Method 1: Install Windows Defender via PowerShell
You cannot install Windows Defender like you can other programs since it is not installed on your PC in the same way as other programs. Instead, utilize a PowerShell code to complete the task by following these instructions. It can take five seconds to several minutes to finish.
- Press the Windows key with the key X to open the WinX
- Now from the list, choose Windows terminal (Admin).
- Then paste these exact commands and press the Enter key after each command:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage-DisableDevelopmentMode – Register “$($_.InstallLocation) AppXManifest.xml”}.
All default Windows applications can be reinstalled with the command above. This is extremely helpful if a file error during an update prevented Windows Defender from being installed on Windows 11.
Method 2: Repair and install Windows Defender
Windows Defender can occasionally be installed improperly or incompletely. In Windows 11, the command listed below will disassemble every component of the computer and reinstall it from the scratch.
- Press the Windows key with the key X to open the WinX
- Now from the list, choose Windows terminal (Admin).
- Then paste this exact command and press the Enter key:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI-AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
Method 3: Reset Windows Defender
- Press the Windows key with the key I to open Settings and click on
- Now click on Default Apps.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Reset in front of Reset all default apps.
Conclusion
Thus, by following the steps outlined above, you can resolve the issue of Windows Defender being missing on your Windows 11/10 PC. Unlike other issues, this one is relatively easy to fix, as demonstrated earlier. We hope that this helpful advice will assist you in reactivating Windows Defender and protecting your computer.
