How to check whether Windows Defender is switched on
· 5 min read
Windows comes with a built-in security program called Microsoft Defender. It is free, it ships with Windows, and for most ordinary users it is entirely sufficient. But it only helps if it is switched on. This guide shows you how to check that in two minutes.
Why it is worth checking
Defender can get switched off without you noticing. It typically happens in one of three ways: another antivirus program (perhaps an old trial subscription) took over and has since expired. Someone switched protection off during troubleshooting and forgot to switch it back on. Or a program changed the settings during an installation.
In all three cases the computer looks completely normal. There is no warning on the screen in everyday use. That is exactly why it is worth spending two minutes looking.
Step 1: Open Windows Security
Press the Start button (the Windows logo at the bottom of the screen) and type Windows Security. Click the app when it appears in the search results.
You will land on an overview page with a series of items: virus and threat protection, account protection, firewall and network protection, and several others.
Step 2: Read the icons
The overview uses small symbols to show status:
- Green check mark: everything is fine on that item. You do not need to do anything.
- Yellow exclamation mark: there is something Windows recommends you look at. Not necessarily dangerous, but click in and read what it is about.
- Red cross: something important is switched off or not working. Fix that right away.
If every item has a green check mark, you are done. Your protection is running as it should.
Step 3: Check virus and threat protection
Click Virus & threat protection. Here you can see which program is protecting the computer. If it says Microsoft Defender Antivirus and there are no warnings, all is well.
If it shows the name of another program you do not recognise or no longer pay for, it is worth investigating. An expired antivirus program can block Defender without protecting you itself. That leaves you effectively unprotected. The fix is usually to uninstall the old program under Settings and Apps; Defender takes over automatically once the other program is gone.
Step 4: Check the firewall on every network
Go back to the overview and click Firewall & network protection. You will see three items: domain network, private network and public network.
The important part: the firewall must be switched on for all three. Windows distinguishes between network types, and a firewall that is only on for your home network does not protect you at the office or on a café’s wireless network.
If it says the firewall is on under all three items, you are covered. If it says anything else, click the item and switch the firewall on with the toggle on the page.
If something will not cooperate
If you cannot switch protection on, or it keeps switching itself off, there is typically another program involved, or something that needs a closer look. Ask someone you trust rather than clicking through fixes from random websites. Wrong changes to security settings can do more harm than good.
The short version
Open Windows Security once in a while and look for the green check marks. Two minutes, four clicks, and you know where you stand. This is the kind of basic maintenance that in practice decides whether a computer is easy or hard to break into.
If you would rather have someone watch for you and speak up when something changes, that is exactly the job our product Argos is built for.