Resetting the security app using PowerShell should fix this issue
by Loredana Harsana
Loredana is a passionate writer with a keen interest in PC software and technology. She started off writing about mobile phones back when Samsung Galaxy S II was… read more
Updated on
- Users have been complaining that Windows 11’s Security center isn’t opening. Third-party antivirus software could be related to this issue.
- The first solution would be to reset or reinstall the tool using PowerShell.
- You can also repair the app from the settings or disable any third-party antivirus app on your PC.
XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD
FILE
When you install Windows 11, Windows Security, also known as Windows Defender, becomes the default antivirus and security solution. It is one of the most excellent remedies available, and it is effective in the vast majority of circumstances.
Nevertheless, one of the most frequently encountered concerns has been that, after an upgrade or random upgrade, the Windows 11 Windows Security is not opening or functioning as expected.
Why is my Windows Security not opening on Windows 11?
The reasons Windows Security settings are not opening or launching on Windows 11 after upgrading are close to close. Below are the popular reasons:
How we test, review and rate?
We have worked for the past 6 months on building a new review system on how we produce content. Using it, we have subsequently redone most of our articles to provide actual hands-on expertise on the guides we made.
For more details you can read how we test, review, and rate at WindowsReport.
- Glitches with the app: One of the reasons Windows security is not loading on Windows 11 is some glitches preventing it from opening. The solution here is to reset the app.
- Faulty system files: If the system files meant to load the Windows Security apps are faulty, the app won’t open. You need to repair the system files to fix this.
How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Security not opening issue?
- Why is my Windows Security not opening on Windows 11?
- How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Security not opening issue?
- 1. Reset using PowerShell Command
- 2. Repair the app
- 3. Reset the app
- 4. Run SFC
- 5. Run DISM
- 6. Disable your antivirus
1. Reset using PowerShell Command
- Right-click on the Start icon and select the Windows Terminal (Admin) option.
- Click the dropdown at the top and select the Windows PowerShell option.
- Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage - Restart your PC and check if the Windows Security app is now working.
- If it does not work, type the command below and hit Enter to reinstall the app:
Set-ExecutionPolicy UnrestrictedGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
You need to reset the app if Windows Security is not working or Windows Defender is not opening. The command below has worked for many. You can reinstall the app using the second command if resetting does not work.
2. Repair the app
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, choose Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.
- Once you are inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar from the top, and click on the three-dot menu next to it, followed by Advanced options.
- Scroll down until you find the Reset section, then click on the Repair button to start the repairing process.
Allow the Repair process to finish before rebooting your computer to guarantee that your changes are applied. Then, bystarting Windows Security lets you see if its functionality has been restored.
3. Reset the app
- Press the Windows key + I, go to Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.
- Once inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar, and click on the three-dot menu. Now click on Advanced options.
- Scroll down until you meet the Reset section, then click on the Reset button.
4. Run SFC
- Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd, right-click on the most relevant result shown to you, and run it as an Administrator to get full privileges.
- Type in the following command and press Enter to start the process:
sfc /scannow
The process may take some time to finish, so you may need to restart your computer. SFC will automatically find and restore corrupted files and folders. If that does not help, you can try Fortect, which is much more advanced than Windows built-in tools.
Fortect
Run thorough scans and repair any damaged element from your device with the Fortect software.
5. Run DISM
- Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd, and right-click on the most relevant result to run it as an Administrator.
- Paste or type in the following commands and press Enter after each:
DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Continue to be patient until the process is finished. Be advised that the process could take up to ten minutes to finish. Once you’ve completed this step, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
6. Disable your antivirus
- Click the expand arrow from your taskbar and right-click on your antivirus icon. Now choose Avast shields control followed by Disable for 10 minutes to stop it from interfering.
- If you have other antivirus programs installed, you can temporarily disable the app following the same steps as above or similar ones with a few differences.
With the fixes above, you should be able to fix the Windows Security not opening on Windows 11 issue. If you want to use a third-party tool, check out our post on five of the best antiviruses for Windows 11.
Alternatively, you can look at our article on the best antiviruses with low CPU usage for Windows 11.
Let us know in the comments section below which solution worked best for you in solving the Windows 11 Windows Defender not working issue and which antivirus software you prefer.
If you can’t open Windows Defender or access any of its settings, or if you have accidentally uninstalled Windows Defender, this guide will show you how to reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11 via PowerShell command lines.
Although Windows Defender has always been the default antivirus software that comes preinstalled with Windows, some users may find the app missing after certain events such as after updating Windows or after installing or uninstalling certain third party antivirus software.
When the problem occurs and you try to open Windows Defender, Windows may prompt you the “You’ll need a new app to open this Windows Defender link” pop up that ask you to find a compatible app from Microsoft Store to open Windows Defender related link or setting. This indicates that Windows Defender is either missing or corrupted in Windows 11.
Reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11
You can reinstall Microsoft Windows Defender in Windows 11 by executing a single line of command through PowerShell or Windows Terminal. However, you will need administrator rights to be able to execute the command.
Thus, you will need to first open Windows Terminal or PowerShell with admin rights. To do so, right-click the Start button on the taskbar and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)“.
Alternatively, you can search for PowerShell through Start menu. Then, right-click Windows PowerShell from the search result and select Run as administrator.
Once you have an elevated (admin) Windows Terminal or PowerShell window opened, enter the following command to reset and reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11.
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
After executing the command, Windows Terminal will begin to reset Windows Defender and show a progress message that says “Deployment operation progress”. It may take a while for the process to complete.
Once completed, the progress message will disappear and Windows Terminal will start at a new line, which indicates the previous command has been executed.
Now, you can press Win + i keys to open Settings and go to Privacy & security > Windows Security. This should open up the Windows Security (Windows Defender) settings like it used to.
To further verify if Windows Defender is successfully installed, click on the “Open Windows Security” button to open the Windows Security window. From there, you can manage your computer’s security such as virus protection, firewall, network protection, browser control, etc.
PowerShell shows errors when executing the command
If the command above doesn’t work or if you receive errors when you execute the command, try the following commands instead to reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11.
In an elevated (admin) Windows Terminal or PowerShell window, enter the following commands in the following order.
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Set-ExecutionPolicy Default
Since the command requires execution policy to be set to unrestricted in order to be executed successfully, you should set the execution policy back to its default (by running the third line of command as shown above) after the Get-AppXPackage process is completed.
If you receive an error that says “Access is denied”, it indicates that you do not have the rights to run the command. As mentioned above, you need to open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as administrator in order to execute the command successfully.
How to enable Windows Defender if you already have an existing antivirus software
If you already have an existing third party antivirus program actively running and protecting your PC, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will be disabled. However, you can re-enable Microsoft Defender periodic scanning to have it periodically check for threats in conjunction with your other antivirus software.
To enable Windows Defender with periodic scanning when you are already using an existing third party antivirus software, open Settings and navigate to Privacy & Security > Windows Security, then click the Open Windows Security button.
Next, select Virus & threat protection and click Microsoft Defender Antivirus options. This will expand the setting and you should then be able to see a toggle option. Toggle on the Periodic scanning option to enable Windows Defender periodic scan while also using your other antivirus software.
This PowerShell command reinstalls Windows Defender in seconds
Updated on September 22, 2022
What to Know
- You don’t need to download Windows Defender, because it’s integrated into Windows 11.
- Enter this in a PowerShell window: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage.
- Or, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Windows Security > three dots > Advanced options > Reset.
This article explains when and how to reinstall Windows Defender through the command line or Settings app in Windows 11.
How to Reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11
Windows Defender (aka, Microsoft Defender) isn’t installed on your computer like a typical program, so you can’t reinstall it like you can regular software. Instead, follow these directions to use a PowerShell command to get the job done. It might take anywhere from 5 seconds to a few minutes to complete. If you can open Settings normally, there’s an easier method after these steps.
-
Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin).
If that doesn’t work for whatever reason, use the search bar on the taskbar to search for PowerShell, and then right-click it to find the Run as administrator option.
-
Copy the command exactly as it’s shown here, and then right-click in the PowerShell window to paste it (Ctrl+V works, too):
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage -
Press Enter to immediately start the process to reset Windows Defender to its original settings so that it performs as a freshly installed app.
-
You’ll know when it’s finished because you’ll see the blinking cursor again on a new line below the command you entered. In the meantime, you might briefly see a Deployment operation progress message.
If you see lots of red text, and an «Access is denied» message, return to step 1 and make sure you’re opening PowerShell as an administrator.
Another way to reset Windows Defender is through Settings. If Settings opens fine for you, you don’t need to bother with a PowerShell command. Instead, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Windows Security > three dots > Advanced options > Reset.
When to Reinstall Windows Defender
Technically, you’re not really reinstalling the program because Windows doesn’t actually let you uninstall it. That said, you might run the above command to reset Windows Defender if it’s just not working correctly.
The most obvious sign you need to do this is if you see an error when you try to open it. If it’s not opening as it should, and you see this message, the above command should fix it right away:
You'll need a new app to open this windowsdefender linkLook for an app in the Microsoft Store
Or, maybe it does open, but some of its toggles won’t turn on or off, or you can’t even find a link to it on your computer. In these cases, the PowerShell command should refresh the tool back to working order.
Windows Defender Might Just Be Off
It’s possible that you’ve considered reinstalling Windows Defender because it isn’t catching malware, when in reality, it’s just not turned on. You might think it’s been uninstalled or is broken, but really it’s just disabled.
This is completely possible since Windows 11 lets you turn off its built-in antivirus program if you’d rather not use it.
Learn how to turn Windows Defender on and off for specific directions.
FAQ
-
Is Windows Defender a good antivirus?
Not really. While Windows Defender provides basic protection from threats, it’s no substitute for third-party antivirus software.
-
How do I add exceptions to Windows Defender?
Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection. Under Virus & Threat Protection Settings, select Manage settings, then under Exclusions, select Add or remove exclusions.
Thanks for letting us know!
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В Windows 10 и Windows 11 есть встроенный (и довольно неплохой) антивирус Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Защитник Windows), управляемый через панель Безопасность Windows. В некоторых случаях Windows Defender или панель управления Безопасность в Windows перестают открываться, вместо диалогового интерфейса показывается пустое белое окно, приложение не запускается при вызове через панель Settings или командой быстрого доступа
ms-settings:windowsdefender
. В этой статье мы рассмотрим, как исправить типовые ошибки, когда не удается открыть окно службы безопасности Windows Defender.
В первую очередь проверьте, не уставлен ли в Windows сторонний антивирус. Windows Defender в панели безопасности Windows автоматически отключается при использовании не-Microsoft антивируса. Решите какой антивирус вы хотите использовать в дальнейшем, если нужно оставить защитник Windows, удалите сторонний антивирус.
Если при запуске Windows Security (Windows Defender) через меню Параметры (Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Security), появляется окно с предложением выбрать программы для открытия ссылки “
You’ll need a new app to open this Windowsdefender link
”, проверьте что UWP приложение Microsoft.SecHealthU установлено. Именно UWP приложение Windows Security (Windows Defender) отвечает за отображение окна Безопасность Windows.
Если нужно сбросьте его настройки. Подробно это описывалось в статье Вам понадобится новое приложение, чтобы открыть эту ссылку WindowsDefender.
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
Убедились, что в Windows запущены все службы Microsoft Defender. В Windows должны быть запущены следующие службы:
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service (
WinDefend
) - Windows Security Service (
SecurityHealthService
) - Security Center (
wscsvc
)
Можно проверить список запущенных служб Защитника Windows через панель управления services.msc или с помощью PowerShell:
get-service WinDefend, SecurityHealthService, wscsvc | select name,status,starttype
Если службы отключены, измените тип запуска на Automatic и перезагрузите компьютер.
Службы Windows Defender Firewall (mpssvc), Microsoft Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service (WdNisSvc) и Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service (Sense) не являются обязательными для работы панели управления Security.
В панели управления безопасностью Windows может висеть надпись “Cлужба работы с угрозами остановлена, перезапустите ее”. Чтобы исправить такую ошибку Defender, следуйте этой инструкции.
В Windows 10 и 11 Microsoft Defender автоматически выключается, если на устройстве установлен сторонний антивирус. Если стороннего антивируса, нет, а Microsoft Defender отключен, значит кто-то очень сильно постарался, чтобы его отключить.
Начиная с Windows 10 2004 (в том числе в Windows 11) вы не можете просто отключить Microsoft Defender с помощью:
- ключей реестра DisableAntiVirus=1 и DisableAntiSpyware = 1 (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender);
- или параметра GPO Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus в Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
Для отключения Защитника Windows сначала придется отключить функцию защиты Microsoft Defender Tamper Protection в настройках Microsoft Defender.
Можно проверить, отключена ли защита антивируса Defender с помощью PowerShell:
Get-MpComputerStatus | select IsTamperProtected
В данном примере
IsTamperProtected=True
, это значит, что защита Windows блокирует отключение Microsoft Defender.
В более ранних версиях Windows 10, проверьте значение указанного выше параметра локальной групповой политики с помощью редактора gpedit.msc (параметр должен быть установлен в Не задано или Отключено) или с помощью PowerShell:
Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name DisableAntiSpyware
Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name DisableAntiVirus
Если команда вернет значение параметров =1, значит Microsot Defender отключен. Чтобы включить Защитник Windows, удалите параметр или измените значение на 0.
Проверьте и установите последние обновления Windows Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> Check for updates или с помощью PowerShell.
Если ничего не помогло, проверьте и исправьте целостность образа Windows командами:
sfc /scannow
и
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Инструкции из этой статье должны восстановить работу службы Безопасность Windows.
The best solution is to simply reinstall Windows Defender
by Ola-Hassan Bolaji
A Computer Engineering graduate, he has spent most of his life reading and writing about computers. He finds joy in simplifying complex topics into simple solutions for PC… read more
Updated on
- Windows Defender has seen some significant security improvements in Windows 11.
- However, some users reported that their Windows 11 Windows Defender is missing after updating their new OS.
- To resolve this issue, reinstalling the app with PowerShell will most likely do the trick.
Windows Defender missing on Windows 11 is one of the numerous problems users face when using Microsoft’s default antivirus on their PC.
In the past, users have complained that Windows 11 Defender is turned off. But some could not even find the app on their PC at all.
Thankfully, the fixes for this problem are not far-fetched, with a little tweak needed in most cases. Read on to find out what to do if Windows Defender is not installed on your Windows 11 device.
Why can’t I find Windows Defender?
There are various reasons why Windows Defender is not found in Windows 11, but we will highlight the most important ones:
- Malware infection – Usually, the first thing a virus or malware does is disable or eliminate the antivirus. Good third-party antiviruses are harder to counter.
- The service is not running – Though Windows Defender should show up even when the service is not running, this, coupled with other issues, can make the app inaccessible.
- Registry problems – Changes to the registry, wherein Windows Defender is disabled, could be an underlying cause. The administrator could take action in case you are using an office computer.
So, let’s find out how to fix things if Windows Defender is not working in Windows 11.
Quick Tip:
If you want to protect your PC on all fronts, use a security utility with multi-layered protection. ESET Internet Security’s feature set aims to protect you from today’s cyber threats.
It includes advanced banking and payment protection, webcam and microphone security, parental controls, anti-malware, anti-ransomware, and more.
How we test, review and rate?
We have worked for the past 6 months on building a new review system on how we produce content. Using it, we have subsequently redone most of our articles to provide actual hands-on expertise on the guides we made.
For more details you can read how we test, review, and rate at WindowsReport.
Eset Internet Security
ESET technology protects every click, screen tap, and step in your digital life.
How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Defender missing issue?
- Why can’t I find Windows Defender?
- How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Defender missing issue?
- 1. Install Windows Defender Using PowerShell
- 2. Repair and reinstall Windows Defender
- 3. Perform a Windows update
- 4. Perform a System Restore
- Does Windows 11 have a built-in antivirus?
1. Install Windows Defender Using PowerShell
Using the commands below via Powershell should reinstall Windows Defender on your Windows 11 PC and solve the missing issue in no time.
1.Right-click on the Start icon in the Taskbar, and then select the Windows Terminal (Admin) option.
2.Click the Yes button to allow Windows Terminal to make changes to your PC.
3. Paste the following commands individually and hit Enter after each:Set-ExecutionPolicy UnrestrictedGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
The command above helps to reinstall all default Windows apps. This is especially useful if Windows Defender is not installed in Windows 11 due to file corruption during an upgrade.
2. Repair and reinstall Windows Defender
- Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, enter Terminal in the text field, right-click on the relevant search result, and select Run as administrator.
- Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
- Type/paste the following command and hit Enter:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI-AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
Sometimes, Windows Defender might be installed, but the installation is either incorrect or incomplete. The command above will remove all components from the PC and reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11.
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3. Perform a Windows update
- Press the Windows key, and select the Settings app.
- Select the Windows Update option on the left pane.
- Click the Check for updates button in the right pane.
- If an update is listed after the scan, download and installs it on the computer.
Windows update comes with fixes for bugs and other errors in the previous versions.
If Windows Security is missing in Windows 11, an update should have fixes for the bugs responsible for the error. Also, if it is due to an incomplete or incorrect update, this should solve the problem if done correctly.
4. Perform a System Restore
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter rstrui.exe in the text field, and click OK.
- Select Next in the System Restores window to proceed.
- Choose a restore point from the options provided, and click Next.
- Verify the restore details, and click on Finish to initiate the restore process.
If you noticed the Windows Defender link missing after installing an update in Windows 11 or making changes to the system, this fix could help you return to the previous state.
Select a restore point created before installing the new update, and things should return to normal.
Does Windows 11 have a built-in antivirus?
Yes, Windows 11 comes with Windows Security as the built-in antivirus. In case you are confused between the two, Windows Defender and Windows Security are the same thing.
The program efficiently identifies and eliminates malware and performs other essential functions to ensure security. But, in case you were looking for advanced security, we recommend using an effective third-party antivirus.
The Windows 11 Defender not installed problem is not the first faced by users. There have been complaints that Windows Defender is not opening or not enabled, among other issues.
Unlike some of these issues, this problem is not hard to fix, as shown above. We hope you find the helpful guide and get Windows Defender back to protect your PC.
Also, if you are wondering, Windows Defender can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. This will download the Windows Defender 64-bit version in Windows 11.
Besides, find out what to do if you get the You’ll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link error in Windows 11
Feel free to discuss the solution that worked for you in the comments section. You can also state any solution you tried successfully that is not in this guide.