The simple, basic syntax for this command is to simply type the command name in PowerShell. There’s a special PowerShell command for updating Defender security definitions (also known as signatures). Update Defender signatures using Update-MpSignature In such circumstances, there’s yet another way to forcibly update Microsoft Defender, covered in the section that follows. At other times, it too fails to download updates when WU is completely stuck and won’t download anything at all. I have seen it work sometimes when WU is stuck on some specific update. Note that this download process goes through Windows Update in the background.

IDGįigure 2: Click Check for updates to instruct Defender to download updates. If any are available, it will download and install them. You can click the Check for updates link shown at the bottom of the image to instruct Defender to check for updates. Note the entry under “Virus & threat protection updates” near the bottom. Clicking this produces an app pane like the one shown in Figure 2. The Windows Security app includes numerous entries, including the “Virus & threat protection” item that also appears in Figure 1. IDGįigure 1: You can access Windows Security via the Settings app. Alternatively, you can open the app directly by typing “Windows Security” into the Start menu. There you’ll find a button labeled “Open Windows Security” as shown in Figure 1.

Within the Settings app, you can access a Windows Security facility with this selection sequence: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security in Windows 10 or Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security in Windows 11. Use Microsoft Defender’s own update facility You can also download a version of Windows Defender Offline from here.1. While I still wouldn't entirely trust my PC security to Windows Defender, an offline scanning mode is definitely a very welcome addition. Microsoft says the process will take around 15 minutes to complete.

Scroll down until you see Windows Defender Offline.Īfter a countdown (which you can’t stop), your system will restart and Windows Defender will run a scan upon reboot.

Go to Update and security and click Windows Defender.

Save your work and close any open applications.

If you’re running the latest build you can activate Windows Defender Offline by following these steps: Windows Defender Offline was originally introduced in 2011, and last updated in 2012, but Microsoft has added it to Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14271 for Fast ring insiders. Windows Defender Offline is not available to all at the moment, but you can still try it out. That will make the tool much better at detecting and removing malicious software. Microsoft is working to make it more useful however, including adding offline capabilities that will allow you to run a system scan at bootup, and without an internet connection.

Windows 10 defender offline download