Windows Defender in Windows 8.1 Will Not Turn On

Anonymous
2013-11-24T01:31:23+00:00

I recently updated Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.  Windows Defender had been on in Windows 8 and even after the update to 8.1.  I turned it off momentarily but have been unable to turn it back on.  To my knowledge, I have no other anti-virus programs running.  How can I turn it back on?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

165 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-29T21:16:03+00:00

    I have tried both of these and neither has worked

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-25T08:59:26+00:00

    Thanks Rajeev, this worked for me.

    I'm not sure why MS decided to put the Windows Defender controls under Action Centre and not under ... you know ... Windows Defender.  Seems like a stupid thing to do.  It's not intuitive and that's a major issue for GUI's.

    It's just like trying to find the shutdown button on the original release of Windows 8 (using a mouse and keyboard).  If you have to Google (or Bing *cough*) for the simple things, then there is something wrong with the GUI.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-14T17:15:11+00:00

    It is coming up, I just did not see it due to 8.1 changing where it is.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-14T08:22:36+00:00

    right click computer icon and then left click MANAGE click services go down the lists of services until you get to windows defender and make sure it's on automatic setting.thenclick restart on the upper left corner.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more