Windows Defender Not Found on Windows Server 2025 with desktop experience

Jack Kaufman 0 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:46:55.3333333+00:00

I can't find Windows Defender on my new build of Windows Standard Server with Desktop Experience. How to I find it and or reinstall it?

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-12T16:47:08.1333333+00:00

    On Windows Server 2016 and later, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is installed and enabled by default. On Windows Server 2025, it should already be present.

    To check whether the Defender service is installed and running:

    1. Open PowerShell as administrator and run: 
         Get-Service -Name windefend
    2. Or open Command Prompt as administrator and run: 
         sc query Windefend

    If Defender was removed or uninstalled, reinstall it from an elevated session:

    • PowerShell: 
        Install-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Defender
    • DISM for Windows Server 2019 or later, including Windows Server 2025: 
        Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Windows-Defender

    Then reboot the server.

    If Defender was disabled rather than removed:

    1. Make sure it is not being disabled by Group Policy or the registry.
    2. Install the latest servicing stack update and latest cumulative update.
    3. Re-enable or reinstall Defender.
    4. Reboot the system.
    5. Install the latest Defender platform update.

    For security intelligence updates, make sure the Windows Update service is running. If WSUS is used, approve Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence updates.

    If the issue is only that Windows shows a notification saying Defender is off on Windows Server 2025, there is a known issue where Defender remains active and functioning correctly despite the notification.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Bence Weiszmann 1,640 Reputation points
    2026-09-12T19:26:34.9466667+00:00

    Dear @Jack Kaufman

    On Windows Server 2019 and later with Desktop Experience, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is included with the operating system. The Windows Security app is not installed as a separate feature that you need to add manually.

    First, I would check whether Microsoft Defender Antivirus is actually installed and running. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

    Get-MpComputerStatus | Select-Object AMRunningMode, AntivirusEnabled, AntivirusSignatureLastUpdated

    If AntivirusEnabled is True, Defender Antivirus is installed and running.

    If Defender has actually been removed, Microsoft provides the following command to reinstall it:

    Install-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Defender

    After that, restart the server and check the status again.

    You can also verify whether the Defender feature is installed with:

    Get-WindowsFeature -Name Windows-Defender

    Microsoft documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-antivirus-windows-server-configure

    Best regards,
    Bence

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