How to start Windows Defender automatically?

October 2016
Topic: How to start Windows Defender automatically? And more…
Windows show this notification when booting: Windows Defender needs to scan your computer
but they don't start the scan automatically. We must press "scan" to do that.

-1-
Microsoft already included a Task Scheduled for Windows Defender.
Can we modify some settings in this Task Scheduled so Windows Defender will start automatically when the system boot (Power / Shut Down or Restart / Login)?

-2-
Or it's better to create a new Task Scheduled?

-3-
Is it better to create two tasks?
A task that automatically executes Windows Defender in "quick" mode once a day and another task that executes Windows Defender in "Full system scan" mode once a week?

-4-
What does mean "-ScheduleJob" in "Add arguments (optional): Scan -ScheduleJob (cf.below)" ?

Please answer the asked questions only. If you don't know no need to answer.
Thank!
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Windows 10 - English - 64-bit (full update October 2016)

To access the already Task Scheduled Windows Defender (create by default by Microsoft):

Control Panel --> System and Security --> Administrative Tools / Schedule Tasks
or
Control Panel --> System and Security --> Administrative Tools --> Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Windows Defender / Windows Defender Scheduled Scan --> Right Click / Properties / "Actions Tab Windows" --> Click on "Start a program" --> Edit

Appear in "Details" in "Actions Tab Windows":
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe Scan -ScheduleJob


"Actions Tab Windows"
Action: Start a program

Settings
Program/Script:
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe

Add arguments (optional): Scan -ScheduleJob

Start in (optional): ---

I have the same picture on my side. That still does not say how to start (the scan) automatically "Windows Defender" when Windows starts.
At start (boot/login) I received a Notification asking Windows Defender to scan.
I want to do that automatically.

TenOclock said:

I have the same picture on my side. That still does not say how to start (the scan) automatically "Windows Defender" when Windows starts.
At start (boot/login) I received a Notification asking Windows Defender to scan.
I want to do that automatically.

An automatic scan by Windows Defender is part of Windows 10's automatic maintenance. This automatic scan will only occur when your PC is idle, and if you start using your PC while one is running it will stop. This means that if you are a heavy user these automatic scans will seldom complete. After a number of days if Defender has been unable to perform an automatic scan you will be notified that you should perform a scan yourself.

...Note that the article was written for Windows 8, but also applies to Windows 8.1 and Windows 10....
15. How do I schedule a scan with WD?
Windows Defender "scheduled scan" is included in Windows 8 Automatic Maintenance. Open the Action Center, click on "Maintenance", then on "Change maintenance settings", and then choose a time.
There is also a "Wake the computer" option. However, there is no reason to leave the computer on overnight. Leave the setting at the default of 3am, and turn off the computer normally. The scan will occur a short time after you turn on your PC.
For other options, look at Windows Defender in the Task Scheduler.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/p...0-ed9f72fabb92

This Automatic Maintenance scan does seem a little temperamental though. From original 10240 thru 1511 mine worked flawlessly, then after the 1607 AU it stopped. I got it working again by this method...

HokieMan said:

Today, I turned off real time protection in Windows Defender and then rebooted my PC. Upon reboot, Defender had turned real time protection back on automatically. I waited awhile and rechecked Defender and noticed that it had finally run an autoscan. Perhaps this is all it took. I hope the autoscan will continue to work properly and I will monitor over the next few days.

If it is important to you to run a scan regularly then use Task Scheduler. As you have found, this can be tricky to get right. This thread may help with the settings to use...
Defender not Running Regular Scan

First sorry but I forget an important thing (well for me): To Say T H A N K S!
I must not forget what my mother taught me especially today when people take everything for granted (e.g. to receive free answers by unknown people - yet they take the time to respond)
So a big thank you to all!

Here what Action Center show to me:


I understand Windows 10 Maintenance create task schedule but it’s like we must press manually on this notification so Windows Defender start scan.

Does it mean if I let the computer 48 hours open and I don’t start the scan manually that Windows Defender will never start scan automatically?
If it’s the case, I really don’t understand why Microsoft create a stupid Task schedule like that.
We schedule stuff to make them start automatically no?

I’m able to create a Task Schedule and use
"C:\program files\windows defender\mpcmdrun.exe" -scan –scantype 0 (quick scan)
Or
"C:\program files\windows defender\mpcmdrun.exe" -scan –scantype 2 (full system scan)

But “Windows Maintenance” is not supposed to start Windows Defender Quick scan automatically?



Thanks dencal and Bree !

TenOclock said:

Does it mean if I let the computer 48 hours open and I don’t start the scan manually that Windows Defender will never start scan automatically?

As it happens, there's a similar conversation on another thread. My Automatic Maintenance performs a Defender quick scan without anything in Task Scheduler.

Bree said:

In fact, there are no scheduled tasks for Windows Defender at all, yet it still seems to do a scan if I leave the system idle for a while.

And I DID try leaving mine on overnight - though I didn't have your 'Defender needs to do a scan...' notification. I suggest you start the scan by clicking on your notification then try the 'turn off protection and reboot' tip from earlier. The I'd expect you to get the same results as I do...

Bree said:

As an experiment I left the PC on overnight. Automatic Maintenance took place, performing a Defender quick scan and a File History check (which failed as file history is on a network drive and I'd turned off WiFi). I cannot see any scheduled tasks for the automatic maintenance, Defender or File History, so I assume it must use its own timing mechanism to run these tasks.

Others have reported that the automatic maintenance scan is in addition to any scans you may have set up in Task Scheduler (not that I have scheduled any myself).