Can I schedule scans with Windows Defender?

I scheduled it to run every Wednesday at 8 AM, but its still runs at 3 AM everyday also. How do I disable the everyday scan?

Brink said:

Hello Georgia, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

If you plan on using Windows Defender often, then the context menu added by the tutorial below can help make opening and using Windows Defender easier.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6...dows-10-a.html

Thanks, Win Def isn't scanning at all, I keep looking after several days and no scans; I have to do it manually even though I followed TeacherMark's instructions.

Georgia said:

Thanks, Win Def isn't scanning at all, I keep looking after several days and no scans; I have to do it manually even though I followed TeacherMark's instructions.

In Task Scheduler click on Enable All Tasks History
Right click on the WD Scheduled Scan task and click Run
Wait 10 minutes or so, don't use the mouse or keyboard, the PC needs to be idle.
Click Refresh in Task Scheduler.
Select the WD Scan task and look at the History tab.
See if there are any messages in history showing an error (and that the task did run).

DavidG said:

Under my HISTORY TAB was the message "DISABLED", I think I enabled it. Posted this in case Georgia has the same situation. Opening Windows Defender in the bottom left corner is the last scan run. That is how I know my Defender is running.

It's normal to see DISABLED, the Windows default is to have Scheduled Task History turned off.

When you enable it, the Enable All Tasks History text should change to Disable All Tasks History (and vice-versa).
Now that you have enabled History, you should see a log similar to what i posted, for any tasks that have run since you enabled it.

I always keep Task History enabled on all my systems.
It only keeps the last few months of history, and then auto-deletes old history.
It doesn't grow indefinitely, where space becomes an issue (for me).

DavidG said:

YES TENFORUMS is much better than Microsoft Community Forums.
Hugs back at you (Brazilians are so emotional, in a good way).

Hehe, yes, we are... in all ways, good and not so good :)))
But I have bad news... the scheduled scan is ok, but the annoying stuff goes on...
How can I stop the WD alert for scan?
Greetings and hugs!
mari

Are you saying the built in WD scheduled scan runs without errors, but you still get alerts that you need to run a scan ?
You enabled Scheduled Task History, and you see no errors for the WD Scan history ?
Does your WD GUI show the correct date/time for the last scan - the same date/time you see in task history ?

Are you running an upgrade OS, or did you do a clean install after upgrading ?
Are you running as an Insider, fast or slow ring ?

DavidE said:

Are you saying the built in WD scheduled scan runs without errors, but you still get alerts that you need to run a scan ?
You enabled Scheduled Task History, and you see no errors for the WD Scan history ?
Does your WD GUI show the correct date/time for the last scan - the same date/time you see in task history ?

Are you running an upgrade OS, or did you do a clean install after upgrading ?
Are you running as an Insider, fast or slow ring ?

I need a few days to answer all the questions, except that I still get alerts that I need to run a scan; I am running an upgrade OS (from 8.1).
And I'm not definitetly an Insider. :)