Win10 defender problem

arbee said:

The little shield logo for defender has gone from the task bar.
I have gone into the settings and there is no option listed to turn on defender or to add to the task bar.
any ideas? cheers

"There are a few things you can try to bring back the Windows Defender icon in your taskbar:

Restart your computer: Sometimes, simply restarting your computer can resolve the issue and bring back the missing icon.

Check the notification area settings: Right-click on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Under the "Notification area" section, click on "Select which icons appear on the taskbar." Make sure that the "Windows Security" option is turned on.

Restart the Windows Security Center service: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type "services.msc," and press Enter. Locate the "Security Center" service, right-click on it, and select "Restart."

Run a malware scan: It's possible that malware may have disabled the Windows Defender icon. Run a full system scan using your preferred antivirus software to make sure your computer is free of malware.

Check for updates: Make sure that your Windows 10 installation is up to date. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on "Check for updates." Install any available updates.

If none of these solutions work, you can try reinstalling Windows Defender. To do this, open the Control Panel, select "Programs and Features," click on "Windows Defender," and select "Uninstall." Restart your computer, then go to the Windows Security settings and turn on Windows Defender."

courtesy : OpenAI

Hello @arbee,

arbee said:

PS. Win defender doesnt appear in programs and features so can't uninstall.

Does this, or the Related Tutorials at the BOTTOM of the Tutorial [ there are a few ] help ?

> How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10

was it there before ?
is it not hidden now somehow ?

Attachment 387067

arbee said:

I tried all the suggestions but nothing worked so I did a repair install with the Media Creation Tool.
Now everything is back to normal.
Once again thanks for the replies and suggestions.

Excellent news and you are VERY welcome.