How to Turn On or Off Periodic Scanning with Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10
Starting with Windows 10 build 14352, a new security setting called Limited Periodic Scanning will be included.
Limited Periodic Scanning is a new security setting you can choose to turn on if you use an antivirus program other than Microsoft Defender. This setting can provide an additional line of defense in scanning and detecting malware on your device. Each month Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool detects malware on 1 to 2 million devices, even those running other antivirus software. The Limited Periodic Scanning setting can be turned on for unmanaged devices.
When turned on, Windows 10 will use the Microsoft Defender scanning engine to periodically scan your PC for threats and remediate them. These periodic scans will utilize Automatic Maintenance—to ensure the system chooses optimal times based on minimal impact to the user, PC performance, and energy efficiency—or customers can schedule these scans. Limited Periodic Scanning is intended to offer an additional line of defense to your existing antivirus program’s real-time protection.
When Windows 10 Limited Periodic Scanning is turned ON, and even if you are NOT using Microsoft Defender for your real-time protection, the Microsoft Defender user interface and History tab will allow you to view any additional threats that have been detected.
When a threat is found, Microsoft Defender will notify you with a Windows 10 notification. In most cases, Windows Defender will also automatically take action on the threat. Clicking on the notification will open Microsoft Defender where you can further review the threat that was found and the action that was automatically taken.
Clicking the notification will take you to Windows Security, where additional actions (if required) can be taken and applied.
To read more about Limited Periodic Scanning, see:
- Limited Periodic Scanning in Windows 10 to Provide Additional Malware Protection | Microsoft Security
- Use limited periodic scanning in Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Microsoft Docs
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Periodic Scanning with Microsoft Defender Antivirus when you have a 3rd party antivirus program installed in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to turn on or off Limited Periodic Scanning.
Here's How:
1 Open Windows Security, and click/tap on the Virus & threat protection icon. (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on Microsoft Defender Antivirus options to expand it open, and turn On or Off (default) Periodic scanning for what you want. (see screenshots below)
3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.
4 You can now close the Windows Defender Security Center if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender Periodic Scanning in Windows 10
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New #1
I can't get this setting to stay on. When I enable it, I get the notification saying that periodic scanning is enabled. If I run WD, the interface tells me that it's enabled. But within minutes, the WD service is shut down, and the limited periodic scanning setting becomes disabled again. If I look at MpCmdRun.log, I see:
I saved a phony EXE file with the EICAR string a couple weeks ago, and I have been toying with this crap feature since. I have even run maintenance manually. The EXE hasn't been touched, of course.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MpCmdRun: Command Line: "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\mpcmdrun.exe" -wddisable
Start Time: Mon Oct 31 2016 17:44:21
WDDisable
MpWDEnable(FALSE) finished.
MpCmdRun: End Time: Mon Oct 31 2016 17:44:24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MpCmdRun: Command Line: "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\mpcmdrun.exe" -wddisable
Start Time: Mon Oct 31 2016 17:44:24
WDDisable
ERROR: MpWDEnable(FALSE) failed (800106BA)
MpCmdRun: End Time: Mon Oct 31 2016 17:44:24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder if my AV (Avira Antivirus Pro) is disabling this setting for some stupid reason. It seems that Avira shuts down the WinDefend service every time it checks for updates. Fun stuff.
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New #2
Hello meh, :)
It's not uncommon to have WD disabled or parts of it disabled when you have a 3rd party AV program installed.
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New #3
I understand that, but this is not enabling WD's real-time scanning functionality, but rather only background scans. They shouldn't be turning that off behind the scenes. And even if they do, they should TELL THE USER. Or at least LOG IT. But they don't, because that's too much like doing things the right way.
Also, Avira doesn't even say that WD should be disabled:
Q: Should I deactivate Windows Defender, if I use Avira Antivirus?
A: We recommend to deactivate the Windows Defender only if one of the Avira Antivirus modules remain inactive after the product installation.
I don't have issues with Avira components being disabled (except for the useless mail protection function, which I have manually disabled), and I don't have WD errors in my event log.
Thanks.
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New #4
Well, well. I added "DisableAntiSpyware" (DWORD) to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" and left it set to 0, and the "limited periodic scanning" feature has so far remained enabled. I love how I get smarter the moment I post a question on a forum.
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New #5
Last edited by Brink; 08 Jun 2017 at 09:00. Reason: updated link
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New #6
With "Limited Periodic Scanning" enabled, Windows Defender never scans my PC automatically. Instead, I frequently see notifications in Action Center saying "Windows Defender needs to perform a scan" (or something very similar to that). I click the message and WD appears and performs its scan.
I'm using a third-party AV, of course, otherwise I would not have "Limited Periodic Scanning" enabled.
Is there a way to make it scan automatically?
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New #7
Hello meh, :)
You might see if changing your Automatic Maintenance hours to a time you will have the PC running may help it scan more often or more reliably.
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New #8
Thanks. I have had it set for 3PM, and my PC is usually on at that time.
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New #9
It sounds like something may be interfering with the scan from running on schedule. As a test, you might see if setting your own scheduled scan may work better.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ndows-defender
Turn On or Off Microsoft Defender Periodic Scanning in Windows 10
How to Turn On or Off Periodic Scanning with Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Security System
01 Nov 2022
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