How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10  

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    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10

    How to Manually Scan Files, Folders, and Drives with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Security System
    01 Nov 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Manually Scan Files, Folders, and Drives with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10


    The Virus & threat protection section in Windows Security helps you scan for threats on your device. You can also run different types of scans, see the results of your previous virus and threat scans, and get the latest protection offered by Windows Defender Antivirus.

    Windows Security uses real-time protection to scan your downloads and the programs you run on your device. Also, Windows Update downloads definition updates for Windows Security automatically to help keep your device safe and protect it from threats.

    This tutorial will show you different ways on how to manually scan files, folders, and drives on demand with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus using Context Menu
    • Option Two: Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows Security
    • Option Three: Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus from Command Line
    • Option Four: Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus from PowerShell






    OPTION ONE

    Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus using Context Menu


    1 Select one or more files, folders, or drives you want to scan on your desktop or File Explorer window.

    You will only be able to select one item in the navigation pane to scan.


    2 Right click or press and hold on the selected items, and click/tap on Scan with Windows Defender. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-1.jpg

    3 Windows Defender Security Center will now automatically open showing you the scan results. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-2.jpg

    4 If any threats were found, you will be able to See threat details or just Clean threats. (see screenshots below)

    See threat details will allow you to select what action to take, and click/tap on Start actions to apply. You can click/tap on See details to see more details about a found threat.

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-3.png
    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-4.jpg How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-5.png






    OPTION TWO

    Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows Security


    1 Open Windows Security. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_defender_security_center-1.jpg

    2 Click/tap on the Virus & threat protection icon in Windows Security. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_defender_security_center-2.jpg

    3 Do step 4 (quick scan), step 5 (full scan), or step 6 (custom scan) below for what type of scan you want to run.


     4. To Run a Quick Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus

    A) Click/tap on the Quick Scan button, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_security-3.jpg


     5. To Run a Full Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus

    A) Click/tap on the Scan options link. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_security-4.jpg

    B) Select (dot) Full scan, click/tap on the Scan now button, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_security-5.jpg


     6. To Run a Custom Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus

    A) Click/tap on the Scan options link. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_security-4.jpg

    B) Select (dot) Custom scan, and click/tap on the Scan now button. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_security-6.jpg

    C) Select a folder or drive you want to scan, click/tap on the Select Folder button, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_defender_security_center-6b.png

    7 Windows Defender Antivirus will now start scanning. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_defender_security_center-7.png

    8 When the scan has finished, you will see the scan results. (see screenshot below)

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-windows_defender_security_center-8.jpg

    9 If any threats were found, you will be able to See threat details or just Clean threats. (see screenshots below)

    See threat details will allow you to select what action to take, and click/tap on Start actions to apply. You can click/tap on See details to see more details about a found threat.

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-3.png
    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-4.jpg How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-scan_with_windows_defender-5.png






    OPTION THREE

    Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus from Command Line


    For more MpCmdRun.exe command line usage options, see: Use the command line to manage Windows Defender AV | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the command you want to use below into the command prompt, and press Enter.

    (Update and Quick scan)
    "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -SignatureUpdate & "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -Scan -ScanType 1

    OR

    (Quick scan)
    "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -Scan -ScanType 1

    OR

    (Full scan)
    "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -Scan -ScanType 2






    OPTION FOUR

    Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus from PowerShell


    For more Start-MpScan command line usage options, see: Start-MpScan | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command you want to use below into PowerShell, and press Enter.

    (Update and Quick scan)
    Update-MpSignature; Start-MpScan -ScanType QuickScan

    OR

    (Quick scan)
    Start-MpScan -ScanType QuickScan

    OR

    (Full scan)
    Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink


    Related Tutorials






  1. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1

    Tutorial updated to add Option 4 for a PowerShell option.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 373
    Windows 10 Home 21H2
       #2

    OPTION ONE

    Scan with Windows Defender using Context Menu
    .
    The tut doesn't mention that, AFAIK, you can only select ONE folder in L pane.

    However, you can select MULTIPLE folders (or files) in R pane by using Ctrl+click, or Shift+click as usual.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello @OldGrantonian,

    Note added to help make that more clear.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #4

    Brink said:
    Hello @OldGrantonian,

    Note added to help make that more clear.

    Hi there

    @Brink

    Definitely time for me to have a trip to the opticians I think

    Coming back from a "Liquid Lunch" I mis-read the title as "How to SCAM with windows" -- I thought -- so that's what you do after the day job. !!!!!

    Too much of Kari's "malt liquids" today I think.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-tenor.gif
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #6

    Brink said:
    How to Scan with Windows Defender Antivirus in Windows 10-tenor.gif
    Cheers
    jimbo !!!!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 373
    Windows 10 Home 21H2
       #7

    jimbo45 said:
    I mis-read the title as "How to SCAM with windows"
    .
    But the title DOES say "How to scam with widows"

    Hope that puts your mind at rest
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 24
    Windows 10
       #8

    Good, how can I hide the Windows Defender basic or full scan command?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Underthaker said:
    Good, how can I hide the Windows Defender basic or full scan command?

    Hello Underthaker,

    I'm not sure what you mean, but you could hide the "Virus & threat protection" page in Windows Security if wanted.

    Hide Virus and Threat Protection in Windows Security in Windows 10
      My Computers


 

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