Windows 10: Activate Defender - Here's how
If you want to protect your computer with Windows Defender, you can activate it at any time in Windows 10. In this practical tip, we will show you how to do it.
Windows 10: do you need the Defender?
- The Windows Defender offers basic protection for Windows 10. However, the qualifications of the Defender do not go far beyond the term basic.
- As soon as you install anti-virus software on your computer, the Defender is automatically deactivated. So the two programs don't get in each other's way.
- If you uninstall your virus protection, Windows Defender will be activated automatically. Manual activation therefore only makes sense in very few cases.
Instructions: Activate Defender on Windows 10
- Click on the Windows icon in the lower left so that the Start menu opens.
- Click the gear icon here to open the settings.
- Under the category "Update and Security" you will find the "Windows Defender" on the left.
- If you click on the "Activate Windows Defender" button at the top, the Defender will be started.
- Click the "Activate" button again and confirm the process.
Activate Windows Defender from the command prompt
- Alternatively, you can activate Windows Defender via the command prompt. To do this, start the command prompt as administrator.
- Since Windows Defender works with two separate services, you need the following two commands to activate it: "sc start WinDefend Enable" and "sc start WdNisSvc Enable".
- You can also deactivate the two services in the same way. Use the commands "sc start WinDefend Disable" and "sc start WdNisSvc Disable".
In the next practical tip, we will show you how to deactivate the Defender under Windows 10.