To provide better security, the newest version of Windows comes with a solid antivirus program that helps you keep your PC secure from viruses, malware, and other threats. Windows 8 ships with an updated version of Windows Defender program that now includes all features of the Security Essentials program as well as its familiar interface.
In addition to spyware protection and other security features that it has offered since Vista, Defender now includes real-time protection, full scan, and rootkit protection as well.
While Windows Defender in Windows 8 includes almost all features of Microsoft Security Essentials, it doesn’t let you scan files and folders from the context menu. In simple words, Scan with Windows Defender isn’t present in the Explorer context menu.
Users who are relaying on Windows Defender need to open Windows Defender program and launch the custom scan option to scan a folder.
Windows 8 users who love the Windows Defender and want to add Scan with Windows Defender option to the folder context menu (right-click menu) will be glad to know that a simple workaround is now available to scan folders right from the context menu. The option is useful for users who often download files from the web and use the feature to quickly scan the downloaded files for possible threats.
Scan with Windows Defender option in the context menu
Here are the steps you need to complete to add Scan with Windows Defender to the context menu in Windows 8.
Step 1: Open Windows Registry. To do this, open Run dialog by pressing Windows + R hotkey, type Regedit.exe and then press Enter key. Click Yes for the UAC prompt.
Step 2: Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\folder\shell
Step 3: Create a new sub key under Shell and name it WindowsDefender.
Step 4: Now, click on WindowsDefender key, and on the right-hand side create a String Value named Icon and set %ProgramFiles%\\Windows Defender\\EppManifest.dll as its value.
Create another String Value key named MUIVerb and set Scan with Windows Defender as its value data. Please note that you can replace Scan with Windows Defender text with anything that you want to see in the context menu.
Step 5: Create a key named Command under WindowsDefender. Click on Command key, on the right-hand side of Command key, double-click on Default key and then set the following command as its value data.
“C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe” -scan -scantype 3 -SignatureUpdate -file %1
(Replace “C” with your Windows 8 drive letter)
You are done! From now onwards, you will see Scan with Windows Defender option when you right-click on a folder. Please note that you a command window will appear whenever you click Scan with Windows Defender option.
Thanks to TheWindowsClub for the tip.
Anthony says
I did this a little differently.
First I opened up the send to menu (in any explorer window in the address bar type “shell:sendto” without quotes and hit enter)
Next I created a text file named scanner.bat
I edited the file to contain this:
@echo off
Title Windows Defender Virus Scan Results
color F1
for %%a in (%*) do (
“C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe” -Scan -ScanType 3 -File %%a
)
PAUSE
So now i can right click anything and go to send to–>scanner.bat. This will pop up a cmd prompt showing blue text on a white background. It also pauses so you can see the results of the scan. This also works for any file, folder, or combination of them except for special system folder (i.e. you can’t scan “my computer”)
Thar says
Great, it works, how to add it in the file context menu?
MacChoto says
This worked for me: “C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe” -scan -scantype 3 -SignatureUpdate -file “%1”
Note the quotes!.
admin says
Thanks, Steve. That’s a useful tip.
Steve McCall says
Use this as your command to invoke a GUI based Quick Scan instead of the command line scan.
“C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe” -QuickScan
Boris says
Regarding the “Windows cannot access specified file or path” problem: I believe this is caused by the wrong double quotes being in the Command instruction.
When entering C:\Program Files … against the Command key please make sure the command is enclosed in “” instead of “”
The “” double quotes are generated automatically by programs such as Word to replace the old-fashioned “”
henrique says
for me windows defender appears in the context menu, but when I click to scan it says : windows cannot specified device path, ………….you may not have appropriate permissions to access the item
Nirmal Advani says
I’m using Final version of Windows 8 Enterprise, I tried again, It was “Scan with Windows Defender” but It did found file and In my PC windows is installed in “C”.
Nirmal Advani says
If you find any solution then post again with video, or any antivirus software review post
admin says
@Niraj
Unfortunately, you can’t install Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 RTM. Even though it was possible in earlier previews of Windows 8, there seems to be no solution to install MSE in the final release of Windows 8. You can check this post more details.
intowindows.com/install-microsoft-security-essentials-windows-8/
Niraj says
This is not exactly what we people were waiting for.. why its opening in cmd mode which is not familiar like previous mse scan and its working only with folder..however you guys have work really good..but now i am asking is there any way to remove windows defender completely from windows 8 so that we can install Microsoft security essential again..Actually i don’t like any other antivirus application because those antivirus do my pc slow..So please do something great work either create registry hack so that windows defender can work like mse or find a way to remove windows defender completely so that we can install mse again..
Thanks
admin says
I checked those pictures again. I haven’t set any value for Default under Windows Defender. Make sure that your replace the “C” in the last step with your Windows 8 installation drive’s letter.
Nirmal Advani says
Context menu is showing but It shows a Pop-up that “Windows cannot access specified file or path”. In pics value of “default” in “Windows Defender” Key is set. But In my PC It is showing that value is not set. If there is any value for that then I think you haven’t specified.
Please give response.