Windows Defender is the default antivirus software in Windows 10. The Defender program helps protect your Windows operating system as well as data from common threats like viruses, spyware, and malware.
With default settings, Windows Defender automatically downloads antivirus definitions from Microsoft servers when new updates are available. Usually Microsoft releases new definitions every day through Windows Update service. So it’s important to keep the Windows Update turned on in order to automatically update Windows Defender.
Many users turn off Windows Update for a number of reasons. While some users disable Windows Update to avoid future updates, there are many users who prefer to manually update Windows operating system.
If you have also turned off Windows Update service in Windows 10 and now want to manually update Windows Defender in Windows 10, you will be happy know that manually updating Windows Defender is quite easy. All you need to do is, download Windows Defender updates from Microsoft and then run the update in Windows 10 to update Windows Defender.
Manually updating Windows Defender in Windows 10
NOTE: This method can also be used to update offline Windows 10 PC.
Complete the given below directions to manually update Windows Defender in Windows 10.
Step 1: Before downloading Defender definition updates, open Windows Defender program either using Start menu search or clicking its icon in system tray, and then check the current version and installed date of definition.
After launching Windows Defender, click on Update tab to know when was the last time updates were installed. Note down definitions last updated and virus & spyware definition version before proceeding further.
If the definition updates were installed less than a day ago, you don’t need to update it again. That said, it’s recommended to keep antivirus definition up-to-date.
Step 2: Visit this page of Microsoft and scroll down the page to see definition updates for Windows Defender for Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.
As you can see in the picture below, the page offers separate update files for x86 and x64 types of Windows 10. So check if you are running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 and then download updates for either x86 or x64.
Be sure to click the download link next to Windows Defender in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1.
Step 3: Once the update is downloaded to your PC, you need to run the update in order to install. To do so, simply double-click on the update file to begin updating Windows Defender. Note that you won’t see any window or dialog box during the process.
Windows Defender should be updated in a few seconds. That’s it!
Step 4: Open Windows Defender program, switch to Update tab and check the update version and install date just to make sure that latest definition updates are installed.
You can now perform a full scan or offline scan using Windows Defender.
How to remove Scan with Windows Defender from right-click menu in Windows 10 guide might also be of interest to you.
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