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Fix: Windows Defender Real-Time Protection Won’t Turn On
Uninstall third-party antivirus or reset your PC
5 min. read
Updated onMay 15, 2024
updated onMay 15, 2024
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Safeguarding your PC using an antivirus tool is one of the first things you should do, as we are constantly exposed to new threats because of the internet.Microsoft includes the Windows Defender Firewall, as well as Windows Security to protect your PC.
However, there are a bunch of users who have reported that the Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on. For users facing the same issue, this guide is just for you. Here, we will give you a bunch of solutions that will help fix the Windows Defender real-time protection that won’t turn on.
Why won’t Windows Defender real-time protection turn on?
We did some careful research and found out some of the most common reasons why Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on:
What can I do if Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on?
1. Uninstall any third-party antivirus
A third-party antivirus program won’t let you use another antivirus program, or it would interfere with it. In such a case, we would suggest you uninstall any third-party antivirus tool that you have on your PC and then check if you could turn on the real-time protection or not.
2. Check the Group Policy setting
When you follow the above steps and do as said, you ensure the Windows Defender isn’t disabled on your PC.
If the program is disabled, you won’t be able to use its features, which in our case is to turn on the real-time protection.
3. Fix system files
This is one way to fix corrupt or missing system files and fix several associated issues. However, often running SFC and DISM commands doesn’t help fix the corrupt system files; in such a case, we would suggest you make use of adedicated system fixing tool.
4. Uninstall recently installed Windows update
Often, apart from bringing new features to Windows, the latest Windows update also contains bugs that could cause you several issues, including Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on the problem.
In such a case, the best way is to uninstall the recently installed update and see if this fixes the problem or not.
5. Reset Windows
As a last resort, you can opt to reset your PC. Following the above steps would help you reset your PC without deleting your files.
On the contrary, if you want toturn off real-time protection that keeps enabling itself, read this guide.
That is it from us in this guide. Some users have reported thatthe Virus & threat protection option isn’t workingon their Windows 11 PC. You can refer to our guide and resolve the problem.
If theWindows Defender is missingfrom your Windows 11 PC, you should check out our guide, which will help you fix the issue.
For more advanced users, we have a great guide on how toperform a virus scan in CMD, so don’t miss it.
Let us know in the comments below which solutions helped you fix the Windows Defender real-time protection won’t turn on issue.
More about the topics:Windows Defender issues
Sagar Naresh
Sagar is a web developer and technology journalist. Currently associated with WindowsReport and SamMobile. When not writing, he is either at the gym sweating it out or playing country music on his guitar.
He is an avid traveler and has been to 15 countries, going to more places soon. TRAVEL and WORK is his mantra for a peaceful life.
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