how to download a fresh copy of Windows Defender on Windows 10

You can always check the protection update info by clicking Virus & threat protection inside Windows Security, then scrolling down to “Virus & threat protection updates,” then clicking on Protection updates. IDGįigure 3: The Update-MpSignature command will update Defender definitions, but doesn’t produce much output. Although it doesn’t appear to do much inside PowerShell, the command does indeed update the Defender signatures. This command works on Windows 10 and 11 versions alike (as shown in Figure 3 for Windows 11). The simple, basic syntax for this command is to simply type the command name in PowerShell. There’s a special PowerShell command for updating Defender security definitions (also known as signatures). Update Defender signatures using Update-MpSignature In such circumstances, there’s yet another way to forcibly update Microsoft Defender, covered in the section that follows. At other times, it too fails to download updates when WU is completely stuck and won’t download anything at all.

I have seen it work sometimes when WU is stuck on some specific update. Note that this download process goes through Windows Update in the background. IDGįigure 2: Click Check for updates to instruct Defender to download updates. If any are available, it will download and install them. You can click the Check for updates link shown at the bottom of the image to instruct Defender to check for updates. Note the entry under “Virus & threat protection updates” near the bottom. Clicking this produces an app pane like the one shown in Figure 2. The Windows Security app includes numerous entries, including the “Virus & threat protection” item that also appears in Figure 1.

IDGįigure 1: You can access Windows Security via the Settings app. Alternatively, you can open the app directly by typing “Windows Security” into the Start menu. There you’ll find a button labeled “Open Windows Security” as shown in Figure 1. Within the Settings app, you can access a Windows Security facility with this selection sequence: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security in Windows 10 or Start > Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security in Windows 11. Use Microsoft Defender’s own update facility

How to download a fresh copy of Windows Defender on Windows 10