
Looking for a way to activate Windows Defender?
If you are a Windows 8 and Windows 10 user, surely you already know about Windows Defender.
Windows Defender itself is an antivirus program built into the system, which by default is installed in Windows 8 and Windows 10.
This antivirus can be said to be very helpful, because the program is quite light, even for computers with low specifications.
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How to Enable Windows Defender in Windows 10
Basically, Windows Defender is automatically turned on.
Well, but what if its current position on your computer is disabled? For example, you once turned it off, then forgot how to turn it back on.
For that, here I will discuss the tutorial in full.
1. Turn on Windows Defender Via Settings
The settings in question are the default settings page in Windows 10, or more familiarly called the Control Panel (although the Control Panel actually still exists).
Here’s how to activate Windows Defender:
- Open Windows Settings
- Go to Update and Security > Virus Protection
- Click the Manage Settings menu
- Disable Real-time Protection
This is complete.
Step 1 : First, please click the Start button on the Windows taskbar first, then click the gear icon located there.
Step 2 : Next, there will be many menus. Please check the bottom, then select the Update & Security menu .




Real-Time Protection is a settings menu to activate Windows Defender, so it can protect the system from viruses.
This setting will work, both online and offline.
Usually, Windows Defender doesn’t work because this setting is still off . By setting it to on , the protection will automatically reactivate.
In addition, Cloud-Based Protection can also be enabled. This setting is intended for online -only virus protection .
2. Turn on Windows Defender Through Group Policy
Group Policy is a special page, in which there are tens to hundreds of settings related to Windows systems.
For some conditions, an inactive Windows Defender can only be restarted through this Group Policy setting, you know.
Here’s how.
Step 1 : First, in the search field , please type ” Edit Group Policy “, then open the results.
Note:
- Group Policy y is another name for the gpedit.msc command .
- Another step to open it, can be by clicking the Windows key + R > typing “ gpedit.msc ” > then clicking OK .
Step 2 : If so, we can continue again. Please go to the Real Time Protection directory menu.
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender > Real-time Protection
Step 3 : Click the Real-Time Protection folder. Check on the right and look for the Turn off Real-Time Protection setting . Right-click the setting, then click Edit.
Step 4 : Please change the setting to Not Configured , then click the Apply button again.
Step 5 : After the settings are applied, try restarting the computer as usual. After that, try to check Windows Defender.
Note :
This Windows Group Policy can only be active on Windows 10 Pro. For Windows 10 Home users, the Group Policy menu will not be found later.
3. Activate Windows Defender which is “Turn Off by Group Policy”
This condition is actually quite rare. So, when Windows Defender wants to be activated or run, a message appears “ Windows Defender is turned off by Group Policy ”.
For how to activate it not through Group Policy, but specifically through Regedit ( registry settings ) in Windows.
This method can be applied to all versions of Windows 10. Not only the pro version, but Windows 10 Home as well.
Please follow these steps:
Step 1 . The first, please click Windows key + R at the same time, to open the Run menu.
Step 2 . Type ” regedit “, then click OK.
Step 3 . Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Policies > Microsoft > Windows Defender > Double click on the DisableAntiSpyware column.
Step 4 . In the Modify this data column, please fill in the value 1, then click OK.
After that, you can reopen Windows Defender as usual. This way, Windows Defender will start automatically.
How to Solve Windows Defender Can’t Open
If you have activated it, but Windows Defender still can’t be opened, then you have to do some additional options.
Here’s how:
- Click Windows key + R > Type “ control panel ” > Then click OK .
- In the Control Panel search field > Please type “ security and maintenance .”
- Well, there is a red notification from Windows Defender there.
- Click Turn on Now.
These steps specifically address the message “ Windows Defender has been turned off and isn’t monitoring your computer .”
Well, sometimes there is another message, which reads more or less:
Windows Defender isn’t monitoring your PC because the program’s service stopped. You should restart it now
How to solve it like this:
- Type “ services ” in the search field on the Windows taskbar .
- Look for Windows Defender Service there.
- Double-click the Windows Defender Service .
- Then, in the Startup Type , please change from Manual to Automatic.
Click OK and save the settings. It’s done.
The final word
That’s the discussion about how to activate Windows Defender.
Antivirus is actually an important element in a computer system, in order to maintain its stability.
Therefore, making sure Windows Defender is on is, arguably, very important.