Windows Defender is built-in security for Windows operating systems.
Windows Defender is built-in security for Windows operating systems.
My Kaspersky Total has expired. I'm running Windows 11 Pro. How can I ensure Windows Defender is active? Kaspersky no longer appears when you type "defender" since it's gone, but it seems to show up in searches. Is it part of Windows Security with Virus & Thread protection? It displays a Kaspersky Total Security Actions recommendation for protection settings. Current threats: No actions required. Protection settings: Actions suggested for protection with a yellow warning. Open app Microsoft Defender Antivirus – I’ve disabled periodic scanning.
If you type "Microsoft Defender" into the search bar and it opens, it will prompt you to select an account for logging in. Your email address appears as Outlook.com. You might want to check your existing email settings there. If you're unsure, you can choose a different account instead. It seems Windows Defender should display similar information as your original setup, but the interface may differ. The settings for scanning or managing Windows Defender are usually found under the "Windows Security" section in the app. Regarding why it doesn't show Windows Defender like Kaspersky in the earlier post—this could be due to different configurations or versions of the software.
Everything tends to work fine as long as the blue shield in the system tray displays a small green tick next to it. I’d suggest reinstalling Windows if you’ve had another antivirus, firewall, or defender running. In my experience, these tools often interfere with Windows more than typical software like MS Word or Adobe Acrobat and usually clash with other programs that do similar things. While an uninstallation generally helps, I usually prefer a clean Windows installation, especially for security-related applications.
I don't wish to remove Kaspersky Total. When the Kaspersky Total subscript was active, pausing it would trigger Windows Defender to appear. However, it doesn't seem to do that now. Perhaps the behavior changed since then when I paused it. I used pause Kaspersky Total recently, so I'm unsure if Windows Defender is currently enabled. Right-clicking and closing Kaspersky Total in the bottom-right corner displays a message: "Windows Security Dismiss Only." The only option available is to dismiss it. Now I see "Kaspersky Total Security – Snoozed" with Current Threats, No Actions Needed. Protection settings are enabled, updates are active, and the app opens with Microsoft Defender Antivirus options visible.