Windows Defender - Automatic Scanning

Information

This will show you how to set Windows Defender automatic scanning schedule options and how to allow Windows Defender to wakeup the computer to run the scheduled scan, or run the scan the next time you start or wakeup the computer.

NOTE

Obviously Windows Defender will need to be turned on to allow automatic scanning. See: How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off

• How to Change Windows Defender Notification Options
• How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off
• How to Create a Task in Vista Task Scheduler

1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)
2. Click on the Windows Defender icon.
3. Click on Tools at the top. (See screenshot below)
4. Click on Options in the main window.

Tools.jpg

5. To Turn Off Automatic Scanning -
NOTE: If you turn off automatic scanning, then you will have to manually run Windows Defender scan.

A) Uncheck Automatically scan my computer. (See screenshot below step 6)
B) Go to step 7.

6. To Turn On Automatic Scanning -
NOTE: You will need to turn on automatic scanning if you would like Windows Defender to scan your computer automatically for you.

A) Uncheck Automatically scan my computer. (See screenshot below)
B) Adjust the schedule setting to what Frequency, Approximate time, and Type of scan you want.
C) Decide if you would like Windows Defender to check for updates before scanning.
NOTE: It is recommended that you check this to run a updated scan.

D) Decide if you would like Windows Defender to apply default actions if it finds something in a scan.
NOTE: This can be useful if you have the scan run when you are not at the computer. Usually the Default action settings (definition-based) do a great job.

Options.jpg

7. Click on Save. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If you turned off automatic scanning, then your done. The options below only apply if you have automatic scanning turned on.

WARNING

You must have automatic scanning turned on in STEP ONE above.

1. Open the Start Menu.

A) In the white line (Start Search) area, type taskschd.msc and press Enter.
B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (Classic view).

A) Click on the Administrative Tools Icon.
B) Click on Task Scheduler.

3. Click Continue for UAC prompt.
4. In the right pane, click on View and click on Show Hidden Tasks to check it. (See screenshot below step 7)
5. In the left pane, click on the arrow on the Task Scheduler Library folderand Microsoft folder to expand them.
6. Click on the Windows Defender folder.
7. In the middle pane, right click on the listed MP Scheduled Scan and click Properties.

Task_Scheduler.jpg

8. Decide if you would like to do OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below.
NOTE: You could do both if you like in case the scan cannot wakeup the computer for some reason.

OPTION ONE:
Set Windows Defender Scan to Wake Up the Computer to Run

NOTE

You must have automatic scanning turned on in STEP ONE above. This will allow Windows Defender to run the scheduled scan to run even if the computer is in sleep mode.

9. Click on the Conditions tab. (See screenshot below)

A) Check the Wake the computer to run this task box.

Wake_Up.jpg

OPTION TWO:
Set Windows Defender Scan to Run the Next Time when Missed

NOTE

This will allow Windows Defender to run the scheduled scan the next time you have the computer running if the scan was missed due to it not being able to run at it's scheduled time.

10. Click on the Settings tab. (See screenshot below)

A) Check the Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed box.

Next_Time.jpg