How to schedule a Windows Defender Antivirus scan on Windows 10

You can run Windows Defender Antivirus scans on your schedule, and in this guide, we'll show you the steps to get it done.

Windows Defender Antivirus is the security solution available on every installation of Windows 10 to protect your device and files from unwanted viruses, spyware, ransomware attacks, and other types of malware and online threats.

Its offers real-time protection functionality and the option to start a scan manually. You can also be schedule the Windows Defender Antivirus to scan at your preferred day of the month and time. But, you can't enable it through the Windows Security app. it's something that you have to configure manually by using the Task Scheduler.

Learn how to schedule a Windows Defender Antivirus scan using Task Scheduler

To schedule a Windows Defender Antivirus to scan manually using these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Scheduler, and click the top result to open the app.
3. OR,
4. Press Windows+R, write taskschd.msc in Run prompt window and hit Enter.
5. Browse the following path:
   Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender
6. Right-click the "Windows Defender Scheduled Scan" task, and select the Properties option.
   
7. Open the Triggers tab and click the New button.
8. 
9. In Begin the task drop-down menu select the On a schedule option.
10. Select the Weekly or Monthly option from the left side (or the option that best suits your situation).

Check the day (if you select the week) that you want the scan to take place.

1. 
   
2. Click the OK button.
3. Click the Conditions tab. (Optional)
4. Under the "Power" section, check the Stop if the computer switches to battery power option to prevent affecting the battery life on your laptop.
   

Click the OK button.

Once you completed these steps, the built-in antivirus(Windows Defender Antivirus) will run automatically using the schedule that you specified.