When you install Windows 11, Windows Security, also known as Windows Defender, becomes the default antivirus and security solution. This is one of the best tools available, and it is effective in the vast majority of circumstances.
However, one of the most common problems was the fact that after updating or randomly Windows Defender does not open or does not work properly.
Sometimes when you try to activate Windows Security, you may see a lot of strange error messages. For example, it may prompt you to install a new application to access the Windows Defender link.
The window appears briefly before disappearing without a trace. If restarting the computer does not solve the problem, you should use the troubleshooting methods listed below. First we will understand how Windows Defender works, and then we will move on to solutions.
How does Windows Defender work?
Providing excellent automatic protection against malware, as well as having a minor impact on system performance and an amazing number of related additional features, Microsoft Windows Defender has almost caught up with the best free antivirus programs.
For many users, scheduling a scan takes too long, and there is no security for other web browsers other than Edge or Internet Explorer. In addition, there is no separate password manager or file shredder.
With Windows Defender, you get exactly what you see. Strengthening protection or adding features is not available as updates. When the full Windows security system is taken into account, it includes a firewall, disk-level encryption, and even a game mode.
On the other hand, it still lacks the features that third-party antivirus vendors include as incentives, such as file shredder and virtual private network (VPN) access.
In addition, Windows Defender provides world-class protection against malware, which gives good reasons not to replace it with a third-party antivirus product.
Its only drawbacks are that some of its defensive actions, such as scan scheduling, are difficult to set up, and that some of the related Windows protections are limited only to Microsoft's own browsers, which is a minor drawback.
What should I do if Windows Security doesn't open in Windows 11?
1. Restore the application.
Press Windows +I to open the Settings app, then go to Apps, and then Apps and Features.
Scroll down until you find the Reset section, then click the Restore button.
Wait for the recovery process to complete before continuing to restart the computer to make sure that the changes you have made are applied. Check whether Windows Security has been restored by restarting it.
2. Reset the app.
Press Windows +I to open the Settings app, then go to Apps, and then Apps and Features.
Once you're in the Applications and Features window, find Windows Security in the search bar, then click the three-point menu next to it, and then Advanced Options.
Scroll down until you find the Reset section, then click the Reset button.
3. Launch the SFC
Press Windows+S to open the search bar, then type CMD, and right-click on the most relevant one to run it as an administrator.
Type or paste the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
It may take some time for the process to complete, so you may need to restart your computer. SFC will automatically find and restore corrupted files and folders.
4. Launch DISM.
Press Windows+S to open the search bar, then type CMD, and right-click on the most relevant one to run it as an administrator.
Stay patient until the whole procedure is completed. Keep in mind that the process can take up to ten minutes. After completing this step, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
5. Reinstall using the PowerShell command.
Right-click the Start icon, then select the Windows Terminal (Administrator) option to open the PowerShell interface.
Type or paste the following command, then press Enter and let it run:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
6. Disable the antivirus.
Click the disclosure arrow on the taskbar and right-click the antivirus icon, then select the Avast Shields control, and then Disable for 10 minutes.
If you have other antivirus programs installed, you can temporarily disable the application by following the same steps as above or similar steps.
Below we have listed two links with alternative antiviruses that are compatible with Windows 11 and will not cause almost any problems.
Is Windows Defender good enough?
As for cybersecurity capabilities, Windows Defender has come a long way since its inception. It used to be terrible, but recently Microsoft has improved Defender to such an extent that it is a good enough free antivirus.
Since Defender now integrates sandbox and cloud malware detection, it provides better overall security and also detects threats faster than ever before.
Detecting malware files, blocking exploits and network attacks, and flagging phishing websites is all Microsoft Defender is capable of.
In addition, it provides simple monitoring of PC performance and health, as well as parental controls that include content filtering, usage restrictions and location tracking.
Since Windows Defender now includes all these useful features, users are wondering if they can rely on it alone to protect their computers or if they will need to use a third-party antivirus program in addition to it.
The fact is that Microsoft Defender is now closer than ever to becoming competitive with third-party Internet security packages. However, this is still unsatisfactory.
Of course, Defender can be downloaded for free, but there is a reason why Internet security packages are so expensive, not least because Microsoft does not deal with cybersecurity.
Let us know in the comments section below which solution works best for you, as well as which antivirus software you prefer.
