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FIX: Can’t update spyware protection on Windows 10/11/7

7 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Having everything up-to-date is paramount. One could justify moving from Windows 7 to Windows 8 orWindows 10by up-to-date protection updates which subdue virus andspywarethreats. However, even the most distinctive advantage sometimes fall short. Namely, a moderate number of users wasn’t receiving anyWindows Defender updateonWindows 10or Windows 8/8.1, respectively.

In order to address this, we provided the list of the most viable solutions. If you’re not seeing any definition updates forWindows Defender, move gradually through the list.

What to do if Windows 10 won’t update virus and spyware protection?

1. Check for updates

All chances are that you already tried this. As you already know, the Defender’s updates for virus andspywareprotection come viaWindows Update. However, as we already saw so many times before, these updates tend to misbehave. In order to surpass the automatic distribution (which is obviously failing in this case), you can navigate toWindows DefenderSecurity Center and check for updates by hand.

Follow these steps to updateWindows Defendervia Security Center:

If the error is persistent, follow the additional steps we provided below.

2. Make sure there’s no a third-party antivirus installed

Now, you already know that there’s no place for twoantimalware solutionsonWindows 10. Or any Windows iteration, for that matter. If you decide to place your trust in a third-partyantivirus, Windows Defender will be disabled automatically. Now, if you, in the meantime, decide to useWindows Defenderinstead, it’s really important to delete all traces of the third-partyantiviruswhich preceded it.

So, a thorough clean up is necessary in order forWindows Defenderto work without any issues. You can navigate around and clean the associated files on your own, or use a third-party tool which will do it for you. There’s a huge list of available Uninstallers and Cleaners, so we recommend checking our list of thebest available tools.

These tools will clear all remaining files and, after a restart,Windows Defendershould work fine. However, if that’s not the case, there are a few more things you can do.

3. Restart services

Restarting the dedicated service for Security Center might help, as well. IfWindows Defenderis active, this service should automatically start with the system. However, due to a minor bug, certain system services tend to stop. Also, by restarting the service at hand, you’ll restart the system application, and this just might getWindows Defendergoing.

Here’s where to find the service and how to restart it:

4. Run SFC

When the built-in system resources start failing, the troubleshooting steps we commonly use on third-party applications are out of the reach. What we can do instead is employing the built-in tools. One commonly-used tool for addressing system errors is System File Checker also known as SFC. This tool runs through a command line and it verifies the integrity of system files.

Here’s how to run SFC inWindows 10:

5. Use CMD to enforce the updates

Command Promptcomes into play in the scenarios when you need to take complete control of your system. Clearing updates with caused stuck and restarting the update process can be easily done with a few commands. Once you’ve done it, the update cycle should continue working as intended — without errors and on time.

Follow these steps to enforceWindows Defenderupdates with Command Prompt:

6. Check Group Policy

As we already said, when you install a third-partyantivirus,Windows Defenderautomatically disables. The system will see to it. However, if you’ve changed your mind, getting back toWindows Defendercan, for some users, be quite a chore. Namely, in order to re-establishWindows Defender, you’ll need to confirm that the feature is enabled in the Group Policy Editor.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

If you can’t access the GPE, there’s still a way to re-enableWindows Defender. You can navigate to Registry Editor and make some needed changes. However, please do be careful, as these are the risky grounds and a misuse can lead to critical system damage.

Follow these steps to tweak Defender-related Registry settings:

7. Download updates manually

If the issue is persistent and Windows just won’t comply, you can try to update the virus and spyware database manually. Namely, all latest definitions are stored online, on a dedicated website. You can navigate there and download fitting definition updates, depending on your OS version (Windows 10or Windows 8/8.1) and the system architecture.

Follow these steps to install updates forWindows Defendermanually:

8. Reset PC to factory values

Finally, if you’re still unable to resolve the issue at hand after all previous steps, we suggest restoring Windows to its default values. This is much better than the reinstallation, as you get to keep your files. This is more of a refresh for the system and it’s a viable last resort if system features are giving you a hard time.

Follow these steps to reset your PC to factory settings:

That’s it. We hope this was an informative read and that you’re now able to updateWindows Defenderwithout issues. You need that definition up-to-date at all the times, so it’s quite dangerous to neglect it.

Also, don’t forget to speak your mind about this issue and provide alternative solutions. The comments section is just below.

FIX: Can’t update spyware protection on Windows 10/11/7#

What to do if Windows 10 won’t update virus and spyware protection?#

1. Check for updates#

2. Make sure there’s no a third-party antivirus installed#

3. Restart services#

4. Run SFC#

5. Use CMD to enforce the updates#

6. Check Group Policy#

7. Download updates manually#

8. Reset PC to factory values#