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Microsoft
microsoft.com › en-ca › windows › comprehensive-security
Windows Security: Defender Antivirus, SmartScreen, and More | Microsoft Windows
Protect your privacy, identity, and devices with Windows Security. Explore Windows 11 security features like Microsoft Defender Antivirus that help keep you and your PC safe.
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › stay-protected-with-the-windows-security-app-2ae0363d-0ada-c064-8b56-6a39afb6a963
Stay Protected With the Windows Security App - Microsoft Support
Here's a brief list of common tasks ... Windows Security app. Expand each section to learn more: If you're worried about a specific file or folder on your local device, you can right-click the file or folder in File Explorer, then select Scan with Microsoft Defender. Tip: On Windows 11 you may have ...
Discussions

Unable to open Windows Security in Windows 11, what do I install to be "compatible with 'windowsdefender' links"?
Hi u/finna_not , thanks for posting to r/WindowsHelp ! Don't worry, your post has not been removed. To let us help you better, try to include as much of the following information as possible! Posts with insufficient details might be removed at the moderator's discretion. Model of your computer - For example: "HP Spectre X360 14-EA0023DX" Your Windows and device specifications - You can find them by going to go to Settings > "System" > "About" What troubleshooting steps you have performed - Even sharing little things you tried (like rebooting) can help us find a better solution! Any error messages you have encountered - Those long error codes are not gibberish to us! Any screenshots or logs of the issue - You can upload screenshots other useful information in your post or comment, and use Pastebin for text (such as logs). You can learn how to take screenshots here . All posts must be help/support related. If everything is working without issue, then this probably is not the subreddit for you, so you should also post on a discussion focused subreddit like r/Windows . Lastly, if someone does help and resolves your issue, please don't delete your post! Someone in the future with the same issue may stumble upon this thread, and same solution may help! Good luck! As a reminder, this is a help subreddit, all comments must be a sincere attempt to help the OP or otherwise positively contribute. This is not a subreddit for jokes and satirical advice. These comments may be removed and can result in a ban. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. More on reddit.com
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3
2
February 13, 2025
Windows 11 Security completely borked after update (KB5023706)
Completely reinstalled windows 11, formatted ssd and installed from a usb. Paused updates, ran for a few hours, couldn't replicate issue. Installed latest updates, Issue returned. I'm also getting this error "There is no TPM available. Please check BIOS settings." TPM is on in bios, clicking in and out of the Windows Security tab causes it to come back showing that TPM is working properly. And clicking in and out of the windows security tab again causes it to show the same error that TPM is not available. More on reddit.com
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12
March 15, 2023
When i open Windows Security its only blank?
Windows defender is going through a rough time okay? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Windows11
18
105
February 6, 2023
Windows Security: "Local Security Authority Protection is off" bug
Windows Security have had alot of bugs these last few months. Nothing seems to work as it should. More on reddit.com
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11
23
January 23, 2023
People also ask

What is Windows Security settings?

Windows Security settings is where you can manage the security providers that protect your device. It also lets you configure your Windows Security notifications.

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allaboutcookies.org
allaboutcookies.org › antivirus protection › antivirus software › how to configure your windows 11 security settings in {% now 'y' %} [step-by-step guide]
How To Configure Your Windows 11 Security Settings in 2025 ...
Is Windows 10 or 11 Security all I need?

Yes, if you use the Microsoft Edge browser and Office 365, you will have solid protection with Windows Security and the default Microsoft Defender Antivirus. However, you may experience limited protection when using third-party browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox. If you want concurrent coverage with another reputable third-party solution, we recommend checking out the best antivirus software for Windows 11. 

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allaboutcookies.org
allaboutcookies.org › antivirus protection › antivirus software › how to configure your windows 11 security settings in {% now 'y' %} [step-by-step guide]
How To Configure Your Windows 11 Security Settings in 2025 ...
What are the best security settings for Windows 10 or 11?

Enable anti-ransomware features in Windows 10 or 11 so you won’t be locked out of using your computer and asked to pay a ransom (don’t ever pay a ransom, as it doesn’t guarantee recovery). Also, be sure to configure Windows Security notifications so you know when updates are available to strengthen the detection of malware and other threats on your machine.

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allaboutcookies.org
allaboutcookies.org › antivirus protection › antivirus software › how to configure your windows 11 security settings in {% now 'y' %} [step-by-step guide]
How To Configure Your Windows 11 Security Settings in 2025 ...
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Kolide
kolide.com › blog › windows-11-security-what-you-need-to-know-22h2-update
Windows 11 Security: What You Need to Know (22H2 Update)
2 weeks ago - The first major update, Windows 11 22H2, was released in September 2022, and it goes even further to protect end users against cyberattacks and to help organizations implement a zero trust security architecture.
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TechRadar
techradar.com › computing › software › windows
Microsoft is fixing a glaring problem with a smart Windows 11 security feature that'll mean many more people can use it
2 weeks ago - Windows 11 is getting a new trick to make your PC more reliable – and Microsoft has fixed a security flaw in File Explorer
Find elsewhere
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › security
Windows security documentation | Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) Microsoft Windows Insider Preview bounty program · OneFuzz service · Completed FIPS validations - Windows 11 · Completed CC certifications - Windows 11 · Security baselines with Intune · Windows Autopatch ·
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PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › explainers › windows 11
Windows 11 Is Ultra Secure—Here's How to Keep It That Way | PCMag
September 6, 2024 - You can’t run Windows 11 on a PC that lacks essential security hardware. That's a good thing. Less promising is the fact that you can disable these requirements. Don't do that!
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Groovy Post
groovypost.com › how-to › how to enable or disable windows security in windows 11
How to Enable or Disable Windows Security in Windows 11
April 5, 2024 - Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender and other names) in Windows 11 is Microsoft’s built-in virus and malware protection suite. Windows Security’s real-time antivirus is enabled by default, and we recommend keeping it that way.
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AV-TEST
av-test.org › en › antivirus › home-windows
Test antivirus software for Windows 11 - October 2025 | AV-TEST
The current tests of antivirus software for Windows 11 from October 2025 of AV-TEST, the leading international and independent service provider for antivirus software and malware.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windowshelp › unable to open windows security in windows 11, what do i install to be "compatible with 'windowsdefender' links"?
r/WindowsHelp on Reddit: Unable to open Windows Security in Windows 11, what do I install to be "compatible with 'windowsdefender' links"?
February 13, 2025 -

From following this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zho0vAq6E1Q

I've tried to run PowerShell > Run as Admin > right-click, edit + paste "Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage" Search for Windows Security > Select App Settings > and then it doesn't let me open it, it just closes.

I also tried Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Windows Security, which is essentially the same thing and it came to the same results, Settings just closes without telling me what's wrong. I've skipped his step to reset the settings and moved on to open the cmd > run as Admin > sfc /scannow and it said "something about corrupt files were found and fixed" and fixed it did because after I restarted my computer, I can finally see the same error everybody else had been getting. I believe I'm only missing the app itself, it's like all of Windows Protection is built around this app and it itself is entirely removed.

Before this, I searched up "reinstall windows security" where I came across a forum that allegedly had a solution asking me to download a fishy .exe from some site that is definitely not Windows, down the forum I also found the same steps copy and pasted from different people and none of the people replying were getting any results, so then I was led to believe that this is the one and only solution. I got as far as to downloading it, pressing the scan button in the app, and seeing it scan everything I've ever had downloaded on my PC and then realizing halfway that maybe this MAY not be the fix to downloading Windows Security. I got to turning it off via Task Manager and canceling its scan mid-progress, I immediately uninstalled the app, realizing what I've just done, there was a gaping hole in my computer's security and my soul. I checked to see if that app had left anything after I uninstalled it and with the same name it left a .txt file that had everything I left it to scan before I canceled it like a receipt of my death and mistakes. The forum: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-can-i-reinstall-windows-security/07052af6-0999-4c74-bca2-f233c89500a7

This all started because I was clearing out what i thought was unneccesary files from my Local, LocalLow, or Roaming files which most likely have had a file for Windows Security in there which might've started this whole mess. But I'm not sure if it really did because I had just upgraded from Win 11 from being an avid Win 10 user, and all this started to happen out of nowhere, (copium) If anyone has an idea of what I can officially install of Windows/Microsoft software, please let a brother know.

Top answer
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Hi u/finna_not , thanks for posting to r/WindowsHelp ! Don't worry, your post has not been removed. To let us help you better, try to include as much of the following information as possible! Posts with insufficient details might be removed at the moderator's discretion. Model of your computer - For example: "HP Spectre X360 14-EA0023DX" Your Windows and device specifications - You can find them by going to go to Settings > "System" > "About" What troubleshooting steps you have performed - Even sharing little things you tried (like rebooting) can help us find a better solution! Any error messages you have encountered - Those long error codes are not gibberish to us! Any screenshots or logs of the issue - You can upload screenshots other useful information in your post or comment, and use Pastebin for text (such as logs). You can learn how to take screenshots here . All posts must be help/support related. If everything is working without issue, then this probably is not the subreddit for you, so you should also post on a discussion focused subreddit like r/Windows . Lastly, if someone does help and resolves your issue, please don't delete your post! Someone in the future with the same issue may stumble upon this thread, and same solution may help! Good luck! As a reminder, this is a help subreddit, all comments must be a sincere attempt to help the OP or otherwise positively contribute. This is not a subreddit for jokes and satirical advice. These comments may be removed and can result in a ban. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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Windows security is usually downloaded by default in windows 11, don't know what happened here but you can download the legit copy of windows defender from Microsoft Store.
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › windows-11-and-secure-boot-a8ff1202-c0d9-42f5-940f-843abef64fad
Windows 11 and Secure Boot - Microsoft Support
Learn how to change settings to enable Secure Boot if you are not able to upgrade to Windows 11 because your PC is not currently Secure Boot capable.
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Acronis
acronis.com › acronis blog › windows 11 security: is it good enough? - acronis
Windows 11 security: Is it good enough? - Acronis
September 27, 2023 - Windows 11 antivirus will not protect your devices from all potential threats and unexpected events. It may be the most secure version of the Windows Security app, but it is not capable to protect you from all threats.
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › device-security-in-the-windows-security-app-afa11526-de57-b1c5-599f-3a4c6a61c5e2
Device Security in the Windows Security App - Microsoft Support
In the Windows Security app on your PC,​​​​​​​ select Device security > Security details. For more information, see Windows 11 Secured-core PCs.
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Acer Community
community.acer.com › acer answers › windows
Windows 11: How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Security - Acer Community
June 27, 2022 - Windows Security, previously known as Windows Defender, is the default security software in all Windows 11 and 10 devices. This security software is one of the best security software on the market; however, this high performance software may ...
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PCWorld
pcworld.com › home › feature › windows feature
Is Windows 11's built-in antivirus security enough for normal people? | PCWorld
October 6, 2025 - Indeed, Windows 11 has several protective measures that come installed by default, and they’re packaged together as Windows Security. Together, these features make Windows 11 secure enough for the average user to not need third-party antivirus software.
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Microsoft Defender
windows-defender.en.softonic.com › home › security & privacy › microsoft defender
Microsoft Defender - Download
1 week ago - Microsoft Defender functions similarly to Norton 360 Premium, Bitdefender Total Security, and McAfee AntiVirus Plus which are all antivirus software. This tool’s security center protects a PC against trojans, ransomware, spyware, viruses, ...
Rating: 7.7/10 ​ - ​ 4.33K votes
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Bitdefender
bitdefender.com › en-us › consumer › free-antivirus
Bitdefender Free Antivirus Software
Simply download and install free protection for your PC running any version of Windows (including Windows 10 and Windows 11) and enjoy a worry-free experience while gaming or browsing the Internet.