Windows 11 · Windows
Scan and Remove Malware With Windows Security
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Use Windows Security to update protection and run a scan. If the same threat returns, Microsoft documents Windows Defender Offline as the next scan type; save work because the PC restarts.
Prepare and identify the exact scope
Disconnect unneeded external drives, save work, and back up irreplaceable documents without copying suspicious executables. Record the detected threat name and path before taking action so repeated detections can be compared accurately.
Open Virus & threat protection
Open Windows Security and select Virus & threat protection.
Run an appropriate scan
Choose Scan options and run the scan that fits the current concern; review any detected threat actions.
Use Offline scan for recurring malware
If the same threat returns, save your work, choose Microsoft Defender Offline scan, and follow the restart prompt.
Verify the supported result
After the scan, open Protection history and review the exact status of each detection. Confirm Windows Security reports protection definitions as current and run a second scan only when the first result or Microsoft guidance warrants it.
Understand limits and consequences
Quarantine or removal can stop an infected application from working, while Allow on device can restore a real threat. Do not allow an item merely because a program fails after detection; verify it with the software publisher first.
Use the safest supported follow-up
Use Microsoft Defender Offline for malware that returns after removal, saving work because Windows restarts. Afterward, update Windows, browser, and affected software, then change exposed passwords from a known-clean device when credential theft is plausible.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the same threat returns, disconnect the PC from sensitive accounts and networks, preserve the Protection history details, and contact Microsoft or qualified security support. Avoid stacking unknown cleaners or deleting system files identified only by a forum post.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.