Fix the Windows Security Center Service Being Turned Off
Source-checked · About 10 minutes
Answer
Restart Windows, install current updates, and open Windows Security from Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security. Repair the Windows Security app if that option is available. If Windows components remain broken, run Microsoft's DISM command followed by sfc /scannow from an administrator Command Prompt. Do not download replacement DLL or registry files from third-party sites.
Save work, restart the PC, install current Windows updates, and restart again if requested. Then open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security and select Open Windows Security.
2
Check the actual protection state
Review Virus & threat protection and Firewall & network protection. A third-party antivirus can turn Microsoft Defender Antivirus off automatically, so distinguish a stale Windows Security status from protection that is genuinely absent.
3
Repair the Windows Security app
Search Start for Windows Security, open its App settings, and select Repair if Windows offers it. Reopen Windows Security and check the status before using Reset, which can remove the app's local data.
4
Open an administrator Command Prompt
If Windows Security or other Windows components still fail, search for Command Prompt, right-click it, select Run as administrator, and approve the Windows prompt.
5
Repair the Windows image
Run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and wait for it to complete successfully. Keep the PC connected because DISM normally uses Windows Update as its repair source.
6
Run System File Checker
After DISM succeeds, run sfc /scannow. Do not close the window before verification reaches 100 percent; note the final Windows Resource Protection message.
7
Restart and verify
Restart Windows, reopen Windows Security, and confirm the protection providers report a current state without the service warning.
8
Escalate persistent service failures
If the warning remains, record the exact message, Windows edition and build, installed security products, and the DISM and SFC results. Use Microsoft Support or the organization administrator rather than importing registry files or replacing service DLLs.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
Do not disable or modify SecurityHealthService or wscsvc. Microsoft warns that doing so can produce stale protection information and lower protection.
If a managed PC blocks app repair or administrator commands, stop and contact the administrator.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Removed unsupported third-party DLL, registry, and command downloads; retained only Microsoft-supported recovery paths.
