What to do if you can't update Windows Defender on Windows 10, 11

This time, we will explain what to do if Windows Defender does not update or cannot be updated.

Windows Defender is a security feature that comes standard with Windows 10.
Detect and remove malware with real-time protection.
It seems that there are cases where Windows Defender cannot be updated or does not finish for some reason.

I have listed some solutions, so I hope you find them helpful.

We have also described how to automatically update Windows Defender using Task Scheduler in case you are not updating automatically using Windows Update for some reason.

How to resolve when Windows Defender definitions cannot be updated or does not finish

If you cannot update the Windows Defender definitions or it does not finish, you may be able to resolve the issue using the following methods.

• Solve Windows Update issues
• Restart your PC and perform Windows Update
• Update from Windows Security
• Enable Windows Defender

Solve Windows Update issues

If the Windows Defender definition update does not finish or is not possible, Windows Update may have failed.

To resolve the issue of Windows Update failing, try the following steps:

There are several ways to resolve this issue, so please try them in the order listed above.

[Method 1 to solve the problem of Windows Update failure]

1. Disable security software
2. Type "troubleshooting" in the search box
3. Select "Troubleshoot"
4. Select "Additional troubleshooting tools" or "Run troubleshooting tools" for Windows Update
5. Follow the dialog to troubleshoot
6. Once completed, try running Windows Update.

[Method 2 to resolve Windows Update failure issue]

1. http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/2/F22D5FDB-59CD-4275-8C95-1BE17BF70B21/BITSDiagnostic.diagcaband select "Open File"
2. Run the BITS troubleshooter
3. Please try running Windows Update again.

[Method 3 to resolve Windows Update failure issue]

1. Type "cmd" in the search box
2. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”
3. Type "DISM.EXE /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth" in the command prompt
4. Press "Enter" key to run command
5. wait a few minutes
6. Close the screen when the message "The operation completed successfully" is displayed.
7. Please try running Windows Update again.

[Method 4 to resolve Windows Update failure issue]

1. keep a backup
2. Type "cmd" in the search box
3. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”
4. Type "SFC /scannow" in the command prompt
5. Execute command with "Enter" key
6. Close the screen when "Verification 100% has been completed" is displayed.
7. Please try running Windows Update again.

[How to resolve Windows Update failure issue 5]

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Home.aspxaccess
3. Search for applicable updates
4. Select "Add"
5. Select "Show Basket"
6. Select "Download"
7. Select the download location using "Browse"
8. Select "OK"
9. Select "Continue"
10. Double-click the downloaded file
11. Select "Yes"

Restart your PC and perform Windows Update

If you cannot update the Windows Defender definitions or it does not finish, a temporary system error may be the cause.

In this case, try restarting your PC.
Restarting your PC may resolve temporary system errors.

After that, it would be a good idea to run Windows Update again.

Update from Windows Security

If you cannot update the definitions of Windows Defender or it does not finish, it may be due to a problem with Windows Update.

If you cannot update from Windows Update, you may want to try updating from Windows Security.

[How to update Windows Defender from Windows Security]

1. Right click on "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Settings"
3. Select "Windows Security"
4. Select "Virus & threat protection"
5. Select "Check for updates"
6. Select “Check for updates” under “Security Intelligence”

Enable Windows Defender

If you cannot update Windows Defender definitions or it does not finish, Windows Defender may be disabled. In this case, the problem may be resolved by enabling Windows Defender from Group Policy using the steps below.

[How to enable Windows Defender]

1. Press Windows key and R key and type "gpedit.msc"
2. Select "Local Group Policy"
3. Select "Computer Configuration"
4. Select "Administrative Template"
5. Select "Windows Components"
6. Select "Windows Defender"
7. Select "Turn off Windows Defender" on the right side
8. Select "Edit policy settings"
9. To enable, check "Not configured" or "Disabled"
10. Select "OK"

Please note that the selection in step 9 is "Not configured" or "Disabled", not "Enabled".
Since the setting is "Turn off Windows Defender", selecting "Enable" will disable Windows Defender.

Failed to update protection definition If error code 2147012894 appears

If you receive the message "Failed to update protection definitions" or "Error code 2147012894", the Windows Defender version may be outdated and cannot be updated automatically.

This issue may be resolved if you update the version of Windows Defender by performing Windows Update.

First, run Windows Update and try updating the version.

If Windows Defender Security Intelligence cannot be updated

If Windows Defender Security Intelligence cannot be updated, does not finish, or does not proceed, the following may be the cause:

• antivirus software
• Windows Defender tamper protection settings
• Windows Defender automatic update conflict

The following items explain the specific contents and solutions.

antivirus software

If you cannot update the security intelligence of Windows Defender or it does not finish, your antivirus software may be the cause.

If you are using security software from another company other than Windows Defender, there are cases where Windows Defender cannot be updated.

Therefore, please try disabling any third-party antivirus software you are using.

Windows Defender tamper protection settings

If you cannot update the security intelligence of Windows Defender or it does not finish, the tamper prevention settings of Windows Defender itself may be affected.

In this case, please disable the tampering prevention setting and then try updating.

[How to disable Windows Defender tamper protection settings]

1. Select "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Settings (gear mark)"
3. Select "Update & Security"
4. Select "Windows Security"
5. Select "Virus & Wonder Protection"
6. Select "Manage settings"
7. Turn off "tamper protection"

Windows Defender automatic update conflict

If Windows Defender Security Intelligence cannot be updated or does not finish, it may be caused by a conflict with Windows Defender's automatic updates.

This problem seems to occur when Windows Defender updates itself and conflicts with Windows Update.

Wake up for a while and run the update again (from a few hours to a few days) and this may help.

How to update Windows Defender definition files automatically

Basically, Windows Defender will be updated if you set Windows Update to automatic updates.

However, if for some reason you want to automatically update only the Windows Defender definition file, the following method of configuring the task scheduler is effective.

[How to automatically update Windows Defender definition files]

1. Select "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Windows System Tools"
3. Select "Control Panel"
4. Select "System and Security"
5. Select "Administrative Tools"
6. Select "Task Scheduler"
7. Select “Task Scheduler (Local)” on the left side
8. Select “Create a task” on the right side
9. Select the "General" tab
10. Enter an easy-to-understand name such as "Windows Defender Update" in the "Name" field.
11. Select "Run whether user is logged on or not"
12. Check "Do not save password"
13. Check "Run with highest privileges"
14. Check "Do not display"
15. For "Configuration", select the current one from the dropdown.
16. Select the “Trigger” tab
17. Select "New"
18. Select “Daily” in “Settings”
19. Select any date and time for the “Start” part
20. Select any settings for "Advanced settings"
21. Check "Enabled"
22. Select "OK"
23. Select the “Operation” tab
24. Select "New"
25. Select “MpCmdRun.exe” from “Browse”
26. Enter "-SignatureUpdate" in the "Add argument (optional)" section
27. Select "OK"
28. Select the “Settings” tab
29. Check "Run task on demand"
30. Check "If the task fails to start at the scheduled time, run the task immediately"
31. Check "Time until task stops" and select "3 days"
32. Check "Force the task to stop if the running task does not finish on request"
33. Select “Do not start a new instance” from the bottom drop-down
34. Click "OK" to complete the setting.

Summary of cases where Windows Defender cannot be updated

This time, we explained the problem that Windows Defender cannot be updated or the update does not finish.

In cases where you are unable to update Windows Defender or it does not proceed, it may be due to a problem with Windows Update or the tamper prevention settings of Windows Defender itself.

First of all, considering the possibility of a temporary system error, the easiest solution is to try restarting the computer. If the problem still persists, try performing the steps to troubleshoot Windows Update problems.

In addition, if you are currently using antivirus software from another company, you may want to try temporarily disabling it.