This article describes the steps to schedule a Windows Defender Antivirus scan in Windows 10.
Windows Defender Antivirus scans your computer regularly to protect your device from viruses and malware. The scan takes place while your computer is not being used or idle so as not to interfere with your work.
If you want Windows Defender to scan at a specific time, this brief tutorial will show you how to schedule that. Then, when scheduled, Windows Defender will always run when you define and scan at your chosen time and frequency.
This brief tutorial will show students and new users how to schedule Windows Defender Antivirus scan at specific times instead of randomly scanning your PC. This will mean less interference with your work.
Schedule Windows Defender Scan
To schedule the Windows Defender Antivirus program to only scan your computer at the time and frequency you choose, click Start => then search for Schedule tasks.
Select Schedule tasks from the result listed on the menu.
When Schedule Tasks opens, in the left pane, expand Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows, and then scroll down and double-click (or press) the Windows Defender folder.
Double-click (or press twice) Windows Defender Scheduled Scan in the top center pane.
This should open the task properties. In the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan Properties (Local Computer) window, select the Triggers tab, go to the bottom of the window, and then tap or click New.
On the task setting pane, specify how often you want the scans to run and when you’d like them to start. This should always run at the exact time you define here.
But your computer must be powered on and running for this to work.
If your computer is shutdown, this task will fail to run
The trigger above runs daily at midnight and stops the task if it runs for more than 2 hours. You can configure more advanced settings like repeating every 1 or 4, or 8 hours. You can also delay the task randomly. But the basic settings should work fine.
That’s it!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully scheduled the Windows Defender Antivirus task.
