This protection is built into Windows and it works with Microsoft Defender Endpoint to provide protection on your device and in the cloud. Protection such as Controlled folder access, Real-time protection, Tamper protection, and Ransomware protection are included with Microsoft Security. If you install a commercial antivirus solution, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will automatically disable itself and allow the other antivirus solution to protect your PC. Once you remove the third-party solution, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will automatically turn itself on to continue protecting your machine. With commercial antivirus software installed, you want to add another layer of protection by enabling Microsoft Defender Antivirus Periodic scanning – since no one solution can guarantee a hundred-percent security. Microsoft Defender Antivirus Periodic scanning periodically scans for threats that your current antivirus solution may not be able to detect.

How to enable or disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Periodic Scanning in Windows 11

As mentioned above, if you install a trusted commercial antivirus solution, Microsoft Defender will automatically disable itself and allow the other antivirus solution to protect your PC. When Microsoft Defender is disabled and periodic scanning enabled, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will periodically scan for threats that your current solution may not be able to detect. Below is how to turn on or off periodic scanning with Microsoft Defender. Turn on Periodic scanning: In the search box on the taskbar, type Windows Security and then select Windows Security in the list of results. In Windows Security, select the Virus & threat protection tile as highlighted in the image below. On the Virus & threat protection settings page, under Ransomware protection, click on Microsoft Defender Antivirus options to expand it. Then change the Periodic scanning setting to On or Off. Once periodic scanning is enabled, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will use Windows’ Automatic Maintenance feature scan at optimal times without impacting the performance of your Windows device. Conclusion: This post showed you how to turn on or off Microsoft Defender Periodic scanning when using another antivirus solution on Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.