Fixed: Can’t Turn on Real-time Protection on Windows Defender

Real-time virus protection is a dedicated and utility tool to defend PCs continuously. Real-time protection is not enabled all the time. Depending on various requirements, there are times that you need to turn off real-time protection because a security website is blocked. What if you can’t turn on real-time protection or unable to turn it off when necessary? Keep reading, you can handle this issue with the help of this NewsPivot post.

Also read: [Solved] BitLocker Keeps Asking for Recovery Key on Win 10/11

Reasons Why Real-time Protection Won’t Turn on

Here are several reasons why you can’t enable real-time virus protection:

1. Corrupted system files: A common reason behind such an issue is corrupted system files, which affect the function of real-time protection on Windows Defender.
2. Third-party antivirus: Occasionally, third-party antivirus applications trigger compatibility issues with Windows Defender. You may not turn on real-time protection properly.
3. Issue of Windows Update: Verify whether the issue that real-time protection won’t turn on occurs after you have updated your Windows.
4. Misconfiguration of Group Policy Settings: If your computer enables the policy that “Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus”, the real-time protection will be disabled.

4 Solutions to Fix Can’t Turn on Real-time Protection

Primarily, you need to understand that real-time protection is an integral part of Windows Defender, which promptly and automatically protects your computer from viruses and malware. You can disable real-time protection or turn on it in the Virus & threat protection window. However, at times, you can’t turn off real-time protection or enable it at will. Follow the multiple solutions given below to troubleshoot this issue.

Method 1: Uninstall Third-party Security Protection Software

Third-party security protection applications will attempt to block the Windows Defender using real-time protection. If third-party antivirus and Windows Defender work simultaneously, they may conflict with each other. This may lead to the issue that you can’t turn on real-time protection. Therefore, you can try to uninstall third-party antivirus first.

Step 1: Type Control Panel in the search bar and double-click the appropriate option from the list.

Step 2: Navigate to the following path: Programs > Programs and Features.

Step 3: Click the recently downloaded Third-party antivirus and select Uninstall from the top bar next to Organize.

Step 4: Following that, you will see the UAC prompt where you need to click the Yes button.

After completing the above steps, check if you can enable real-time protection. In such a case, you are recommended not to install other third-party antivirus software that may interfere with the Windows Defender and lead to real-time protection won’t turn on.

Method 2: Enable Group Policy Settings

The Local Group Policy Editor is a management tool used to configure and modify policy settings. For instance, the Local Group Policy Editor has a setting for Microsoft Defender Antivirus. You can enable or disable real-time protection by modifying the policy settings on your computer. Keep reading to learn the approach.

Step 1: Press the Win + R key combination to launch the Run command dialog box.

Step 2: Type gpedit.msc in the dialog and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 3: After getting access to the Local Group Policy Editor, click Computer Configuration under the Local Computer Policy, and select Administrative Templates from the left pane.

Step 4: In the right column, click Windows Components, then scroll down to find Microsoft Defender Antivirus and double-click on it.

Step 5: Scroll down to find the Turn off Microsoft Defender Antivirus and double-click it.

Step 6: In the pop-up window, check the Disable option and select OK.

If you want to disable real-time protection, you can follow the above Steps 1-5 to open the policy, then check Enable and click OK.

Do check whether real-time protection can turn on. If not, you can try the following methods.

Method 3: Repair Corrupted System Files

In addition, if there are some corrupted or missing system files, you can’t turn on real-time protection possibly. Accordingly, you can scan and repair corrupted system files. Let’s see how.

Step 1: Click the small magnifying glass icon on the taskbar, and type Command Prompt. Then right-click on the suitable result and select Run as administer.

Step 2: Copy and paste the following command and press Enter:

sfc/scannow

Step 3: After the process completes, type the below command and press Enter:

DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth

Step 4: After finishing the process, restart your computer.

Method 4: Uninstall the Latest Version of Windows

At times, the recently installed Windows update may contain bugs that will cause several issues, including real-time protection not being enabled. Thus, switching to the previous version can handle the problem.

Step 1: Press the Win + I key combination to launch Settings, then click Update & Security to continue.

Step 2: Following this, select the Windows Update in the left tap, then scroll down to find the View update history option and click it.

Step 3: Choose the Uninstall updates option at the top.

Step 4: Find the recently installed update and click it. Then select Uninstall next to Organize.

Method 5: Reset This PC

Resetting your PC can solve most computer issues that are not hardware malfunctions, including the real-time protection issue. The following steps can help you reset your PC without deleting your files.

Step 1: Press Windows + I together to open Settings.

Step 2: Select Update & Security.

Step 3: In the following window, click Recovery from the left pane, then select the Get Started button under Reset this PC.

Step 4: In the pop-up interface, choose the Keep my files option.

Bottom Line

Fixing issues of real-time protection is not as complex as many would imagine. Users should learn that the absence of real-time protection makes computers vulnerable to severe attacks from viruses and malware. Hence, once your computer can’t turn on real-time protection, you are suggested to promptly take the above solutions to troubleshoot it. Hope this post is useful for you!