FIX: Windows Defender Crashing in Windows 11/10

Windows Defender is the first line of security for Windows users. Still, many prefer using third-party antivirus and firewalls to protect their PCs from viruses and other online threats.

Many users have recently reported that Windows Defender keeps crashing on their PCs. Many people ignore this because third-party antivirus is installed on their system, but one should pay attention to it. Here’s how you can fix Windows Defender crashing in Windows 11/10 system. 

Fix Windows Defender Crashing in Windows 11/10

Does Windows Defender keep crashing in Windows 11/10? Follow the steps given below to fix this issue. You can apply this method one by one and fix it.

1. Run SFC Scan

The very first thing that you must do is scan your PC for corrupted files. Scan your PC for corrupted files and see if that’s what is causing the issue. You can run SFC (System File Checker) scan on your PC for corrupted files and fix them. To scan your PC for corrupted files, follow the steps given below-

1. Open Start Menu by pressing the Windows key and search for CMD. Run Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Here, type sfc /scannow and execute the following command.
3. This will scan your PC for corrupted files and fix them. 
4. Wait for the process to complete, and then restart your PC. 

2. Update Windows 

Another thing that you can do is update Windows to the latest version. To do so, follow the steps given below-

1. Open the Start Menu and then open Settings.
2. Here, on the left sidebar, click on Windows Update. 
3. Now, on the right side, click on Check for Updates.
4. Download and install all the updates available here. 

3. Scan your PC for Virus

Viruses and malware on your system may also cause this issue. Run a virus scan to fix issues caused due to viruses on your system. You need to use third-party antivirus software to scan your PC for the virus. If you don’t have any antivirus on your PC, you can get a free trial of the paid antivirus and use that to scan your PC for the virus. 

4. Uninstall Recently Installed Feature Update

If you started facing this issue after recently installing the feature update, then uninstall the feature update. Given below are the steps to uninstall recently installed feature updates-

1. Press Windows + I key combo to open the Settings on your PC. 
2. Under the System tab, click on Recovery.
3. Click on the Restart Now button next to the Advanced Startup. Confirm restarting your PC.
4. In the Advanced Startup menu, select Troubleshoot option.
5. Now, click on Advanced Options.
6. Click on Uninstall Updates and then on Uninstall Latest Feature Update.
7. Now, click on Uninstall Feature Update option.

5. Reset the PC

If you are still facing the issue, then reset your PC. This is the last resort to continue if no other troubleshooting step helped you fix the issue. To reset your PC, follow the steps given below-

• Open the Settings on your PC by using Windows + I keyboard shortcut. 
• On the right side, click on the Recovery option. 
• Here, click on the Reset PC button.
• You will now be asked to select between any of the following options-

• • Keep My Files- Select this option if you want to delete your apps and remove all settings but keep all the files on your PC.
  • Remove Everything- This will remove your apps, settings, and files. Your PC will be as good as new.
• Once you select any one option, you will again be presented with two options-
• • Cloud Download- Select this option if you want to download and install Windows from the internet. This requires an internet connection to download the Windows.
  • Local Reinstall- Select this option if you have the ISO file of Windows and want to reinstall Windows from it.
• Select any one option from the above two to continue ahead. 
• Now, follow the on-screen instructions to reset your PC. 
• Once the reset is complete, boot into your PC and set it up. 
• You will no longer face the issue now. 

Conclusion

That’s it with this guide to fix Windows Defender crashing on Windows 11/10. If you face this issue, it may be because of corrupted system files or viruses. Many times Windows Update also causes such issues. If Windows Defender is not working on your PC, you can follow the above guide to fix this issue.