Forum Discussion
Windows Security won't open on Windows 11
I have tried everything I can think of, I've had two friends who deal with IT problems look at my computer via shared screen with no luck. Since updating to Windows 11 I never noticed Windows Security would not open until recently, it's active and running in the background in Task Manager. I've tried the Powershell and CMD hotfixes, I've reset my PC locally and cloud but I have no restore or recovery points prior to the Windows 11 update. My PC is up to date on all firmware from Microsoft but Windows Security still will not open. Windows Security nor Windows Defender is not listed under my "Installed Apps" or "Default Apps" so I can't try a drop down repair on it. It does show within my Task Manager that there is Windows Defender engine running and in the hidden icons tab it shows Windows Security active. How do you fix this without having to lug your whole PC to a shop?
You can try the following steps to resolve the issue:
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Run the Windows Security Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Find and run the Windows Security troubleshooter.
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Repair Windows Security using DISM: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the following commands: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /StartComponentCleanup
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Re-register Windows Security apps: Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run the following commands:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} -
Reset Windows Security app: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Find Windows Security, and click Advanced options. Click Reset.
If none of these steps work, you may need to perform a clean install of Windows 11 to resolve the issue.
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- Hi,
None of these worked, including the clean install, even in Feb. 2024. Also tried the video links that are available in the comments below.
It's not the IT Security permission issue for me. It's just that I could not open Windows security in settings or Security app from Start menu. I could not even end 'Antimalware Service Executable' in Task manager. It says 'access denied', but I am the only one who uses this PC. I have no other antiviruses or malwarebytes. Tried all the possible solutions. Please give me a way of getting rid of this tool completely in the first place. Even now, it is as good as not having it anyway.thethoughtgenie I had the same issues, I tried everything suggested on this thread and several others, and my Windows Security would not open, a blank window would open for just a second, then disappear. This is what finally fixed it for me.....
Step 1. Open Powershell as administrator, run the following command like suggested earlier in the thread... Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackageHit enter, close Powershell (If you've done this already, then just go to the next step.)
Step 2. Click start on taskbar, in search type... windows security ...DO NOT hit enter though, look to the bottom right of start window, the last option should be... app settings ... click that and it should open a window inside of settings.
Step 3. Scroll down to the section... Reset ...there's two choices under that "repair" and "reset", click on... repair ....let it do it's thing for a few seconds, and you should be good to go.
If that doesn't work, you can try checking out the rest of the video I got this from, it had 2-3 other options after this one, here is the link.... Windows Security won't open on Win11 solution
- I'm in the middle of trying these solutions but when I tried the 2nd one, the command prompt told me it didn't recognize DISM.exe. Is this bad? if so what do I do?
- Tried them all - none worked
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- Hello,
See if this fix helps you:
https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-windows-defender-wont-open-in-windows-11
Keep us posted!
Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.- I tried all 6 of them, 2 times
Still windows security is blank. - it worked, thank you
- It works.
Thank you!
TayDean It's early 2024 and I am in the same boat since the most recent update. In all their wisdom, Microsoft has removed Troubleshooter with this update and wants me to contact tech support. The last time I did that, I was 77 people away from help. I do not have that kind of time.
I've tried all the suggestions here except reinstalling Windows, which is a major hassle and would require hunting down the software I use for work and reinstalling it too. I had to do this once last week because a previous update crashed my computer. It created all manner of work-related issues.
This is really dumb and Microsoft should have fixed this already. But I'm open to more suggestions.I've found a workaround for this.
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
Type the above command into Windows Powershell (as admin) and once it shows that the command os executed (should be instant), restart your device and your Windows Security should work now.
The only issue is that you'll have to redo this once you shutdown your device (at least in my case) MaryPaddock
ShahbazUbaid I appreciate the suggestion, but it didn't work. I'd actually tried it already along with a host of other suggestions found in other places, but thought I'd missed something. I did not.
I'm fairly sure I'm going to have to reinstall Windows again to fix this. It will have to wait until the weekend as I work full-time from home and this has eaten up far too much of my time as it is.
Exceedingly frustrating.
MaryPaddock i did a fresh installation and it was working all right but right after i updating the problem was back
so i am sure they have a bug
Microsoft should do something about it.
i need to disable it to be able to run a software but now i cant because, though i don't see the windows defender it still working in the background
- I currently am updated to the latest 2024-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034123). And the thing is, other apps that are system installed already are not opening just like the windows security. calculator, calendar, clock, etc. They wont open.
- do you think installing the latest windows update would address those issues? because i also have those issues and then i updated to the windows update this january and made it much worst. native windows os apps are not responding jst like the windows security app.
and now there is a new windows update again this january, the second update that i get. and i am afraid to install it because it may worsen the issues but i am also considering installing it with the hopee that it would address the bug it brought in the last update.
does creating a restore point before installing would be useful for me if ever everything went south after i install the latest update? None of the solutions that have been mentioned in this thread helped me.
Finally I did a reinstall, which also did not help.
But after reinstalling I got these 5 updates, one of which did contribute to fixing the issue.TayDean I restarted Windows 11 23H2 and was prompted sign back in to Microsoft. Once I signed in then Windows Security opened as normal.
TayDean For me, the problem was fixed by running the much-documented DISM image repair, and sitting patiently through half an hour at 62.3%.
- Not quite, though: it still comes back occasionally. Now considering with trepidation the option of an in-place reinstall of W11.
zanhk Rats. Thought I had it licked with the Windows 11 reinstall, but today, after 10 days, the issue coame back.
- Need Help here
- I got it fixed myself. Thanks
- How could you fix it?
