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?
88 Replies
guess I'm definitely not the only human experiencing this.
I needed to reinstall win11 (almost) from scratch (very "funny" story of how I accidentally deleted paint.appx via settings.appx and it made any repair of it so complicated that microsoft support surrendered in trying to resolve it and so did I for ... 2yrs afterall)
, but I was kinda lazy to use external drive for install media and didn't uderstand there is a huuuuge difference between the restore option in appx settings app and in the tool from icrosoft servers, so now it sucks a little gigantic bit in several things,
including Windows Device Security page not found (very funny Redmond :/ , hope this cringe is at least intentional.)
I really don't do tech for a living so it sucks my blood always when it comes to "microsoft windows upgraded this hope you like it"...
for sake I hated windows 10 at it's begining back then but now.. I love when I switch to my home PC with it from windows 11 laptop.. because, besides few upgrades and nice UI\UX remakes it suck the most of time. But WSA runs here much easier than it would likely run on win10 (I'm maybe wrong)TayDean I am also having same issue, I tried the cmd powershell coding part it works but after some days the issue again comes, I also need a help please help me..
I know this is an old thread but one thing I noticed that has not been mentioned is the Windows Store also causes this problem.
By going into:
Settings>System>System Components>Microsoft Store>...>Advanced Options
You can scroll down to Reset, then click on both Repair and Reset.
That has worked for me and I haven't had to do it again until I reset my pc due to trying experimental apps.
bruh u're a life saver! thanks
- If you have any third-party antivirus software installed, disable or uninstall it temporarily to see if it interferes with Windows Security.
- Allen
Community Manager
Everyone on this thread:
There has been a file shared on this thread, which we can neither verify not confirm it does what it says.Either way using the Microsoft Tech Community to executable bits is not permitted, as such the posts with links to the file have been removed. I must ask that community members do not repost it or attempt to share the file on this platform.
There is no issue with sharing instructions on how to help using windows built in components or linking to official Microsoft pages (these typically start https://www.microsoft.com/). If you continue you have issues with Windows Security on Windows 11 please do contact Microsoft Support via https://support.microsoft.com or, as insiders, use the windows feedback hub to report any bugs.
Thank you
- Windows Security is the same as Windows Defender?
guess not, Defender is some of .exe program and bunch services on many layers, Windows Security is store appx program making the UI for several years now
- Need Help here
- I got it fixed myself. Thanks
- How could you fix it?
zanhk Rats. Thought I had it licked with the Windows 11 reinstall, but today, after 10 days, the issue coame back.
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.
TayDean I restarted Windows 11 23H2 and was prompted sign back in to Microsoft. Once I signed in then Windows Security opened as normal.
Keep up the good work tech specializes lopeZ
Wonderful and thank you Allen
This is impacting me quite a bit right now. Do you know an approximate ETA for the next release?
Gérald. Since you've already ruled out browser and cache issues, it might be a server-side problem. Have you tried reaching out to Microsoft support directly or checking if there's a known issue reported on their status page?
I'm experiencing the same issue and tested on Firefox on Windows and on an iPad (normal and incognito) as well as on a fresh installation of Edge on a separate Windows machine. My screen looks identical to yours with the icon saying I can choose a message but no message list appears to pick from.Allen please respond.
- Allen
Ramona_Maxwell Gerald_Mathieu
Thank you for your report, we have had a handful of similar reports sent to us via email. The good news is engineering have developed a fix for it and it will be fixed in the next release.
We will of course update this thread once its fixed, unfortunately there is no workaround at the moment and so please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.Thanks Allen
Happy to see that Community Managers are doing a great job here ;-)
