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You can download Microsoft Defender for individuals on Windows, Android, iPhone or iPad, and Mac—but the consumer app requires a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription. On Windows, this is separate from Windows Security and the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which are already included with supported Windows installations.
Use the official Microsoft Store, Google Play, Apple App Store, or Microsoft installer links below. Sign in with the personal Microsoft account tied to your subscription; setup and protection features vary by platform.
Before you download Microsoft Defender
“Microsoft Defender” can refer to different products. The consumer Microsoft Defender app is part of Microsoft 365 and brings together security and account features across a person’s devices. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is Windows’ built-in antivirus component, and Windows Security is the Windows interface for antivirus, firewall, and other security controls. Neither is the same download as the consumer app. Microsoft’s installation guide distinguishes the consumer app from Windows Security.
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Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a business security product, not the consumer Microsoft 365 app. If your device is managed by an employer or school, follow its IT team’s instructions rather than installing a consumer product to replace its security setup.
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Microsoft says the consumer Defender experience requires an eligible Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription and a personal Microsoft account. You can download the app before signing in, but downloading it alone does not activate the subscription features. Microsoft’s Defender for individuals page describes the subscription and platform features.
System requirements
Microsoft’s current consumer product requirements list Windows 10 version 19041 or later; Windows 11 build 22621 or later for ARM64 devices; macOS 11.0 or later; iOS/iPadOS 14.0 or later; and Android 8.0 or later. The Mac requirement is the current product-page minimum. An older Microsoft installation article still mentions macOS 10.14, so use the newer requirements page when checking compatibility.
Microsoft’s device-management support page says each person can protect up to five devices with Defender. This is a Defender-specific limit; do not confuse it with separate Microsoft 365 app-installation allowances. See Microsoft’s instructions for adding devices.
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Official Microsoft Defender download links
| Device | Official download | What opens |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Microsoft Defender for Windows | Microsoft Store |
| Android | Microsoft Defender for Android | Google Play |
| iPhone or iPad | Microsoft Defender for iOS | Apple App Store |
| Mac | Microsoft Defender for Mac | Microsoft’s Mac installer |
Use these links or search for “Microsoft Defender” in the relevant official store. Avoid third-party download sites. You can also add a device from the app’s device or account workflow using a link or QR code; Microsoft explains the options on its add-device page.
Install Microsoft Defender on Windows
- Open the Windows download link and select Install in Microsoft Store.
- Open Microsoft Defender from the Start menu. If it is already installed, there is no need to download it again.
- Sign in with the personal Microsoft account associated with your eligible Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Finish the setup prompts, then check the app’s dashboard to confirm the device and protection status.
Microsoft says Defender may be installed automatically with Microsoft 365 apps on some Windows devices, but being installed does not necessarily mean it is activated; sign in to complete setup. If you use a work or school account, it may not be the right account for this consumer app. Ask your organization about its managed security software.
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The consumer Defender app does not replace Windows Security. Microsoft says it can work alongside Windows’ security features or a third-party antivirus. That compatibility statement is not a reason to run multiple full antivirus products without checking which one is active: open Windows Security and review the security-provider status if protection appears unavailable.
To remove the consumer app, right-click Microsoft Defender in Start and choose Uninstall. Microsoft says it will not automatically reinstall after removal; you can install it again from the Microsoft Store link.
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- On the Android device, open the official Google Play link and install Microsoft Defender.
- Open the app and sign in with the personal Microsoft account linked to Microsoft 365.
- Follow the prompts for web protection, background activity, storage access, and notifications. Allow the initial scan to finish.
Some requested permissions are needed for the features to work. Microsoft says the Accessibility Service lets Defender inspect an address you are opening and check whether it is known to be dangerous. The app also uses storage access to scan apps and files on the device. If Android offers a battery-optimization exception, allow Defender to run in the background so background protection is less likely to be stopped by power-saving rules.
Keep these Android-specific details in mind:
- If the device has personal and work profiles, Microsoft says to install Defender in the personal profile.
- Only one app can use Android’s Accessibility Service at a time. If web protection switches off, check whether another security or automation app has taken over the service.
- With Google Family Link, a parent may need to approve Defender’s storage permission.
- If notifications are denied, web protection may still work, but you may not see an alert explaining that a dangerous site was blocked.
For more on permissions and installation, see Microsoft’s installation instructions.
Install Microsoft Defender on iPhone or iPad
- Open the official App Store link and install Microsoft Defender.
- Open the app and sign in with the personal Microsoft account associated with your subscription.
- Follow the web-protection setup, approve the local VPN configuration when prompted, and allow notifications if you want alerts.
The VPN prompt can sound broader than it is. For web protection, Defender uses a local, on-device VPN configuration to check a destination address before a browser opens it. It is not a conventional VPN subscription that routes your internet traffic through a remote Microsoft server, and it does not by itself provide anonymous browsing or location spoofing. Microsoft describes mobile privacy behavior in its Android and iOS privacy explanation.
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Do not expect iPhone or iPad to get the same antivirus scanning as Android. Microsoft’s current consumer anti-malware documentation lists Windows, Mac, and Android—not iOS—as supported for anti-malware. On iOS, Defender’s relevant features include web protection and anti-phishing, along with identity-related features. If notifications are off, protection may still operate, but you may not be told when a site is blocked. See Microsoft’s anti-malware availability information.
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- Check that the Mac is running macOS 11.0 or later. Microsoft lists support for Intel and Apple silicon Macs and 2 GB of required disk space.
- Open Microsoft’s Mac download link, download the installer package, then open it and follow the installation wizard.
- Launch Defender and sign in with the personal Microsoft account connected to Microsoft 365.
- When macOS asks, approve the Microsoft Defender system software or extension in Security settings. You may need to unlock the settings with an administrator password.
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and enable Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Defender Extension if they are listed. Let the initial scan finish.
These approvals allow Defender’s system extension and file scanning to work. If macOS displays “System software requires your attention,” open Security settings, unlock the pane, select Details if shown, and allow the Microsoft Defender components. If Full Disk Access was skipped or is missing, return to Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and check the entries again. The first scan can take longer than a mobile scan depending on the Mac and the number of files and apps.
If another antivirus is installed, check which product is providing active protection and whether it is blocking Defender’s extension. Microsoft’s current requirements page lists both Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
What Defender protects on each platform
| Platform | What to expect | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Consumer security and identity dashboard, with integration alongside Windows security features. | Not the same product as Windows Security’s built-in Defender Antivirus. |
| Android | Anti-malware, web protection and anti-phishing, plus identity-related features. | Full functionality can depend on background, Accessibility Service, storage, and notification permissions. |
| iPhone/iPad | Web protection and anti-phishing, plus identity-related features. | Microsoft does not list iOS among the platforms with consumer Defender anti-malware scanning. Its local VPN configuration is not a general-purpose VPN. |
| Mac | Anti-malware and other security and identity features. | Requires the system extension and Full Disk Access permissions for full setup. |
Exact feature availability depends on platform and setup. Microsoft’s consumer Defender page describes the platform feature sets.
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Windows’ built-in security is included with supported Windows installations. Windows users who only need the built-in antivirus do not need to download the consumer Defender app to get Windows Security.
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The cross-platform Microsoft Defender app for individuals is not a free standalone antivirus subscription. Microsoft requires Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium for its consumer Defender experience. A download may be available before sign-in, but installation alone does not grant the subscription features. Microsoft’s consumer Defender page lists the eligible plans. A one-time Office purchase is not the same thing as one of these Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting setup problems
The app will not install
Check the device’s operating-system version against Microsoft’s current requirements and install only from the official store or Microsoft Mac installer. On Windows, see whether Defender is already in Start. On Mac, make sure there is enough disk space and that the system meets the current macOS 11.0 minimum.
The app installed, but protection or features are unavailable
Sign in with the personal Microsoft account linked to an eligible subscription and finish any setup prompts. On Windows, distinguish the consumer app’s dashboard from the status of Windows Security’s antivirus. On Android and Mac, check whether the permissions needed for the feature were approved.
Sign-in fails or the device does not appear
Verify that you are using the correct personal Microsoft account, rather than a work or school account, and check that the subscription is active. Reopen Defender after sign-in and review its device list. Microsoft allows device addition through the app, an emailed or copied installation link, or a QR code; see its device setup guidance. Remember the Defender limit of five protected devices per person.
Android web protection is off
Check that Defender still has Accessibility Service access, background operation, and any requested battery-optimization exception. If another security or automation app uses Accessibility Service, Android may disable Defender’s web protection. On a device with work and personal profiles, confirm the app is installed in the personal profile.
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The iPhone or iPad VPN prompt does not appear
Return to Defender’s web-protection setup and follow its prompts to add the local VPN configuration. This profile supports address checks for web protection; it is not a commercial VPN connection. Also check notification settings if you want alerts about blocked sites.
Mac asks for approval or scanning does not start
In System Settings > Privacy & Security, approve the Defender system software or extension, then check Full Disk Access for both Microsoft Defender entries if shown. You may need administrator access to change these settings. Check whether another antivirus is interfering.
Another antivirus is active
Do not assume that installing the consumer Defender app has replaced another antivirus. Check Windows Security or the other product’s status to see which provider is active, and avoid enabling multiple full real-time antivirus engines without a reason. If a company manages the device, ask IT before changing security software.
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If you need protection only on a Windows PC, start with Windows Security, which is built in. Android and iOS also have platform-native security controls, though they do not provide the same Microsoft account dashboard and cross-device Defender experience. If you want a security-only subscription, different controls, or a provider other than Microsoft, compare third-party antivirus suites directly with their vendors; this article does not rank them or quote their prices.
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