To choose when Microsoft Defender Antivirus runs a scheduled scan, use Task Scheduler: open the Windows Defender task folder, edit Windows Defender Scheduled Scan, and add a trigger for the frequency and time you want. Defender also scans regularly on its own and tries to scan while the device is not in use, according to Microsoft Support.
Set a scan schedule in Task Scheduler
- Search the taskbar for Task Scheduler and open it.
- In the left pane, expand Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows, then select Windows Defender.
- In the top-center pane, double-click Windows Defender Scheduled Scan.
- Open the Triggers tab and select New.
- Choose the frequency and start time, then save the trigger.
These are Microsoft Support’s documented steps for adding a user-defined schedule. The task’s existing settings may include conditions that affect when it runs, so a trigger should not be treated as a guarantee that a scan will start at precisely the displayed minute.
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Choose the scan type
Quick scan
Microsoft recommends quick scans for scheduled scans. A quick scan checks common malware start locations, including registry keys and known Windows startup folders. It is a targeted check, not a full-device scan.
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A full scan provides broader coverage than a quick scan. A custom scan lets you check selected files or locations. These scan choices serve different coverage needs; scheduling a scan does not replace Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time protection.
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Why a scheduled scan may not start at the exact time
Microsoft’s PowerShell scheduling guidance describes scan times in the device’s local time and a default 120-minute offset for scheduled scan start times. Settings can also randomize start times or make a scan run only when the computer is idle. Device use and these execution conditions can therefore affect when a scan begins.
For administrators, Microsoft documents PowerShell settings for scan type, schedule day, quick- and full-scan times, offset, randomization, and idle-only behavior. Its examples show how to configure a daily quick scan or a weekly full scan; use Microsoft’s current PowerShell guidance for the exact parameter combinations rather than combining settings by guesswork.
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Check the configured schedule
Microsoft’s Get-MpPreference reference gives this PowerShell example for viewing the configured scheduled scan day:
Get-MpPreference | Format-List ScanScheduleDay
The command displays the schedule-day setting; it does not by itself confirm that a scan has run.
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Which configuration method should you use?
| Situation | Suitable control | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| One person configuring a PC | Task Scheduler | Add a trigger to the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan task. |
| Administrator configuring endpoints | PowerShell, WMI, Group Policy, or Microsoft Intune | Use the channel that governs the organization’s devices; local changes may not be authoritative on a managed PC. |
Microsoft lists Task Scheduler, PowerShell, WMI, Group Policy, and Intune as configuration approaches. The graphical steps above are intended for an individual user; organizations should follow their centrally managed configuration.
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