To enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time protection on a personally managed Windows device, open Windows Security and go to Virus & threat protection > Manage settings. Switch Real-time protection on. On a work- or school-managed device, an administrator’s policy may control the setting instead.
Turn on real-time protection in Windows Security
- Open the Windows Security app.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings.
- Switch Real-time protection on.
Microsoft notes that the control may be unavailable when an organization manages real-time protection. If you switch it off, Windows turns it back on automatically after a short delay. See Microsoft’s always-on protection guidance.
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Why is Real-time protection greyed out?
A device-management policy may control the setting, or tamper protection may block a change to a protected setting. With tamper protection enabled, a change can appear to succeed but be ignored. For a lasting change on a managed device, update the policy in the management tool that owns the setting rather than repeatedly changing it locally.
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Enable and check protection with PowerShell
On a device you administer, open PowerShell as an administrator and run:
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false -DisableBehaviorMonitoring $false -RealTimeScanDirection BothThis enables real-time monitoring and behavior monitoring and sets scanning to cover incoming and outgoing files. To inspect the configured values, run:
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Get-MpPreference | Select-Object DisableRealtimeMonitoring, DisableBehaviorMonitoring, RealTimeScanDirectionMicrosoft documents the expected values as False, False, and 0, respectively. These are preference values; to check whether real-time protection is actually enabled, use the status command below.
PowerShell changes local endpoint settings. A setting deployed through endpoint security management, Intune, Configuration Manager Tenant Attach, or Group Policy can overwrite a local change. See Microsoft’s PowerShell configuration guidance.
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Check real-time protection and tamper protection
In an elevated PowerShell session, run:
Get-MpComputerStatus | Select-Object IsTamperProtected, RealTimeProtectionEnabledThe output reports whether tamper protection and real-time protection are enabled. If tamper protection is on and a protected setting will not change, use the policy that manages the device for a permanent adjustment. Microsoft says temporary diagnostic changes require troubleshooting mode and revert when that mode ends; see its always-on protection documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep real-time protection on through Group Policy
For an administrator configuring Group Policy, use the Microsoft Defender Antivirus > Real-time Protection policy area. To keep real-time protection on, set Turn off real-time protection to Disabled. Related policies cover monitoring incoming and outgoing file and program activity, behavior monitoring, and monitoring file and program activity.
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If tamper protection is enabled, Group Policy cannot turn off real-time protection. The Microsoft policy guidance also describes these settings. Separately, Microsoft’s Defender Policy CSP documents AllowRealtimeMonitoring: its default is enabled (1) for device scope on Windows 10 version 1607 and later, on supported Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT editions. Changes to that setting do not apply when tamper protection is enabled; the CSP reference does not mean every consumer Windows installation exposes enterprise management interfaces.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
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