no auto update for Win Defender

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Every morning, when I turn on my computer, I manually apply updates to Windows Defender. It’s not a huge burden, but it would be nice if it updated automatically, like it is supposed to. But it doesn’t. If I leave it alone for a couple of days, it doesn’t download any updates. I have to do it manually. There is even a Defender update item in Task Scheduler, but it doesn’t work. Any ideas on how to get the auto update to work?

Fafner

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Have you changed the default settings for any Windows services?

Joe

--Joe

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It is part of Windows Update, do you have that scheduled to run automatically?

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See Windows 8: Windows Defender auto-update definitions.

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks for the replies. No, I don’t have Windows Update set to run automatically, and I never have. I gather from your replies that in order to get Defender to download definition updates automatically, it has to be done through Windows Update. So, in the Defender update window, where it says, “These definitions are updated automatically,” it isn’t telling the full story. I also assume that the registry change Joe points me to enables all minor updates to be installed automatically, not just Defender updates. I think I’ll just continue doing the daily manual updates as I have been doing. It seems odd, though, that Microsoft would have made this change from the automatic downloads in Security Essentials.

Fafner

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I have Task Scheduler take care of it. Windows Defender Automatic Update, Scheduled Scans.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Yes, as I indicated in my first post, I have tried to have Task Scheduler do this, but it still doesn’t happen. I followed all the steps in the link you posted, but no luck. Update still doesn’t run automatically.

Fafner

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Run Balarc Advisor to see if it snags any outstanding Windows Updates, even if you know you have them installed. http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

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