If you are using Windows 7 or 8, follow the second method. Note: Below steps are only applicable to Windows 10. So, all you have to do is click a button and Windows will take care of the rest. Step-by-Step Guide to Run Windows Defender Offline ScannerĪs I said before, the Offline Scanner is built into Windows Defender in Windows 10. Since Windows Defender is no longer running or using the same regular Windows environment, it can not only scan efficiently but also remove any malware from the system files or processes.
When you launch the Offline Scanner, Windows Defender will reboot your system into a secure recovery environment that is outside the regular Windows environment. The Offline Scanner is another scan type of Windows Defender that is mainly designed to remove stubborn malware. What is Windows Defender Offline Scanner? In those cases, you can use the Windows Defender Offline Scanner. This happens when malware is infecting the Windows system processes or other files. However, there might be times when Windows Defender is unable to remove the threat. When you perform a virus scan, no matter the scan type, if a threat is detected, Windows Defender will try to remove it from your system.
