Microsoft Fixes Flaw in Windows 11 Antivirus, Reassures Users It's Still Working
Microsoft is addressing an issue in Windows 11's built-in antivirus software, Microsoft Defender. Users have been reporting that their antivirus appears to be turned off when it actually isn't. This has been happening 'intermittently' since at least early August, and Microsoft acknowledges the problem on its health dashboard.
The warning message may appear when Windows 11 first boots or sporadically afterwards, even if notification settings are switched off. The software giant assures users that this is a bug, not a sign of a genuine problem with Defender. However, it's been causing frustration for some who may be tempted to click on the prompt and re-enable their antivirus, only to see the message again.
Microsoft says it's working on a fix, which will be provided in an update for Defender Antivirus, but doesn't provide a specific timeline for its release. Users can check the status of their antivirus by going to Windows Security and looking under 'Virus & threat protection'.