Windows 11 Sends False Virus Protection Warnings

Microsoft is dealing with another issue in its Windows 11 operating system. Users have been reporting that their PCs are sending alerts stating that 'virus protection is off' and need to be turned on, even though Microsoft Defender Antivirus is functioning correctly.

The company confirmed the problem and said it's aware of the issue but does not yet have a fix. According to Windows Latest, which first reported the issue, the alerts are caused by an update to Microsoft Defender Antivirus and affect all versions of Windows, including 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, and even Windows 10.

The alerts bypass Windows Notifications settings, so disabling system-wide notifications or using Do Not Disturb will not stop the alerts. Microsoft recommends verifying if Windows Defender is running by opening Windows Security, selecting Virus & threat protection, and checking if real-time protection is turned on.