Windows Defender Definition updates download but do not automatically apply


glasskuter

aka Mama Glass
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The Lone Star State of Texas
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Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4652
Since 22H2 every day I'll have a defender definition update sitting in Windows Update waiting on me to click the install button. As soon as I do, it installs in seconds. In the past these always automatically installed with no intervention from me. Anyone got any ideas why.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4652
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26100.4061
Did you ever get any Windows Update error code for the Defender updates? I can't recall ever getting the infamous 0x80070643 error code with 11, so far. That was common with 10, OTOH.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900X
    Motherboard
    ASRock B550 PG Velocita (UEFI-BIOS P3.40)
    Memory
    64 GB G.Skill RipJaws V F4-3200C16D-64GVK
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sparkle Titan Arc A770 16 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware AW3423DWF OLED ultrawide
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Black SN850 1 TB NVMe SSD
    PSU
    eVGA Supernova 750 G3
    Case
    Corsair 275R
    Internet Speed
    VTel FTTH 1 Gb down and 1 Gb up
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5800X3D
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (UEFI-BIOS version 3607)
    Memory
    32 GB (2x16 GB G.Skill TridentZ Neo)
    Graphics card(s)
    Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 6750 XT
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Pro 512 GB NVMe SSD
    PSU
    eVGA Supernova 650 GQ
    Case
    Fractal Focus G
When automatic updates don't work as they should, you can manually update Defender instead. This ComputerWorld story covers various methods that will do the trick: How to manually update Windows Defender (Jan 2022). HTH, =Ed=
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo X380 Yoga
    CPU
    i7-8650U (8th Gen/Kaby Lake)
    Motherboard
    20LH000MUS (U3E1)
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Integrated Conexant SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    FlexView Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 1 TB PCIe x3 NVMe SSD
    external 5TB Seagate USB-C attached HDD
    PSU
    Lenovo integrated 65W power brick
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Laptop
    Keyboard
    Integrated Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard
    Mouse
    touchscreen, touchpad
    Internet Speed
    GbE (Spectrum/Charter)
    Browser
    all of em
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Purchased early 2019 as Windows Insider test PC
When automatic updates don't work as they should, you can manually update Defender instead. This ComputerWorld story covers various methods that will do the trick: How to manually update Windows Defender (Jan 2022). HTH, =Ed=
That story is behind a registration paywall. Unless you care to summarize, it's not solving his problem.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Windows is too smart for it's own good. If it detects a background activity, it might postpone updates to prevent performance issues. You can try to optimize Defender with some settings using DefenderUI - like an hourly updates.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home Insider Canary
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (07/24)
    Motherboard
    ASROCK B650M-HDV/M.2 3.25 (07/24)
    Memory
    2x32GB Kingston FURY DDR5 5600 MHz CL36 @5200 CL40 (07/24)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASROCK Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8G @48FPS (08/24)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus (05/24)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Philips 24M1N3200ZS/00 (05/24)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@165Hz via DP1.4
    Hard Drives
    Kingston KC3000 NVMe 2TB (05/24)
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic Core GM 550 Gold (04/24)
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 Mini with 3x Noctua NF-P14s/12@555rpm (04/24)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12S with Noctua NF-P12 (04/24)
    Keyboard
    HP Pavilion Wired Keyboard 300 (07/24) + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NextDNS blocking 95% TLDs
    Other Info
    Backup: Hasleo Backup Suite (PreOS)
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
    Chair: Huzaro Force 4.4 Grey Mesh (05/24)
    Notifier: Xiaomi Mi Band 9 Milanese (10/24)
    2nd Monitor: AOC G2460VQ6 @75Hz (02/19)
The only registration that's needed is to provide a valid email address. But thanks for pointing that out. The story shows how to jump into Windows Security and run the update from the Windows Security --> Virus & Threat Protection item, like so (Click on protection updates):
1665783787805.png
From there it goes onto explain that you can use the PowerShell Update-MpSignature command. Finally it provides a link to the MS Download page where you can always find the latest signatures and engine files.
That pretty much sums it up.
Thanks again for observing that those who don't wish to register cannot read those stories. Because CW pays me to write that stuff, I don't see it as an issue. Others may see it differently.
--Ed--
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo X380 Yoga
    CPU
    i7-8650U (8th Gen/Kaby Lake)
    Motherboard
    20LH000MUS (U3E1)
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Integrated Conexant SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    FlexView Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 1 TB PCIe x3 NVMe SSD
    external 5TB Seagate USB-C attached HDD
    PSU
    Lenovo integrated 65W power brick
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Laptop
    Keyboard
    Integrated Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard
    Mouse
    touchscreen, touchpad
    Internet Speed
    GbE (Spectrum/Charter)
    Browser
    all of em
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Purchased early 2019 as Windows Insider test PC
Thanks for the clarity, I was a CW print subscriber back in the days before online help existed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
If I simply go Windows Security > Virus & threat protection updates > Protection updates > Check for updates > Update successful (checkmark in green circle) > Quick scan > Microsoft Defender scan results (pop up notification) No new threats found.

... I thought that I scanned my machine with the latest virus definitions, no?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
Since 22H2 every day I'll have a defender definition update sitting in Windows Update waiting on me to click the install button. As soon as I do, it installs in seconds. In the past these always automatically installed with no intervention from me. Anyone got any ideas why.
If Defender automatically scans your device, does it scan with the most recent antivirus definition?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
Yes, I believe it will. But I'm enough of a "belt-and-suspenders' guy where security is concerned, that I run the manual update first anyway. Go figure!
Thanks for asking,
--Ed--
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo X380 Yoga
    CPU
    i7-8650U (8th Gen/Kaby Lake)
    Motherboard
    20LH000MUS (U3E1)
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Integrated Conexant SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    FlexView Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 1 TB PCIe x3 NVMe SSD
    external 5TB Seagate USB-C attached HDD
    PSU
    Lenovo integrated 65W power brick
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Laptop
    Keyboard
    Integrated Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard
    Mouse
    touchscreen, touchpad
    Internet Speed
    GbE (Spectrum/Charter)
    Browser
    all of em
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Purchased early 2019 as Windows Insider test PC
Yeah, I seem to remember reading a MS source that says Defender updates before scanning. So, that's how it's supposed to be.

The question was directed to @glasskuter because she posted that Defender downloaded but did not install the update without her intervention. She could check right after an automatic scan if the automatic scan was using the latest update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
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