After installing Malwarebytes Premium 14-day trial or licensed product, your anti-virus software (e.g., Microsoft Defender Antivirus) may get disabled automatically. In this scenario, when you attempt to start the Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service (WinDefend) via the Services console, it shows the following error, and the service wouldn’t start.
Or, Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service will start and immediately stop.
The result is exactly the same when you try to start these services:
- Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service (Sense)
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service (WdNisSvc)
The Security and Maintenance applet in the classic Control Panel and Windows Security Center will report that Malwarebytes is currently your “anti-virus” program. It disables the Microsoft Defender Antivirus automatically.
As you can see above, all of the Virus & threat protection options are missing, as a third-party anti-virus solution is installed. In that case, you can use the Periodic Scanning feature. If Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not running, its other features, such as “block at first sight” (cloud protection) or controlled folder access, will not work.
Stop Malwarebytes from Turning Off Defender
If installing Malwarebytes Premium disables Windows Defender or your 3rd party antivirus software, you’ll need to change a setting in Malwarebytes. Follow these steps:
- Open Malwarebytes, and click Settings.
- In the General tab, scroll down to the Windows Security Center section.
- Turn off Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center
With that setting off, Malwarebytes can still run alongside Microsoft Defender or third-party antivirus.
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Unfortunately, the menu option described above has been removed in the 4.1.0 release. After installing the update, I realized defender was not running. Contacted Malwarebytes, and was told to upload my log file?? Really?
I used to hold this app in high regard. Not so sure now.
@Joe: Malwarebytes v4.4. Open Malwarebytes Dashboard > Settings > Security > “Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center” (disable)
Thank you for this information it was very helpful much appreciated, how they don’t have this as an instruction is beyond me
Despite shutting down Malwarebytes, it is no longer possible to activate Windows Defender. A message appears – the threat service has stopped, unexpected error occurs and windows defender is automaticaly switched off again.
I ran into the same issue. But, it’s simple to solve.
Open Services —- press the Windows key, then start typing SERVICES (not in caps); you’ll see “Services app,” click on that.
Once Services is running, press M on your keyboard (this brings you to all services starting with ‘m’).
Look for Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service. Right-click and select Start. It should instantly start up.
That’s how I did it, good luck!
security center is disabled! now I have to REINSSTALL windows 10!!!!
uninstall Malwarebytes, it comes right back on. MB isn’t what it used to be .
this was exactly what I needed. Thank you very much <3
Thank you for this valuable tip. The battle of the giants for $$
There is any way of doing the same thing but with Kaspersky?
worked for me!
Just the FIX to Malwarebytes I was looking for. Thanks.