Windows Security (formerly Defender) is the antivirus app bundled with Windows 11. The app’s real-time scanning protects PCs from viruses and other forms of malware. So, it’s an important Windows app if you don’t have any alternative third-party antivirus utility installed.

Users will need to open Windows Security to manually start custom or quick scans, configure antivirus settings, and set up file and folder exclusions among other things. You can also adjust some firewall options from that app. These are 11 alternative ways you can open Windows Security in Windows 11.

1. How to Open Windows Security From the System Tray

This first method is probably one of the quickest ways to open Windows Security. Simply click the Windows Security (shield) icon that’s in the system tray on the far right of your taskbar. If you’ve got the Windows Security notification taskbar corner setting turned off, you’ll need to click a Show hidden icons up arrow to view the overflow menu.

The Windows Security icon

2. How to Open Windows Security With Windows 11’s Search Tool

It’s easy to find most Windows 11’s apps with the Type here to search box. Entering a clear keyword for finding the antivirus app there will do the trick. This is how to bring up Windows Security with that search box:

  1. Open up the Start menu to click inside the Type here to search box there.
  2. Input Windows Security within your search box.
    A Windows Security search
  3. Then select Windows Security to bring up that app’s Home tab.

Alternatively, you can open different Windows Security tabs by entering keyword variations. For example, you can select to open the Virus and threat protection tab by inputting virus in the search box. So, try modifying your search keyword to find and open a more specific Windows Security tab.

3. How to Open Windows Security With Run

The Run dialog provides another quick way to bring up Windows Security. To open Windows Security with that app, you’ll need to enter a specific Run command in it as follows:

  1. Start Run by holding down the Windows key and pressing R.
  2. Type windowsdefender: within the Open box.
    The Run accessory
  3. Click OK to open Windows Security’s Home tab.

4. How to Open Windows Security From the Windows Terminal

Command Prompt and PowerShell are two command-line shells you can utilize within the Windows Terminal app. You can open Windows Security with either. This is how to bring up Windows Security from Windows Security.

  1. Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) on the menu that appears.
  2. Click the Open a new tab option along the top of Windows Terminal.
    The Open a new tab option
  3. Select the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell command-line shell option you prefer.
  4. Input this Windows Security command in the selected command-line tab:
            start windowsdefender:
        
    The start windowsdefender: command
  5. Press the Enter button to execute.

5. How to Open Windows Security via the Settings

The Settings app provides a slightly less direct way to open Windows Security. Nevertheless, you can still open Windows Security from there whenever you’ve got Settings up. Here are the steps for opening Windows Security from Settings:

  1. Open Settings in the quickest way by pressing Win + I.
  2. Click Privacy & security on Settings’ navigation sidebar.
  3. Select Windows Security to bring up options for opening that app.
  4. Press the Open Windows Security button.
    Open Windows Security option
  5. Alternatively, you can open a more specific Windows Security tab by selecting it under the “Protection areas” heading.

6. How to Open Windows Security From the Start Menu

Windows Security is also accessible on the Start Menu. However, it’s not pinned to the front of the menu. You can open it from the Start menu’s app index as follows:

  1. Click Start to bring up Windows 11’s main menu.
  2. Select All apps to view the shortcuts list.
  3. Scroll down to Windows Security, and select that app to open it.
Windows Security on the Start menu

You can also pin Windows Security to the Start menu. Right-click Windows Security on the Start menu’s app index to select a Pin to Start option for it. Then you’ll be able to click a pinned shortcut for that app on the front of the menu.

7. How to Open Windows Security With Cortana

Cortana is a useful virtual assistant app with which you can start Windows 11’s apps and tools. That virtual assistant enables users to open Windows Security with both text and voice commands. This is how you can open Windows Security with Cortana:

  1. Click Cortana’s circle icon on the taskbar.
  2. Type open Windows Security in the Ask Cortana text box.
  3. Press Enter to bring up Windows Security.
    Open Windows Security Cortana command
  4. To open the antivirus app with a voice command, click the Speak to Cortana button. Then say “open Windows Security” near your PC’s microphone.
    The Speak to Cortana option

8. How to Open Windows Security via Task Manager

The Task Manager incorporates a Create a new task feature with which you can start apps. You can open Windows Security with that feature whenever you’re utilizing Task Manager as follows:

  1. Right-click Start (or the taskbar) and select Task Manager.
  2. Click File and then the Run new task option.
    The Run new task option
  3. Input the windowsdefender: command in the Create new task window.
    The Create new task window
  4. Select OK to launch the antivirus utility.

9. How to Open Windows Security From File Explorer

You can open built-in apps by entering Run commands for them within File Explorer’s folder location bar. To open Windows Security with Explorer, follow these quick steps:

  1. Click the folder library icon along the taskbar to open Windows 11’s Explorer file manager.
  2. Type windowsdefender: in Explorer’s folder path bar.
    The windowsdefender command entered in File Explorer
  3. Press the Return button to bring up Windows Security.

10. How to Open Windows Security With a Desktop Shortcut

You can make Windows Security accessible from Windows 11’s desktop by adding a shortcut for it there. Then you can open the antivirus app with that desktop shortcut whenever needed. This is how to add Windows Security to the desktop with the Create Shortcut tool:

  1. Right-click on a desktop wallpaper area to select the New and Shortcut context menu options.
    The Shortcut option
  2. Input %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender: within the Create Shortcut tool’s location box, and select Next.
    The Create Shortcut window
  3. Erase the default shortcut name, and type Windows Security in the text box.
  4. Click the Finish option to add the desktop shortcut.
  5. Double-click the Windows Security shortcut to open the antivirus app.

That shortcut will open Windows Security’s Home tab. You can also set up desktop shortcuts that open different Windows Security tabs. To do so, you’ll need to enter these alternative locations in the Create Shortcut tool:

  • Account protection: %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://account
  • Virus & threat protection: %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://threat
  • Browser control: %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://appbrowser
  • Firewall and network: %windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://network

11. How to Open Windows Security With a Keyboard Shortcut

Do you prefer keyboard shortcuts to desktop ones? If so, you can set up a convenient hotkey for opening Windows Security in about a couple of minutes. Follow these quick steps to set up a Windows Security hotkey:

  1. Add a Windows Security shortcut to the desktop as covered in method 10.
  2. Right-click Windows Security’s shortcut icon to select its Properties option.
  3. Next, click anywhere in the Shortcut key box.
  4. Press W to establish a Ctrl + Alt + W key combo for opening Windows Security.
    The Shortcut key box
  5. Select Apply to set the new Windows Security hotkey.
  6. Click OK to exit the properties window for the desktop shortcut.

Press the Ctrl + Alt + W keys at the same time to open Windows Security. That hotkey will work so long as you don’t delete the desktop shortcut it’s based on.

What’s Your Favorite Way to Open Windows Security?

So, you can open Windows Security from Settings, File Explorer, system tray, Task Manager, Run, Windows Terminal, Cortana, Start menu, and the search tool. Or you can immediately open that antivirus app with desktop or keyboard shortcuts instead. Open Windows Security in whatever way you prefer.