How to use Microsoft Defender when another Security provider is installed

Transcendence72 · Monday at 11:41 AM

I am planning to use a free security provider (AVG or Avira) on my laptop, but I would like to keep using Microsoft Defender in a limited capacity. Specifically, I want to be able to run Microsoft Defender quick and full scans ONLY on demand. Either by creating two desktop shortcuts, one for full scan and one for quick scan, or by using elevated command prompt or terminal(Admin) or by using a cmdlets or some other mechanism.
Also I would like to be able to run a Microsofts Defender on demand scanner/custom scan or a file (either an archive or other file). Preferably by right clicking a file and having an option like "Scan with MS Defender". When a new security provider is introduced it typically disables the option to scan with Microsoft Defender.
Finally I would like to update the definitions for MS Defender regualary too.

I am not looking for Microsoft Defender to be enabled and running in the background all the time, competing with the other security provider. I also do not want Microsoft Defender to automatically trigger a scan on access of any file or stream. Rather I want Microsoft Defender scan to be user initiated. Like a dormant capabilty that can be woken up and ONLY used on demand. After it use, it terminates.

I looked at Microsoft learns documentation, Configure and run on-demand Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans but that did not help much.

I thought about using Malicious Software Removal tool (i.e. %windir%\system32\MRT.exe) but dropped the idea for two reasons. Firstly MRT only scans for the most widely prevelant malware infecting windows machines protected by Microsoft Defender. Secondly it gets updated every month. Rather I would like to use the vast definitions that are available with Microsoft Defender.

Any suggestions and ideas on how this can be done?

oldschool · Monday at 2:30 PM

According to this you should be able to run scans, though probably not via right-click on context menu.

Use Windows Defender Periodic Scanning with Third-Party Antivirus

Use Windows Defender Periodic Scanning with a Third-Party Antivirus Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes Windows includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, but many users prefer to run a third-party antivirus such as Norton, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes Premium, ESET, Avast, AVG, McAfee, or...

windowsforum.com

After enabling periodic scanning, run scan via command or powershell.

Banjoman301 · Monday at 2:48 PM

IMHO, AVG and Avira are both a step down from Microsoft Defender.

Not sure what advantage you think you'll be getting...

TairikuOkami · Monday at 3:05 PM

Transcendence72 said:
I am not looking for Microsoft Defender to be enabled and running in the background all the time,

Defender is always running, even with 3rd party AV, so on-demand scanning is no problem.
But you can also run Microsoft Safety Scanner Download - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Transcendence72 · Friday at 9:33 AM

oldschool said:
According to this you should be able to run scans, though probably not via right-click on context menu.

Use Windows Defender Periodic Scanning with Third-Party Antivirus

Use Windows Defender Periodic Scanning with a Third-Party Antivirus Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes Windows includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, but many users prefer to run a third-party antivirus such as Norton, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes Premium, ESET, Avast, AVG, McAfee, or...

windowsforum.com

After enabling periodic scanning, run scan via command or powershell.

So, can I schedule a scan to be run with Microsoft Defender say every Monday evening at 05:30 pm using Task Scheduler? If there is a shell script file with the following commands and it is scheduled, then will this work?

Powershell:

Update-MpSignature  -ProgressAction 
Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan

Transcendence72 · Friday at 9:36 AM

TairikuOkami said:
Defender is always running, even with 3rd party AV, so on-demand scanning is no problem.
But you can also run Microsoft Safety Scanner Download - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

View attachment 182976

Thanks for this, I did not know about this product from Microsoft. This would require an updated MS Safety Scanner executable to be downloaded every week. I was hoping to use Microsoft Defender itself rather than do this every week, 52 times in a year.

Also if a 3rd party Security provider is installed, isnt Defender disabled? i.e. the Service and process is no longer run?

Transcendence72 · Friday at 9:46 AM

Banjoman301 said:
IMHO, AVG and Avira are both a step down from Microsoft Defender.

Not sure what advantage you think you'll be getting...

AVG has some very good results from AV-Comparatives for the Real-World Protection Test July-August 2026. It is in the top quadrant, almost at par with Norton and BitDefender. That is why it is in the short list.

Is there some reason why AVG free would be a step down from Microsoft Defender? Is the Free version of AVG somewhat inferior to other offerings, including Microsoft Defender? I am not trying to throw shade on what you said. I would like to know if I have missed something while short listing AVG. I am open to receiving new information which could help me make a better decision. Again, I am not belittling what you have said.

gunrunnerjohn · Friday at 9:53 AM

I run Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Licensed. They don't step on each other and give me pretty good coverage.

XxXxX · Friday at 11:15 AM

Transcendence72 said:
AVG has some very good results from AV-Comparatives for the Real-World Protection Test July-August 2026. It is in the top quadrant, almost at par with Norton and BitDefender. That is why it is in the short list.

Is there some reason why AVG free would be a step down from Microsoft Defender? Is the Free version of AVG somewhat inferior to other offerings, including Microsoft Defender? I am not trying to throw shade on what you said. I would like to know if I have missed something while short listing AVG. I am open to receiving new information which could help me make a better decision. Again, I am not belittling what you have said.

mine and my wifes systems use AVG internet security for several years with no issues or problems
MS defender is still active in the background but both function well together

i can only say as i found
best of luck Steve ..

oldschool · Friday at 1:58 PM

Transcendence72 said:
So, can I schedule a scan to be run with Microsoft Defender say every Monday evening at 05:30 pm using Task Scheduler? If there is a shell script file with the following commands and it is scheduled, then will this work?

I don't see why not. Try it.

TairikuOkami · 2026-09-20T03:29:35-0400

Transcendence72 said:
Also if a 3rd party Security provider is installed, isnt Defender disabled? i.e. the Service and process is no longer run?

It used to be for a few months, but malware abused it, because in order to properly start it, Windows had to be restarted. So it is running nonstop and as soon as 3rd party AV gets disabled, it kicks in. You can check by searching for Defender name in processes.

How to use Microsoft Defender when another Security provider is installed

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