How to run full virus scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10

To run a full virus scan on Windows 10, open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select “Full scan,” and click “Scan now.”
Alternatively, you can use Command Prompt and PowerShell commands to run a malware scan on your computer.

UPDATED 1/7/2025: On Windows 10, Microsoft Defender Antivirus automatically checks and scans your computer for threats such as viruses, spyware, ransomware, rootkits, and other malware and hackers. However, sometimes, you may still need to perform a scan manually to ensure that the installation and data have not been compromised.

If you suspect a virus or other malware has infected your computer (or you want to perform a maintenance scan), Microsoft Defender Antivirus allows you to perform three types of manual scans on Windows 10, including quick, custom, and full scans using the Windows Security app, Command Prompt, and PowerShell.

In this guide, I’ll teach you to perform a virus scan using the built-in anti-malware program on Windows 10.

Run full virus scan from Windows Security
Run full virus scan from Command Prompt
Run full virus scan from PowerShell

Run full virus scan from Windows Security

To run a full virus scan on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Start on Windows 10.
Search for Windows Security and click the top result to open the app.
Click on “Virus & threat protection” from the left navigation pane.
Click on Scan options under the “Current threats” section.
Select the Full scan option to check the entire system for viruses and any other type of malware.
Click the Scan now button.

Once you complete the steps, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will scan your device for viruses and other types of malware. If any threats are detected, the antivirus automatically removes (or quarantines) them.

Also, depending on the amount of data, this process can take a long time. If you have a lot of files, it is recommended to start the scan when you are done using the device for the day and let the scan run overnight.

Run full virus scan from Command Prompt

To run a Microsoft Defender Antivirus full scan from Command Prompt, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to locate the latest version of Microsoft Defender Antivirus installation and press Enter:
```
cd C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\4*
```
Type the following command to run a full virus scan and press Enter:
```
mpcmdrun -scan -scantype 2
```

After you complete the steps, the anti-malware solution will scan the device for malware. As you run the command, you will notice the “Start scanning” message. Once the scan is complete, you will see the “Scan finished” message.

Run full virus scan from PowerShell

To start a full scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus from PowerShell, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to start a full malware scan and press Enter:
```
start-mpscan -scantype fullscan
```

Once you complete the steps, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will perform a full scan to check, detect, and remove viruses and any other type of malware it might be able to find.

Update January 7, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.