Introduction

Microsoft Defender Antivirus, previously known as Windows Defender Antivirus, is a built-in antivirus solution in Windows 10. It provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, and other malicious software. Group Policy is a feature in Windows that allows administrators to manage the settings of multiple computers centrally. However, some users have reported that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not showing up in Group Policy. In this article, we will explore some possible solutions to this problem.

Check Group Policy Settings

The first thing to check is whether the Group Policy settings for Microsoft Defender Antivirus are configured correctly. To do this, open the Local Group Policy Editor by typing "gpedit.msc" in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R). Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Check that the policies are set to "Not configured" or "Enabled". If they are set to "Disabled", that could be the reason why Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not showing up in Group Policy.

Check Registry Settings

If the Group Policy settings are correct, the next step is to check the registry settings. Open the Registry Editor by typing "regedit" in the Run dialog box. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender. Check that the values for "DisableAntiSpyware" and "DisableAntiVirus" are set to "0". If they are set to "1", that could be the reason why Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not showing up in Group Policy.

Restart Windows Security Service

If the Group Policy and registry settings are correct, try restarting the Windows Security service. Open the Services app by typing "services.msc" in the Run dialog box. Locate the "Windows Security" service and right-click on it. Select "Restart" from the context menu. This will restart the service and may resolve the issue.

Update Windows

If none of the above solutions work, try updating Windows to the latest version. Microsoft periodically releases updates that include bug fixes and improvements to Windows Defender Antivirus. To check for updates, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click on "Check for updates" and install any available updates.

Conclusion

If Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not showing up in Group Policy, it can be frustrating for administrators who want to manage the settings centrally. However, by checking the Group Policy and registry settings, restarting the Windows Security service, and updating Windows, you can resolve this issue and ensure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is fully integrated with Group Policy.

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