How Long Does It Take to Update Windows Defender?
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By default, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will check for an update 15 minutes before the time of any scheduled scans.

How often is Windows Defender updated?

Windows Defender AV issues new definitions every 2 hours, however, you can find more information on definition update control here, here and here.

Why does Windows Defender update so much?

Due to this, Microsoft needs to roll out regular definition updates for its security solution for it to identify and protect against the latest threats that are discovered in the wild. All security applications do that, and Windows Defender is no different. … Meaning, definition updates arrive multiple times per day.

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.

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