---
title: Help protect my PC with Microsoft Defender Offline – Microsoft Support
description: "Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Microsoft Defender Offline is a powerful offline scanning tool that runs from a trusted environment, without starting your operating system. ## When should I use Microsoft Defender Offline? Run Microsoft Defender Offline if: - Windows…"
url: "https://cleversupport.ca/docs/windows/help-protect-my-pc-with-microsoft-defender-offline-microsoft-support/"
updated: "2024-05-16"
category: Windows
---

# Help protect my PC with Microsoft Defender Offline – Microsoft Support

Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7

Microsoft Defender Offline is a powerful offline scanning tool that runs from a trusted environment, without starting your operating system.

## When should I use Microsoft Defender Offline?

Run Microsoft Defender Offline if:

- Windows Security (also called Windows Defender Security Center in previous versions of Windows) detects rootkits or other highly persistent malware on your PC and recommends you use Microsoft Defender Offline. 
- You suspect your PC might have malware hiding on it, but your security software doesn’t detect anything. 

## How do I use Microsoft Defender Offline

1. Save any open files and close all apps and programs.
2. Select **Start **, and then select **Settings ** > **Update & Security ** > **Windows Security**  > **Virus & threat protection **.
3. On the Virus & threat protection screen, do one of the following:
   - In an up-to-date version of Windows 10 or Windows 11: Under **Current threats**, select **Scan options**.
   - In older versions of Windows 10: Under **T****hreat history**, select **Run a new advanced scan**.
4. Select **Microsoft Defender Offline scan**, and then select **Scan now**.

![The Scan options dialog showing Microsoft Defender Offline scan selected.](https://support.content.office.net/en-us/media/ca22c8e5-7b8d-63c1-00cb-62ed2c80f51f.png)

You'll be prompted that you're about to be signed out of Windows. After you are, your PC should restart. Microsoft Defender Offline will load and perform a quick scan of your PC in the recovery environment. When the scan has finished (usually takes about 15 minutes), your PC will automatically restart.

**Notes: **

- You typically need administrator rights on the PC on which you plan to run Microsoft Defender Offline.
- If you experience a Stop error on a blue screen when you run the offline scan, restart your device and try running a Microsoft Defender Offline scan again. If the blue-screen error happens again, contact [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/).

## Where can I find scan results?

To see the Microsoft Defender Offline scan results:

1. Select **Start **, and then select **Settings ** > **Update & Security ** > **Windows Security ** > **Virus & threat protection **.
2. On the Virus & threat protection screen in Windows 10, under **Current threats**, select **Scan options**, and then select **Protection history (**In previous versions of Windows it may say **Threat history)**.