How to Scan a File or Folder with Windows Defender (Windows Security)

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, Windows Defender, also known as Windows Security, runs in the background (real-time protection) to ensure your computer has no potential or active threats. When needed, you can even schedule an antivirus scan or run a full system scan manually. However, what if you want to scan a specific file or folder?

For example, maybe you downloaded software or an attachment and want to make sure that it is clean before opening it. In that case, you can scan that one file or folder with Windows Defender.

In this tutorial, I will show you two methods to manually scan any file or folder using Windows Defender (Windows Security) in simple and easy steps. Let’s get started.

Before You Being

• Some files and folders may require administrator rights to scan.
• Windows Defender cannot scan password protected zip files.
• Windows Defender will automatically quarantine any threats it finds.
• The steps below are tested to work on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
• Windows Defender is also called “Windows Security” or “Microsoft Defender“. So, don’t be confused when you see these names are used interchangeably.

Scan a File or Folder Using Windows Defender From Right-Click Menu

1. Open the File Explorer window by pressing “Windows key + E“.
2. Find and right-click the file or folder you want to scan.
3. Click the “Show more options” option.
4. Select the “Scan with Microsoft Defender” option.
5. That’s it, the Windows Security app launches, scans the file/folder, and shows the result.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, open File Explorer by pressing the “Windows key + E” shortcut. Next, find the file or folder you want to scan. The file or folder can be anywhere on your hard disk. In my case, the file I want to scan is on my desktop.

Once you find it, right-click on the file or folder and select the “Scan with Microsoft Defender” option.

Note: On Windows 11, select “Show more options” in the right-click context menu and then select the “Scan with Microsoft Defender” option.

As soon as you select the option, the Windows Security app opens and automatically scans the selected file or folder. Depending on the file or folder size, it may take some time to complete. If the file is particularly small, the scan will be completed almost instantly.

Once the scan is complete, you will see the scan report right under the “Scan Options” section. Take a look at the image below for reference. In my case, Windows Defender found zero threats. If it finds any threats, Windows Defender automatically quarantines them.

Scan a Folder Using the Windows Security App

Note: Using this method, you can scan a single file. You can only scan a folder. However, you can place that file in a folder and follow the steps.

As an alternative, you can use the “Custom Scan” option in the Windows Security app to scan a specific folder using Windows Defender. Here’s how.

1. Press the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Search and open “Windows Security” in the Start menu.
3. Go to the “Virus & threat protection” tab on the sidebar.
4. Click “Scan Options” on the right page.
5. Select the “Custom Scan” option and click the “Scan now” button.
6. Select the folder you want to scan and click the “Select Folder” button.
7. That’s it, the Windows Security app launches, scans the file/folder, and shows the result.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, open the Windows Security app. To do that, press the Start button, enter “Windows Security” in the Start menu’s search bar, and click “Open“.

In the Windows Security app, navigate to the “Virus & threat protection” tab on the sidebar or click the option on the right page.

On the right page, click the “Scan Options” link. This is where you find the additional scanning options. Since we want to scan a specific folder, select the “Custom scan” radio option and click the “Scan now” button.

Now, select the folder you want to scan and click the “Select Folder” button at the bottom of the window.

The above action forces Windows Defender to scan the selected folder. Once completed, it will show the results on the same page. Depending on the folder and its contents, the scan can take some time to complete. In my case, Windows Defender found zero threats. If Windows Defender finds any virus or malware infection, it will show the threat signature and quarantine it.

Wrapping Up — Manually Scanning a File or Folder Using Windows Defender

As you can see, thanks to the built-in options, it is very easy to scan any file or folder using Windows Defender. In most cases, the right-click method works wonders for almost all users. However, if you are looking for an alternative method, use the “Custom Scan” option in the Windows Security app. Do keep in mind that you cannot scan a specific file directly from the Windows Security app. However, you can place the file you want to scan in a temporary folder and scan that folder. For added security, I also recommend that you enable Windows Defender periodic scan.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.