Selecting this option will launch the Windows Defender app, and it will immediately begin a quick scan of the selected file or folder. Right-click on this file or folder and you’ll see an option labeled Scan with Windows Defender (note: your right-click menu may look different than the one in our screenshot depending on the software installed on your PC). Next, navigate to a file or folder on your desktop or in File Explorer. Here’s how it works.įirst, make sure you’re running the latest version of Windows 10, as this feature was not included in the initial shipping version of the operating system.
New in recent versions ( build 10586 and up) of Windows 10, however, is the ability to quickly scan an individual file or folder via the right-click menu. By default, Windows Defender will scan the files you access in real-time to detect and prevent infections, but users can also trigger a manual scan of their PC at any time by launching the app. Windows Defender is a relatively effective anti-virus and anti-malware application that ships as part of Windows 10. Windows 10: How to Quickly Scan a File or Folder with Windows Defender
