Fix error of not being able to open Windows Security on Windows 11

Sometimes Windows Security encounters confusing errors that prevent it from running on Windows 11. For example, it may suggest that you will need a new application to open this windowsdefender link. So how to solve this problem? WebTech360 will help you find the answer.

Table of Contents

• What causes Windows Security on Windows 11 to not open?
• How to fix Windows Security cannot be opened on Windows 11
  • Repair and Reset Windows Security Application
  • Run SFC and DISM
  • Disable background apps
  • Disable or uninstall third-party antivirus and security software
  • Install the latest Windows updates
  • Restart Windows Security Center Service
• Some frequently asked questions
  • Do I need a separate antivirus program if I already have Windows Security?
  • Is it possible to force Windows Security to open?
  • Is Windows Security free?

What causes Windows Security on Windows 11 to not open?

There are a number of situations where this problem can occur. Here is a brief list of situations that can prevent Windows Security from opening:

• Corrupt Windows Store Certificate – As it turns out, a common scenario that will cause this issue is when a critical dependency (the Windows Store certificate) is actually corrupted. If this particular scenario applies, you should be able to fix the issue by reinstalling the Microsoft.SecHealthUI component.
• Corrupted Windows Security Components – If you recently upgraded to Windows 11 from an older version of Windows , there’s a chance you’re dealing with a component that’s partially corrupted as a result of the upgrade process. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to reinstall the Windows Security components.
• 3rd Party AV Interference – Some 3rd party antivirus suites including Kasperky are known to effectively block Windows users from accessing the native AV component (Windows Security) while it is enabled. To resolve this issue, you can fix the problem by disabling or uninstalling this 3rd party component.
• Corrupted System Files – As it turns out, there is a situation where you can no longer access the Windows Security component due to corrupted system files that directly affect Windows Security or a related dependency. To fix this issue, you can start by running an SFC and DISM scan. If that fails, you should also consider a clean install.
• Poorly cached data – Depending on the specific situation, you may also be experiencing issues due to cached data being stored by Windows Security. In this case, the first thing you should do is reset the Windows Security application from the Apps section.
• Windows Security is disabled – If you have previously made some changes to the default behavior of Windows Security, then there is a possibility that Windows Security has been disabled by the Registry key and this is the reason why you cannot access it. In this case, you can fix the problem by accessing the Registry Editor and modifying the DisableAntiSpyware file.

Next, let's go through any fixes that other affected users have successfully used to restore normal Windows Security functionality.

How to fix Windows Security cannot be opened on Windows 11

Repair and Reset Windows Security Application

The first thing you can try is to repair or reset the Windows Security application, the specific steps are as follows:

Step 1 : Access Settings.

B2 : Select Apps.

B3 : Select Apps & features.

B4 : Search for Windows Security application .

B5 : Click on the three dots and select Advanced options.

B6 : Click the Repair button.

B7 : If the problem is still not fixed, you can press the Reset button.

You can also use PowerShell to reset the Windows Security application package. Run PowerShell as administrator, then type and run the following command: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage .

Run SFC and DISM

If your system files are corrupted, built-in Windows 11 components, such as Windows Security, will not be able to run. Therefore, you should try using automatic system file checking and repair tools such as System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM). Here are the specific steps:

Step 1 : Press the Start button then type cmd to search.

B2 : Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator .

B3 : Type sfc /scannow and wait for the tool to scan and repair your system.

B4 : Enter Dism/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth and continue waiting for the tool to scan and repair your system.

B5 : Restart the computer to see if the problem has been fixed.

Disable background apps

Sometimes background apps cause conflicts that prevent Windows Security from opening on Windows 11. So, you can try disabling background apps to see if that fixes the problem. You can also try disabling all services to start Windows in the cleanest way to see if Windows Security works again.

How to turn off background applications and services as follows:

B1 : Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager .

B2 : If you do not see the form, find and click on the More details button.

B3 : Click on the Startup tab, find all the enabled applications to Disable them.

B4 : Press Win + R to open Run then type msconfig and press Enter.

Step 5 : Click on the Services tab , then check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click the Disable All button.

B6 : Restart your computer and try to see if Windows Security works again.

B7 : If Windows Security works again, you can try turning on each service to check which service is causing the error. This process can be done quickly by turning on the application in groups.

Note : Some applications and features will be affected when you disable all services that start with Windows. After fixing the Windows Security error, you should re-enable the services to ensure Windows operates most stably.

Disable or uninstall third-party antivirus and security software

You need to know that you cannot run two different antivirus software on your computer at the same time. If you have a third-party antivirus software installed on your computer, you will need to disable or uninstall it before you can run Windows Security.

Install the latest Windows updates

System updates bring new features, security patches, and bug fixes. If Windows Security is failing because of a bug in Windows, updating your operating system may help resolve the problem.

Restart Windows Security Center Service

“Windows Security Center Service” is an application that runs every time you start your computer. If the application fails to start due to a problem, you may not be able to access Windows Security. To resolve this issue, you need to restart the “Security Center” service. Here’s how to do it:

B1: Click on the Start menu and type services.msc.

B2: On the right pane, click “Open” to launch the “Services” window.

B3: Navigate to "Security Center" on the right.

B4: Since the menu items appear in alphabetical order, you can quickly search by clicking on any item and pressing S on your keyboard.

B5: Right-click on “Security Center” and select “Restart” from the menu that appears.

B6: Try opening Windows Security now and see if it works.

Some frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate antivirus program if I already have Windows Security?

Windows Security does a surprisingly good job of keeping out viruses and malware. However, if you still feel like you could benefit from getting a third-party antivirus program on your PC, here are our recommendations.

Is it possible to force Windows Security to open?

You can try to force Windows Security to open using Task Manager:

B1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager .

B2: Click File on the main menu and select “Run new task” .

B3: Type windowsdefender: into the “Create New Task” window .

B4: Click “OK”. Windows Security will open.

Is Windows Security free?

Unlike antivirus programs like Avast and McAfee, Microsoft Security is offered for free to Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. Microsoft regularly updates this antivirus program.

Good luck!