How do I avoid Windows Defender compatibility issues?

With all the security options available to keep Windows systems secure, it's important to ensure the proper configuration of your antivirus application to avoid any Windows Defender compatibility issues.

Microsoft provides a native antimalware application called Windows Defender Antivirus (AV) to keep infections away from Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 operating systems. Depending on the other types of protections that run on these systems, the Windows Defender compatibility features adjust the application to run in one of three modes: active mode, passive mode and automatic disabled mode.

When Windows Defender AV is in active mode, the application functions as the primary antimalware application on the system. It will scan files and remediate threats while reporting detection results to the management tool. Administrators can manage Windows Defender with different tools, such as System Center Configuration Manager, Group Policy and Intune, or within the application itself.

In Windows 10, Windows Defender AV enters passive mode automatically when it detects another antivirus tool in the system or if the system uses Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). The ATP service works in conjunction with the Windows Defender AV service to look for attacks and other security events.

Passive mode enables Windows Defender AV to run, but it does not act as the primary antimalware application. Windows Defender AV scans files and reports its detections to Windows Defender ATP, but Windows Defender AV does not remediate any detected threats.

Windows Defender AV enters automatic disabled mode when it detects another AV tool on the system under Windows 10 and when the business does not have a Windows Defender ATP enrollment. In this mode, Windows Defender AV will not scan files, remediate issues or report threats.