Add Windows Defender to Context Menu in Windows 8

Introduction

Microsoft Windows 8 come with built-in security software Windows Defender that was known as Microsoft Security Essentials in previous versions of windows. Windows Defender can keep your PC safe from viruses without installing any third-party software but you must enable Windows Defender. The main issue with Windows Defender is that when you want to scan any file or folder then you must manually scan. If you want to scan any file and folder by right-clicking (Scan with Windows Defender) such as with other third-party antivirus software then you will not get this option with Windows Defender.

In this article we are going to explain how to add Windows Defender in right-click context menu. After adding Windows Defender to the context menu you can easily use Windows Defender from the context menu such as like in other third-party software.

How to add Windows Defender to the right-click context menu

Step 1

Go to the search box and type "Run" or press "Win + R". The Run window will be opened. In the run window type "regedit".

Step 2

The Registry Editor window will be opened. In this window go to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\fonfile\shell".

Step 3

Right-click on "Sell" select "New" then "Key". Type name "WindowDefender".

Step 4

Select the WindowsDefender key and go to the right panel. In the right panel create a "String value" with the name of  "Icon". To create a new string value right-click and select "String value" from "New".

Step 5

Double-click on "Icon" and provide the following value in the value data.

%ProgramFiles%\\Windows Defender\\EppManifest.dll

Step 6

Again right-click and create another string value with the name of "MUIVerb" and double-click on its and provide the following value in the value data.

Scan with Windows Defender

Step 7

Now go to the left panel and right-click on "WindowsDefender" and create a new key with the name of  "Command".

Step 8

Select the command key and go to the right panel and double-click on the default value and provide the following value in the value data.

"C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe" -scan -scantype 3 -SignatureUpdate -file %1

Step 9

Now exit from the registry editor window and restart you computer. After restarting the computer right-click on any file or folder; you will see a menu item for "Scan with Windows Defender".