Microsoft Defender app not working? crashes or has problems?

Microsoft Defender Status

Last Updated on 2025-02-17 by Microsoft Corporation

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Summary of Microsoft Defender Problems 🔥

- Website loading issues

- Must disable to use OpenVPN

- Breaks basic functionality in some apps

- Consumes 7GB of cellular data in 7 days

📋 1 Reported Issues:

Dave Phillips 2023-06-22

Microsoft Defender version 1.0.5310.0101 running on Android 12 (Build S3RHS32.20-42-10-4-4)is buggy, Web Protection constantly crashes and does not produce useful diagnostics. It fails one or more times daily, even when the Android device is idle and has not been in use. It crashes, shuts down, the only indication is an alert and text message afterward that the device is not protected. Restarting it is a pain requiring navigation to five different pages. Once re-started it works fine for a while, then goes offline again. It has done this on every Android device I have installed it on. I am tired of its unreliability and being forced to restart it every day. When will it get fixed?

Showing 1-1 of 1 reported issues:

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Common Microsoft Defender Problems & Solutions. Troubleshooting Guide

Table of Contents:

Microsoft Defender iPhone Issues and Solutions

Microsoft Defender iOS app crashes, not working, errors
Microsoft Defender iOS app network issues
Microsoft Defender on iOS has black/white screen

Microsoft Defender Android App Issues and Solutions

Microsoft Defender has errors/crashing/not working
Microsoft Defender server network connectivity issues
Microsoft Defender has black screen

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Microsoft Defender iPhone Issues and Solutions

How to fix Microsoft Defender app crashes or not working on Iphone (iOS):

Close and restart the Microsoft Defender app on iPhone
Update Microsoft Defender app to the Latest Version for iOS
Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Defender iPhone app
Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version

Fix Microsoft Defender on iPhone unable to connect to server/internet connection issues::

To resolve Microsoft Defender network issues, Reset phone network settings:
1. On iphone, goto Settings » General » Reset » Reset Network Settings.
2. Enter device passcode » confirm [Reset Network Settings].

Turn off iphone VPN:
1. Goto Settings » General » VPN

Microsoft Defender Android App Issues and Solutions

Fix Microsoft Defender not working on Android, crashes, errors or is unresponsive:

Force Stop the Microsoft Defender App
1. On android, goto Settings » Microsoft Defender » click [Force Stop]

Update Microsoft Defender to the latest version on PlayStore

Clear Microsoft Defender App Cache and Data:
1. On android, goto Settings » Apps » Microsoft Defender » Storage » click [Clear Data] option. This clears both data and cache.
2. restart Microsoft Defender.

Fix Microsoft Defender unable to contact server/ Microsoft Defender internet connection errors on Android:

On android, goto Settings » Apps or Manage Apps tab.
Click Microsoft Defender » [Force Stop]
Next, goto Storage » click [Clear Data]
Again, goto Microsoft Defender » Mobile Data » [Allow Background Data Usage].
Go back to Settings » Connections » Mobile Network » Network Mode. Change the network to 4G e.g. LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)
Relaunch Microsoft Defender