defender offline scan is not starting

If Microsoft Defender Offline is not starting on your Windows 11 Personal device without any error message, you can follow these steps to diagnose and fix the problem:

1. Check Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) Status: Ensure that WinRE is enabled, as Microsoft Defender Offline requires it to run. You can check the status by executing the command:

      reagentc /info
   

   If the status is "Disabled," enable it with:

      reagentc /enable
   

2. Verify Microsoft Defender Antivirus Settings: Make sure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is set as your primary antivirus software and not in passive mode. If you have third-party antivirus software installed, consider uninstalling it.
3. Update Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Ensure that you have the latest updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus. You can update it through the usual method you deploy updates to endpoints.
4. Run a Manual Scan: You can manually initiate an offline scan by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options and selecting Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
5. Check Event Viewer: Look for logs in the Event Viewer to see if there are any entries related to Microsoft Defender Offline. Navigate to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender > Operational and check for relevant events.
6. Restart Your Device: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues with the scan not starting.

If you have followed these steps and the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.