Modify These Configurations to Speed Up Your Antivirus Performance

Several antiviral techniques exist to expedite the virus scanning process.

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Restrict Scans to Recent Files

The primary reason antivirus scans are sluggish is that the default scanning approach encompasses a comprehensive examination of all files on the machine. The duration of the scan increases with the amount of storage utilized and the number of files present on your computer.

To expedite this procedure, you may restrict the scan to only those files that have been downloaded or modified since the previous scan. You may also select a specific duration if desired.

The method for this will differ depending on the antivirus software employed; some may necessitate manual selection of folders/files for scanning, whereas others will automatically categorize them.

Schedule Scans to Execute During Inactivity

If the problem is that the scan is time-consuming and hampers your computer's performance during use, a straightforward remedy is to schedule the scan to occur only when the machine is not in use.

Most antivirus software simplifies this process, however it may differ by provider. Windows Defender attempts to do this action by default; but, if your computer is configured to never enter Sleep mode, it may lead to complications.

If this is the situation, you must utilize the Windows Task Scheduler to designate a specific time for the scan, which is advantageous for circumventing peak work periods.

Examine Real-Time Scanning Alternatives

The majority of antivirus software employs real-time scanning for enhanced security. It enables the scanning of any file upon download to proactively detect malware. This feature can be disabled with a straightforward toggle in the settings of any compatible antivirus software. Each antivirus varies, but the option will be located in the settings.

Bear in mind that this should likely be a final recourse if the antivirus is excessively prolonged in its scanning process. Real-time scanning serves as your primary and arguably most effective defense against malware; thus, its deactivation should be a temporary solution while you investigate the underlying reasons for your computer's performance issues, likely indicating that your RAM or CPU is being overburdened by other processes.

Restrict Scans to Designated Drives

Instead of a time-restricted scan, you may also restrict the data being scanned by examining one drive at a time.

This clearly advantages individuals with several hard drives or SSDs by providing control over the scanning process and its duration. By monitoring your installations and the corresponding drives, you can examine the specific drive for any suspicious activity and proceed if none is detected. You may scan things in phases and take breaks in between if you feel it is appropriate for a scan but cannot allocate time for a comprehensive one.

The procedure will differ depending on your antivirus, although it may be executed quite easily in Windows Defender by:

1. Accessing the Windows Security interface.

2. Navigate to the "Virus and Threat Protection" section.

3. Choose the option labeled “Custom scan”.

4. Choose "Scan now."

Please choose your drive from the available options.

Experiment with an Alternative Antivirus

If all other solutions are ineffective, the problem may lie in the incompatibility of your antivirus software. Consider deleting it to determine if Windows Defender operates more efficiently, or alternatively, switch to a different commercial antivirus solution. If there is no observable difference, it is likely that the antivirus is not the problem; rather, your files are. Your disks may be excessively full, rendering it impossible for an antivirus to conduct an efficient scan.