Windows 10: Can’t uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials? No problem!

30 April 2016 | Computers | 83 comments

You upgrade to Windows 10. All seems to be going well.

There’s only one problem: Every time you reboot, you get an error message about Microsoft Security Essentials.

“No problem!” you think. I’ll just uninstall it. Nope!

Worse yet, Windows 10 is very confused, since Windows Defender is basically the same program. Defender won’t run, and neither will Security Essentials.

What to do? Read on!

This is a surprisingly common problem.

According to Microsoft, when you upgrade to Windows 10, MS Security Essentials should be uninstalled automagically. This is because Windows Defender is basically the same thing.

But, that’s not what happens. Instead, you’re stuck in Security Limbo.

You can tell you still have Microsoft Security Essentials running if you see the green icon in your task bar in Windows 10:

Oops!

If you try to uninstall the program, you get this:

Well, that’s lame. You’re trying to UNinstall… Fear not!

Open File Explorer (Win-E).

Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client

Right-click the file Setup.exe, and choose Properties. You’ll see this guy:

Click the Change settings for all users box.

Change the Compatibility mode settings as shown (use compatibility mode for Windows 7), and then click OK.

Go ahead and close File Explorer, since you won’t need it any more.

Next, right-click the Start button, and choose Command Prompt (Admin).

Paste the following line into the Command Prompt window, and press Enter:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\setup.exe” /x /disableoslimit

If a generic box pops up with a question about uninstalling, just click OK. That will launch the MS Security Essentials Uninstaller, like so:

Just click the Uninstall button, and you’re almost done!

The last step is to make sure Windows Defender is updated.

Just click Start, type defender, and click on the Windows Defender item to launch it.

You should see this screen:

Click the Update definitions button. You can close the Defender window now and just let it work in the background. Now you’re done!

If for some reason Defender won’t run, just reboot.

From this point on, you can pretty much forget that Windows Defender is there. It will work automatically in the background just like MS Security Essentials did in Windows 7.

Piece of cake. 😀

83 Comments

Newer Comments →

Jacques on 1 May 2016 at 14:16

Thanks for the info Scott. Very useful and well explained as usual.

Looking for an article explaining what we can do when the windows icon does not work when clicking the left side of the mouse. I know that we can use the right side of the mouse to have another menu but I don’t why but from time to time the left side seems to be deactivated.
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The Seiko on 15 June 2016 at 12:31

You’re my hero … super description and working

Read abouth 50 different solutions … all crap

your’s easy and working
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Carl on 20 June 2016 at 08:08

I’ve spent weeks trying to fix this problem, and your solution worked first time. I owe you a beer – THANKS!!!
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zagazeek on 21 June 2016 at 15:43

Many thanks, it worked atlast. I was trying various ways and means provided on web by numerous people for many days. You are great !!!
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Matjaž on 6 July 2016 at 09:21

It works! Thanks man!
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mandy on 29 July 2016 at 15:29

Thank you so much!! After trying numerous things to get defender turned back on, this actually worked.
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feh5165 on 30 July 2016 at 16:22

thanks. this is one of the frustrating microsoft issues that prevent a good user experience. the product isnt bad, just little things like this and defender incompatibility
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burned on 25 August 2016 at 05:02

Nice job on the fix! Wasted my time trying other solutions till I came across yours.
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rosli on 27 August 2016 at 17:49

tq for ur info
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Shakir on 11 September 2016 at 11:18

wow.. absolutely fantastic..Kudos to you.. GENIUS ..
It worked for me like a charm…
Thank you…
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Donna on 13 September 2016 at 22:16

Very nice. Thanks!!!
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Karin on 23 September 2016 at 07:32

You are a genius!!! Very easy, even for me 😉
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Ivor on 1 October 2016 at 07:27

Fantastic! I’ve been searching the web and Microsoft’s Community website for the past week trying to remove MSE from Windows 10 without any luck. I was able to follow your clear instructions that worked like a charm. A shortcut to your website has now been saved on my desktop. You’re a genius. Thank you so much
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andré V on 1 October 2016 at 10:50

It’s the only working solution I found !!!
Thanks a lot
#workingsolutiontouninstalldefenderonwindows10
Hourra 🙂
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Stephen on 3 October 2016 at 14:49

Thank you so so much been trying lots of other stuff to get rid of SE but none worked. This worked as easy to do. Thanks so much 🙂
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Fred on 12 October 2016 at 09:59

Others have said it all. 1000 thanks, I wasted a tonne of time with other ‘solutions’ before yours. Excellent descriptions
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Arian on 21 October 2016 at 22:44

Great article! Thanks for posting this.
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Christian Bourque on 11 November 2016 at 03:56

Awesome thanks a lot mate!
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Don Shafer on 11 November 2016 at 17:34

Thank you so much… worked perfect!
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Peer Eide Nilsen on 16 November 2016 at 23:21

Thanks Scott, you saved the day! Great instructions and solution.
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surya on 18 November 2016 at 14:39

Thank you very much for the very clearly explained solution…
but it didn’t work for me..
when I paste “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\setup.exe” /x /disableoslimit in cmdpromt and after choosing option yes, another box will appear rather than MS essential uninstaller..

that different box says…

The Microsoft Security Client Installation Wizard cant find files that are necessary to complete the installation.
To install this program, please download the installation again from the Microsoft Security Client website.
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surya on 18 November 2016 at 14:42

with regards
waiting for reply
thank you again
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Thaer Taha on 20 November 2016 at 11:35

Thank you .It helps a lot and it was so easy to do and to understand.
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Sinchan on 23 November 2016 at 23:19

Same Surya’s problem:
when I paste “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\setup.exe” /x /disableoslimit in cmdpromt and after choosing option yes, another box will appear rather than MS essential uninstaller..

that different box says…

The Microsoft Security Client Installation Wizard cant find files that are necessary to complete the installation.
To install this program, please download the installation again from the Microsoft Security Client website.
Reply
- Surya Bista on 1 December 2016 at 12:14
  
  Dear friend
  I got the solution for me
  
  I again upgraded win10 to newer version of Windows10 from Microsoft website.
  There is a option to go for anniversary upgrade in Microsoft website.
  
  Go through it, might be helpful
  
  Thank you
  Reply
Granddaddy on 30 November 2016 at 16:34

Bless you. This worked for me. I thought the Win10 installation upgrade from Win7 had really messed up my granddaughters’ computer. I found your explanation and in 10 minutes it was fixed. As frequently happens, Microsoft was no help at all in fixing the installation problem they caused.
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lucio on 4 December 2016 at 19:16

Thank you!
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rob on 8 December 2016 at 19:35

Thank you very much!!!
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Ross on 16 December 2016 at 14:49

You’re a rock star!!!
Worked like a charm. No crazy hacks, just a straight forward step by step solution.
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Mary Lou on 27 December 2016 at 17:49

Thanks! Worked like a charm. Straightforward instructions and process.
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Steve on 4 January 2017 at 03:23

Worked perfect. Thank you!
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Ron Fritzemeier on 4 January 2017 at 19:01

Kudos – just upgraded a client’s workstation from 7 running MSE, and unsuccessfully tried half a dozen other suggestions around the internet before coming across yours, which worked! Splendid, cheers!
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Richard on 18 January 2017 at 12:31

Thank you so much!
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Klaus on 20 January 2017 at 14:22

Worked fine – Thang you!
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John S on 21 January 2017 at 22:57

Thanks, worked for me.
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PISHULONCO on 22 January 2017 at 23:38

THaaaannnkks!!! many time searching for a solution. Many thanks
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Roland on 23 January 2017 at 18:46

Thanks!!! Perfect instructions … and it worked!
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Soren on 25 January 2017 at 13:06

Hi, so happy when I found this guide … but when I type in: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\setup.exe” /x /disableoslimit, it returns Access denid … even though I am admit (or at least I thought so …)

Please help.

Regards,
Soren
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Scottie on 25 January 2017 at 13:29

@Soren
Weird… Well, if your command prompt window has the title:
Administrator: Command Prompt
Then I’m not sure what the problem is… 🙁
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skypin on 4 February 2017 at 01:05

thank you
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CBtheDestroyer on 8 February 2017 at 18:25

You saved my day! Thanks a million.
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Therese on 9 February 2017 at 00:30

Great! thank you a lot!
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Lloyd on 10 February 2017 at 03:00

WooHoo says it all! Thanks
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Kristofer on 23 February 2017 at 00:15

GREAT STUFF!!

Took me 4 hours to fix my father-in-law’s computer.
First I had to uninstall 3rd party AVG and then I had to figure out that MS Security Essentials were stopping Windows Defender from starting and then I finally saw this article on how to remove the stupid program that MS themselves couldn’t uninstall properly!

THANKS!
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Matt on 5 March 2017 at 17:23

Thank you! I have been searching high and low to find a solution for the last 3 days.

None of the other solutions offered even came close to making anything happen.

Cheers
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iostream on 12 March 2017 at 10:19

Better even than microsoft’s solution, which doesn’t work.

Worked for me. Windows 10, upgraded from windows 7. Kudos!
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Vishal on 17 March 2017 at 05:31

Bingo! This works perfect.

Have tried various other ways but this worked like a charm in few minutes.

Thanks a lot man.
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J.C. Lucier on 21 March 2017 at 00:42

Thank you, thank you!!!
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MARCELO SANTOS on 21 March 2017 at 03:25

Fantastic! Even Microsoft itself doesn’t have a solution for this annoying Windows 10 Bug. The upgrade tools should check for Sec Essentials prior to upgrade and warning end user or remove the program during the upgrade process. Neither of these options has done!
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Roman Boltmurzajew on 30 March 2017 at 07:14

Danke sehr. Das war sehr hilflich von Ihnen 😉
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Maddin on 31 March 2017 at 22:42

Thank you very much. It was really annoying and all other sites did not help – you did.

Thanks!
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