Keeping your Windows 11 system secure from potential threats is crucial. One of the most effective tools for this purpose is the built-in Windows Security Scan. However, to make it more accessible, you can create a shortcut to this security feature directly on your desktop or taskbar. In this article, we’ll explore three simple methods to create a Windows Security Scan shortcut, allowing you to perform security scans with just a single click.
1. 3 ways to create Windows Security Scan shortcut on Windows 11?
Method 1: Create Quick Scan shortcut on Desktop?
This method will help you create a shortcut on the main screen (Desktop), helping you perform a quick scan with just one click. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Right-click on an empty area on the main screen and select New > Shortcut
Step 2: In the “Type the location of the item” section, enter the following path and click the Next button.
“%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe” -Scan -ScanType 1
Step 3: Enter a shortcut name, such as Quick Scan or Security Scan, and then click the Finish button.
Step 4: You will see a new shortcut on your Windows 11 home screen. Double click on it to start scanning.
Step 5: If you want to customize the shortcut, right-click on it and select Properties > Select Change icon
In the Look for icons in this file section, paste the following path:
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\EppManifest.dll
Select the icon you like and click Apply.
Method 2: Create a Windows Security shortcut to scan options
Step 1: First, right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select New > Shortcut
Step 2: Enter the following path and click the Next button
%windir%\explorer.exe windowsdefender://threat
Step 3: On the “Name the shortcut” window, name the shortcut whatever you want, such as Scan Options, Security Scan, or Virus and Threat Protection.
Step 4: Double click on the shortcut file you just created and select the scan option.
Step 1: Go to the link HERE and download the Winaero Tweaker ZIP file.
Step 2: Unzip and install WinaeroTweaker
Step 3: Run Winawer Tweaker and double-click on the Context menu in the left sidebar.
Step 4: Select Windows Security on the left. Then check the option “Add Windows Security submenu to Desktop context menu”.
That’s it, to check again, just right-click on the home screen and select “Show more options > Windows Security”.
