How to clean Windows 10 setup using the Malicious Software Removal Tool

On Windows 10, the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) is a utility that Microsoft updates regularly to find and remove specific known threats that could make unwanted changes to help proceed your calculator running smoothly.

The MSRT sounds similar an antivirus, just it is not. It just contains the instructions to deal with a specific scope of malware after the computer has been infected, and it does non provide real-time protection similar the Microsoft Defender Antivirus or the ability to remove harmful software that is not actively running. (If y'all suspect a more harmful malware has infected your computer, you should use the Windows Defender Offline feature.)

Microsoft now pushes new versions of the Malicious Software Removal Tool for Windows 10 devices automatically, roughly every iii months, through Windows Update. However, you tin can always download and run the standalone version to check and remove malicious software manually.

In this Windows 10 guide, nosotros will evidence yous two means to utilise the Malicious Software Removal Tool to browse and remove unwanted software from your reckoner.

How to utilise the Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows 10
How to utilize the Malicious Software Removal Tool with Command prompt

How to utilise the Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows ten

To scan your calculator for malicious software with the Microsoft tool, use these steps:

Open this Microsoft support page.
Click the Download button.
Save the Malicious Software Removal Tool file on your device.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Double-click the file to launch the tool.

Quick note: The file proper noun will be different on each new release of the tool.
Click the Adjacent push button.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Select one of the scan options:
- Quick scan: Scans sections of the system likely to have malicious software, but it does not remove any issues. Instead, it will propose running a full browse in the event malicious software is found.
- Full scan: Scans the entire device for malicious software, including fixed and removable drives. This process tin can accept many hours because it performs a quick and total scan on all the drives connected to the figurer (except network drives).
- Customize scan: Performs a quick browse and scans the folder location yous specified.
Source: Windows Primal
(Optional) If you choose the Customized scan option, click the Cull Folder push to select the location you want to scan for malicious code.
Click the Adjacent button.
Click the View detailed results of the scan link to view the scan details.

Source: Windows Central
Click the OK button.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Finish push.

One time you complete the steps, the tool volition scan the system for malicious software. If a threat is found, you will be prompted to run a full scan. In the event that a full scan was used, you volition be prompted to remove the infection from those files.

If the malicious software modified the browser settings, and so you volition give directions to restore the original settings (if applicative).

The tool may be able to clean the infected files, simply it is not perfect, and some data loss could happen depending on the infection. In some cases, the tool may not exist able to restore the files to their original land. After the scan, the MSRT also creates a long in c:\Windows\Debug\mrt.log file that includes information about the tool, summary, and return codes.

How to use the Malicious Software Removal Tool with Command prompt

Alternatively, y'all can also apply the security tool with commands, just the options bachelor are more than limited than the graphical interface.

To use the Malicious Software Removal Tool with Control Prompt, use these steps:

Open up Outset.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator pick.
Type the following command start a forced scan, and printing Enter:

mrt /f
Click the Adjacent push to go on with full browse.
Type the following command to do a full scan and automatically clean infected files and printing Enter:

mrt /f:y
Click the Next push to continue with scan and automatic cleaning.
Blazon the post-obit control to run a scan quietly (without a visual interface) and press Enter:

mrt /q

Quick tip: Usually, you would only use this option to run the security utility as scheduled task for other computers in the network.
Type the following command to execute a full scan quietly and printing Enter:

mrt /f /q

Source: Windows Key

Afterward y'all complete the steps, the tool will perform a scan on the Windows ten computer.

If you triggered the quick scan, you would be prompted to run a full scan if a threat is found. If you used the /f:y options, and so the total scan and automatic cleaning will occur, and if you used the /q option, and so the tool volition run in the background without a user interface. Y'all can always run across the consummate list of options using the mrt /? command.

We are focusing this guide on Windows 10, merely the tool is also compatible with previous versions, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful manufactures, coverage, and answers to common questions nearly Windows 10, visit the post-obit resources:

Windows x on Windows Cardinal – All you lot need to know
Windows 10 assistance, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Cardinal

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