Windows Security Won’t Open? 10 Ways to Fix It on Windows 10/11

Windows Security is an essential feature designed to protect your computer from malware and other threats. However, many users face the frustrating issue of it not opening—either failing to launch or appearing to launch and close immediately. This problem can occur on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, leaving your system vulnerable.

In this guide, we’ll walk through various methods to resolve this problem. Whether you’re dealing with a corrupted app or system file conflicts, there are several approaches to try. Below, we’ve compiled seven effective fixes to get Windows Security running smoothly again.

1.Check and Reset Windows Security in Settings

Method:

Start by opening Settings (press `Win + I`). Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps (Apps & Features on Windows 10). Look for Windows Security in the list—it’s categorized under System or System Components. Click on the three dots (…) next to the app name, then select Advanced Options.

Here, you’ll see Reset and Repair buttons. Use Repair first to resolve the issue without losing preferences. If not fixed, try Reset. If it does not appear in the list (common on Windows 11), skip to the next fix.

(Personal tip: I’ve fixed this twice on my Windows 11 laptop—resetting often resolves background service glitches.)

2. Enable Background Apps

Windows Security relies on background apps to function properly. If these are disabled, the app may fail to launch. Here’s how to enable them:

OpenSettings (Win + I) and go to Privacy & Security > Background Apps (on Windows 11) or Privacy > Background Apps (on Windows 10).
Ensurethe toggle for “Let apps run in the background” is turned on.
Scroll down and confirmWindows Security has permission to run in the background.

Restart your PC and try opening Windows Security again to see if the issue is resolved.

(From experience: I once spent hours troubleshooting only to realize a Windows update had silently disabled background permissions for security apps!)

3. Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in Windows Troubleshooter to detect and fix problems with apps, including Windows Security. Here’s how to run it:

1. Go to Settings (`Win + I`) > Update & Security (Windows 10) or System > Troubleshoot (Windows 11).
2. Select Additional Troubleshooters (Windows 10) or scroll to Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11).
3. Click Windows Store Apps > Run the Troubleshooter.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows diagnose and apply fixes.
If the tool fixes the issue, you’re good to go. If not, proceed to the next step.

(Pro tip: I’ve seen this resolve cryptic app crashes, especially after major Windows updates. It’s a quick first line of defense!)

4. Reset Windows Security via PowerShell

If Windows Security still refuses to open, reset it using PowerShell. This method forces system apps like Microsoft.SecHealthUI (the backend for Windows Security) to rebuild themselves. Here’s how:

Search for PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
Execute this command to locate the app package:
Copy

Download
```
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.SecHealthUI
```

Then, use the command to reset it:

Reset-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers

Restart your computer and check if Windows Security works.

If the issue persists, repeat the steps or proceed to the next fix.

(Personal note: I’ve used this to fix “corrupted app identity” errors on Windows 11—it’s a lifesaver for stubborn system apps!)

5. Repair Corrupt System Files

Corrupted system files can prevent Windows Security from functioning properly. Use these built-in tools to restore image health:

Open Command Prompt (CMD) as an administrator (search for CMD, right-click > Run as administrator).

First, check for corruption using the System File Checker (SFC):

sfc /scannow
If detects issues, SFC will attempt repairs automatically.

If errors persist, run the DISM command to restore image health:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Followed by:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once the process finishes, restart your PC and verify if the issue is resolved.

(Pro tip: I’ve used this combo to fix countless cryptic errors. On a client’s Windows 10 machine, DISM repaired a broken update component that SFC missed!)

6. Update Windows

Outdated system files can cause Windows Security to malfunction. Microsoft often patches bugs via updates, so check for updates:

Go to Settings (Win + I) > Update & Security (Windows 10) or Windows Update (Windows 11).

Click Check for Updates and install any available updates.

Restart your PC to apply changes, then test Windows Security again.

(Personal tip: A client’s Windows 11 device had a broken Security app due to a missed cumulative update. Installing it fixed the issue instantly!)

7. Use System Restore

If Windows Security stopped working after a recent system change, System Restore can revert your computer to a state when everything was working fine. Here’s how:

1. Press `Windows + R`, type `rstrui.exe`, and hit Enter to launch System Restore.
2. Select a restore point dated before the problem started.
3. Follow prompts to restore system settings and files.

Try restoring your computer only if the problem started recently—this won’t affect personal files but may uninstall recent apps/drivers.

(Personal note: After a botched driver update broke Windows Security on my Windows 10 PC, System Restore rolled back the system to a previous point, resolving the issue in minutes!)

8. Create a New User Account
A corrupted user profile might be the culprit. Create a New User Account to test if the issue is specific to your current profile:

Go to Settings (Win + I) > Accounts > Family & Other Users.
Under Add a new user account, click Add account and follow prompts to set up a new account.
Log into the new account and test Windows Security. If it works, transfer your files from the old profile under the new account.

(Personal tip: I once spent days troubleshooting only to realize the problem vanished in a new profile. Migrated settings via Windows’ built-in tools and avoided reinstalling everything!)

9. Reset or Reinstall Windows
If none of the methods work, reset or reinstall Windows to resolve deep-seated system issues affecting Windows Security. Here’s how:

Go to Settings (Win + I) > Update & Security > Recovery (Windows 10) or System > Recovery (Windows 11).
Choose Reset This PC > Keep My Files to retain personal data while removing apps and settings. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

For severe cases (e.g., persistent corruption), you may need to use external media to reinstall Windows entirely:

Create a bootable USB using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
Boot from the USB, choose “Custom install,” and install Windows fresh.

To reset your system via this method erases everything—back up data first!

(Personal experience: After a malware attack left Windows Security irreparable, a clean reinstall was the only fix. Painful but worth it!)

10. Uninstall and Reinstall USB Controllers in Device Manager

Conflicts in USB controller drivers can trigger the USB Device Not Recognized Error. Here’s how to fix it by resetting the drivers:

Uninstall problematic controllers:
- Open Device Manager (right-click Start menu > Device Manager).
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- Right-click each USB controller (e.g., “USB Root Hub,” “Generic USB Hub”) and select Uninstall device.
- Check “Delete the driver software for this device” if prompted.
Restart your PC. Windows will automatically reinstall drivers for the USB controllers.
Plug in the USB device again to test.

(Personal tip: I once fixed a stubborn external hard drive error on Windows 11 this way. The controllers had outdated drivers that manual updates missed!)

Conclusion

Fixing Windows Security issues on Windows 10 or Windows 11 often requires a combination of solutions, from simple steps like resetting the app or enabling background permissions to leveraging advanced tools like PowerShell commands, SFC scans, or System Restore. While most problems resolve with these tweaks, extreme cases may demand resetting Windows or reinstalling Windows entirely.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a sudden crash or a persistent glitch, methodically working through these fixes will likely resolve the issue. If this guide helped, share the guide with others facing similar problems—it could save them hours of frustration.

(Pro tip: After a Windows update broke Security on my PC, combining SFC and PowerShell did the trick. Don’t panic—start simple, then escalate!)