Troubleshoots and fixes common issues with security and malware prevention in Windows.

Provides links to the uninstall tools and directions for many security programs.

First, you'll need to download the troubleshooter. Download troubleshooter. If you see the File Download box when you start downloading, select Run or Open. The troubleshooter provides steps for you to follow. If a program isn't listed in the uninstall options, you'll be asked for that program's product code.

Get Help has troubleshooters you can run for many common scenarios. These often help resolve issues without the need to contact support. If a troubleshooter is available for your issue, select Run to start that troubleshooter.

In search on the taskbar, enter Control Panel and select it from the results. Select Programs > Programs and Features. Press and hold (or right-click) on the program you want to remove and select Uninstall or Uninstall / Change. Then follow the directions on the screen. Need more help?

User Account Control (UAC) is designed to prevent unauthorized changes to Windows. When an action requires administrator-level permissions, UAC prompts you to approve or deny the change. This helps protect your Windows device from malicious software and unauthorized modifications.

Get Help has troubleshooters you can run for many common scenarios. These often help resolve issues without the need to contact support. If a troubleshooter is available for your issue, select Start to run that troubleshooter. After you run any troubleshooter, Get Help provides details on any findings and suggestions for possible remedies.

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. When critical Windows system files are missing or corrupted, some Windows features may stop working correctly or Windows may stop responding altogether.

Beginning with the September 2024 Windows security update, Windows Installer (MSI) began requiring a User Account Control (UAC) prompt for your credentials when repairing an application. This requirement was further enforced in the August 2025 Windows security update to address the security vulnerability, CVE-2025-50173.

Follow these steps to reinstall Windows using the recovery media: Start your device from the USB drive that was created with Recovery Drive. The process to boot from a USB drive may vary by manufacturer, so refer to your device's manual if needed.