What is Microsoft Safety Scanner? How to Download and Use It? [Updated for 2024]

Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free tool offered by Microsoft. But what exactly is it for?

Microsoft provides users with a significant and minor tools and utilities. From those that Windows users get with updates to those that people download intentionally, they always add something to Microsoft's growing arsenal.

One such tool is the Microsoft Safety Scanner. But what is it? What is its purpose? Furthermore, how can you download and install it? In this article, we'll answer all these questions and explore how to use it. Let's get started.

What is Microsoft Safety Scanner?

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is one of many security and protection tools from Microsoft. It's a one-time, free utility, similar to Microsoft's other tool, the Malicious Software Removal Tool. It's designed to scan your computer system for computer viruses and other types of malware.

Released in April 2011, it was designed by Microsoft as a quick fix for computers compromised by malware or other issues. The company's website states that they created the tool to ensure that users could download and use it to undo changes or errors caused by malicious threats.

It is not intended as a replacement for antivirus or anti-malware software. There are also some important caveats to keep in mind about the tool:

• Microsoft recommends downloading it each time you use it, as the site is updated approximately every ten days, and the version you have may be outdated.
• This tool is not intended to replace your antivirus software and should not be relied upon as a comprehensive solution to protect your computer. Instead, it serves as a utility for a quick scan and removal of detected threats.
• It supports operating systems from Windows 7 through 11 and Server 2008 to 2019.

Thus, the tool is not only suitable for one-time use but is designed for this purpose. If built-in defenses fail to handle a threat or a virus manages to infect a computer, this tool is perfect to help deal with the situation.

However, as mentioned earlier, it is frequently updated. So, it's best to download the latest version when you want to use it.

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How to download and install Microsoft Safety Scanner

Installing and using the Microsoft Safety Scanner is straightforward, as you'd expect. Microsoft has a dedicated page for it. However, depending on your operating system, you'll need to make sure you download the 32-bit or 64-bit version. So, do this:

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website.

Step 2: Choose the version you need—either 64-bit or 32-bit.

Step 3: Let the tool download; it should take up about 125 MB of space.

Step 4. Once the file has finished downloading, run the executable file.

Step 5: Finished

It is important to understand that this tool is not designed to be an installable program. As such, once the file has been downloaded, the entire tool is immediately usable.

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How to Use the Microsoft Safety Scanner

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is not an installed program, so how do you use it? The process is straightforward: follow the steps mentioned in this article to download the tool. Once downloaded, you can proceed as follows: 1. Locate and double-click on the downloaded file to run the Microsoft Safety Scanner. 2. Upon launching, the program will automatically update its virus definitions to ensure it detects the latest threats. 3. Next, choose the type of scan you want to perform. Generally, you can select "Full Scan" to examine your entire system or "Quick Scan" to check critical areas. 4. Click the "Scan" button to initiate the scanning process on your computer. 5. After the scan is complete, the Microsoft Safety Scanner will list any issues found, such as viruses, spyware, or other malware. 6. Follow the program's recommendations to remove or quarantine the detected threats. 7. Remember to close the Microsoft Safety Scanner afterward, as it is not a real-time protection tool and is intended for one-time scans only. Please note that the Microsoft Safety Scanner is not a substitute for regular antivirus software but rather a temporary solution to be used when needed. For ongoing protection of your computer, it is recommended to install and keep up-to-date a reliable antivirus program.

Step 1: Run the MSERT executable

Step 2: Accept the End User License Agreement

Step 3: Click Next.

Step 4: Click Next again.

Step 5: Choose the scan type you want

Select a folder

Step 6: Let it scan your computer/folder/device

Step 7: Wait for it to finish

Step 8: Completion

This will perform an extensive and thorough scan on your computer. It's important to remember that you can choose between a quick scan or a full system scan. However, we only did a custom scan on the C drive. A full system scan may take some time, depending on the capacity of your storage device.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Safety Scanner

If you have other questions, see the Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Safety Scanner.

1. Comparing Microsoft Safety Scanner and Windows Defender

Windows Defender is a full antivirus program built into all Windows operating systems, including 8, 10, and 11. It's a complete program that scans your computer for viruses and protects it from malware or other virus threats.

On the other hand, Microsoft Safety Scanner is an important standalone tool. It lets you scan your computer without having to install it separately. It's ideal for those who want to do a virus scan from time to time without installing a full antivirus suite.

Can Microsoft Safety Scanner remove malware?

Yes, it can. The free tool provided by Microsoft is designed to detect and remove any malware or other malicious content from your computer. However, unlike an antivirus, it only performs a one-time scan. So, if you want to remove a virus, you would need to use it again each time.

Where can I download the latest version of Microsoft Safety Scanner?

Microsoft has a dedicated page for the tool that should answer any additional questions you might have. You can also find the latest version of it there, for either 32-bit or 64-bit systems, as mentioned earlier.