Windows defender always wants to scan at 3 A.M.

I have set windows defender to scan every Wednesday at 8 A.M., which it does, but it always wants to scan at 3 A.M. every day too. Can some one help me?

There's a post here that may help you figure the problem out. The post also has some links to tutorials which may help.

Solved Can I schedule scans with Windows Defender? - Windows 10 blog

There's a post here that may help you figure the problem out. The post also has some links to tutorials which may help. Solved Can I schedule scans with Windows Defender? - Windows 10 blog

That thread says this:

In Windows 10, a quick scan is performed during the daily scheduled maintenance (3:00 AM?) If your computer is off then the scan runs shortly after starting the next time.

But I don't see a way to disable the daily scan...

Curious, I was thinking maybe you just missed turning it off somewhere in the config settings, but apparently there's more to it then that. Have a look here & see if this helps any:

Windows Defender - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 blog

Curious, I was thinking maybe you just missed turning it off somewhere in the config settings, but apparently there's more to it then that. Have a look here & see if this helps any: Windows Defender - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 blog

I don't want to turn it off, I just want to stop the daily scan.

I found a way to remove the built in scheduled task for the Daily WD scan.
That was a while ago, with an Insider preview build.
These changes are done in Group Policy (i have W10 Pro).
See this post, maybe this will still work:
Solved Build 10074 Windows Defender scheduled task scans ? - Windows 10 blog

You might also be able to change some Group Policy settings as you prefer and keep the built in Scheduled Task ?

If you want to get rid of the built in task and create your own scheduled task, an easy way is to export the built in task, then import it as a new task and change the settings to what you want.

I don't want to turn it off, I just want to stop the daily scan.

I thought you might find some information relevant to your problem on that tutorial. Either that, or turning it off & on might solve the problem.

Looks like DavidE has something you can try, hopefully this fixes your problem.

I thought you might find some information relevant to your problem on that tutorial. Either that, or turning it off & on might solve the problem.

Looks like DavidE has something you can try, hopefully this fixes your problem.

Borg, You got me curious about this so i tested the GPO changes with the current official W10 build (not as an insider).
The changes do remove the WD built in daily scheduled scan task.
I'll check tomorrow and make sure W10 didn't rebuild the default task.

Personally i don't think a daily scan is needed for how i use a PC.

imho it should be easier than this to control scheduled AV scans

Great find David. . I had a scheduling prob with some prog (sorry, can't remember which one) on Win 7 a few years back & found turning it all the way off/back on fixed it for me.

Thanks for investigating.

You're welcome and thank you for the added info.
I got even more curious so i made some GPO changes to try and get the default scan to only run once per week.

As usual I'm on the wrong system for this post, I'm on Win 7 right now
When i get back on W10, I'll see how things look.