Subscribe to Microsoft 365? Expect new apps to install automatically

If you subscribe to Microsoft 365, expect Microsoft Defender to automatically install over the next few days or weeks.

As Neowin reports(opens in new window)with about 365 users noticed(opens in new window) Microsoft Defender appears as an installed app, but I don’t remember agreeing to install it.A quick check on our support page(opens in new window) for Defender reveals that Microsoft has decided to start the installation automatically.

According to the support page:

“Starting in late February 2023, the Microsoft Defender app will be included in the Microsoft 365 installer. This means that when you install Microsoft 365 Apps on your Windows device, the Microsoft Defender app will be automatically installed with your other apps.”

For those who have already installed Microsoft 365, there is no way to bypass the automatic installation as “the next update will automatically install the Microsoft Defender app”.

Microsoft has sent an email outlining the benefits of using Defender to existing 365 subscribers. The email also confirms that Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices will automatically install the app “during regular updates.” If you don’t want to wait, you can download Defender manually.(opens in new window) Available from the Microsoft Store, but requires a valid Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription to work.

Defender is an additional layer of security provided by Microsoft that works alongside your built-in Windows security protections. It works on Windows, but can also be deployed to Android, iOS, and macOS devices. Microsoft allows up to 5 devices per person. If your system is already running a security suite, Defender should detect it and adjust how it runs accordingly so as not to interfere with your operation.

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