How to clean Windows 10 setup using the Malicious Software Removal Tool
Do you suspect your computer is infected with malicious software? In this guide, we’ll show you how to deal with this problem quickly.
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On Windows 10, the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) is a utility that Microsoft updates regularly to find and remove specific known threats that could make unwanted changes to help keep your computer running smoothly.
The MSRT sounds like an antivirus, but it is not. It only contains the instructions to deal with a specific scope of malware after the computer has been infected, and it does not provide real-time protection like theMicrosoft Defender Antivirusor the ability to remove harmful software that is not actively running. (If you suspect a more harmful malware has infected your computer, you should use theWindows Defender Offlinefeature.)
Microsoft now pushes new versions of the Malicious Software Removal Tool forWindows 10devices automatically, roughly every three months, through Windows Update. However, you can always download and run the standalone version to check and remove malicious software manually.
In this Windows 10 guide, we will show you two ways to use the Malicious Software Removal Tool to scan and remove unwanted software from your computer.
How to use the Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows 10
To scan your computer for malicious software with the Microsoft tool, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the tool will scan the system for malicious software. If a threat is found, you will be prompted to run a full scan. In the event that a full scan was used, you will be prompted to remove the infection from those files.
If the malicious software modified the browser settings, then you will give directions to restore the original settings (if applicable).
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The tool may be able to clean the infected files, but it is not perfect, and some data loss could happen depending on the infection. In some cases, the tool may not be able to restore the files to their original state. After the scan, the MSRT also creates a long in
file that includes information about the tool, summary, and return codes.
How to use the Malicious Software Removal Tool with Command prompt
Alternatively, you can also use the security tool with commands, but the options available are more limited than the graphical interface.
To use the Malicious Software Removal Tool with Command Prompt, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the tool will perform a scan on the Windows 10 computer.
If you triggered the quick scan, you would be prompted to run a full scan if a threat is found. If you used the
options, then the full scan and automatic cleaning will occur, and if you used the
option, then the tool will run in the background without a user interface. You can always see the complete list of options using the
command.
We are focusing this guide on Windows 10, but the tool is also compatible with previous versions, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
