14 DAY TRIAL // Users installing the Windows 10 Creators Update are reporting a weird bug that we can confirm exists on computers here at Softpedia running both the stable version of the OS, as well as Redstone 3 preview builds: Windows Defender can’t be launched by double-clicking the icon in the system tray.
Windows Defender is now called Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 10 Creators Update, and since it’s the operating system’s main protection shield, it runs all the time with an icon placed in the system tray to provide users with quick access.
It turns out, however, that double-clicking this icon makes absolutely no difference and the application doesn’t actually launch, with users explaining that right-clicking the icon and hitting the “Open” option is the easiest workaround. And we can confirm that this trick does the job on affected systems, though it’s not exactly clear what is causing the bug.
Known bug
Interestingly, this isn’t a new issue, as the same problem was reported and even listed as a known bug by Microsoft during the Windows Insider program before the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update.
Posts in the Windows 10 Feedback Hub confirm that this is a widespread problem, with a Microsoft engineer confirming 2 weeks ago that a fix was under development.
“Thank you for the feedback. We are working to address Windows Defender Security Center by double-clicking the taskbar icon in the next update for Windows,” a message posted in the FH reads. No patch has been provided till now, though, and the bug is experienced on fully up-to-date systems.
The issue is very likely to be fixed when Microsoft releases the next cumulative updates for Windows 10 Creators Update, which are expected on May 9, the next month’s Patch Tuesday cycle. In the meantime, just stick with the “Open” trick if you’re hitting the bug as well and you really need to launch Windows Defender.
