Microsoft Defender’s documented on-demand scans do not let you select a running process by PID or scan its memory. You can scan the process’s executable file on disk instead, or run a quick or full scan of the computer. For an executable path, use PowerShell’s Start-MpScan with a custom scan.
Can Microsoft Defender scan a running process by PID?
Not through the documented on-demand scan interfaces covered here. Microsoft documents scans of a computer or of a specified file or folder—not a live process or its memory. Scanning an executable on disk checks that file; it is not the same as inspecting what a running process is doing in memory.
Microsoft describes Start-MpScan as starting a scan on a computer. Its documented parameters include a file or folder path and scan type, but not a process ID. The documented MpCmdRun.exe custom-scan option also takes a path. See Microsoft Learn’s Start-MpScan, MpCmdRun command-line guide, and on-demand scan guide.
Scan the executable file with PowerShell
If you know the path to the program’s executable, run a custom scan against that file:
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Start-MpScan -ScanPath 'C:PathToprogram.exe' -ScanType CustomScanReplace the example path with the executable’s actual location. -ScanPath accepts a file or folder path, and CustomScan is the path-targeted scan type. To scan a folder instead, supply its path. This checks the selected item on disk; it does not scan the process’s live memory.
Microsoft also documents the -AsJob parameter for running a long scan in a background job. For example:
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Start-MpScan -ScanPath 'C:PathToprogram.exe' -ScanType CustomScan -AsJobRefer to Microsoft’s Start-MpScan reference for the cmdlet’s documented parameters.
Choose a computer scan or a path scan
| Scan type | Scope | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Quick scan | Computer | For a quick check of the computer. |
| Full scan | Computer | When you want a broader computer scan. |
| Custom scan | A specified file or folder path | To check the executable file or a folder on disk. |
These are the three scan types in Microsoft’s documented on-demand workflow. A custom scan is the relevant choice when you have a particular executable path; it should not be treated as a live-process scan. See Microsoft’s on-demand scan guide and Start-MpScan reference.
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Use MpCmdRun.exe from an elevated Command Prompt
You can use Microsoft Defender’s command-line utility for a path-based custom scan. Microsoft’s instructions require an elevated Command Prompt.
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Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
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Locate
MpCmdRun.exein the Windows Defender folder or the versioned Defender platform folder. The platform folder can change as Defender updates; Microsoft recommends using the latest available platform version.Rank #4
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Run the custom scan with
-Fileand the target file or folder path. The documented argument format is-File <PathAndFilename or Path>.
MpCmdRun.exe is not normally on the PATH, so use its full path when invoking it unless you have already navigated to its directory. For the current directory guidance and command syntax, consult Microsoft’s command-line guide.
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Check whether Defender is available
If you are unsure whether Defender is reporting its protection status, run this in PowerShell:
Get-MpComputerStatusThis cmdlet reports Defender status; it does not change the target of a scan or provide process-memory inspection. Microsoft documents it in the PowerShell cmdlets guide.
Use Windows Security for an individual device
Microsoft’s on-demand scan guidance also directs users to Windows Security instructions for individual devices. For the current graphical workflow, follow the Windows Security section in Microsoft’s on-demand scan guide.
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