5 Fixes to Windows 11/10 Protection History Empty

Gain 5 easy fixes to Windows 11 or 10 Protection history empty and fix it. Also, an effective way to recover lost history files is included.

Lori

By Lori / Updated on April 3, 2024

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Have you ever been frustrated by the Windows 11 Protection history empty issue? This post is your guide to solving this problem, offering 5 effective solutions. Additionally, we introduce powerful data recovery software MyRecover to help you recover your lost protection history effortlessly.

5 Top Reasons Why Windows 11 or 10 Protection History Is Empty

If your Windows 11 or 10 protection history is empty, there could be several reasons for this issue. There are main 5 reasons:

1. Protection History Settings: A common reason is that you have configured Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) not to retain protection history. Check your Windows security settings to make sure Protect History is enabled.

2. Third-party antivirus software: If you use third-party antivirus or security software, it may interfere with Windows security and prevent it from maintaining protection history. In this case, you may need to adjust settings in a third-party antivirus program or consider using Windows Security exclusively.

3. Windows Security Database Corruption: Corruption in the Windows Security Database may result in an empty protection history. You can try to resolve this issue by resetting Windows security settings to their default values.

4. Insufficient Disk Space: Protecting history requires storage space to store logs and data. If your system drive is low on storage space, Windows may not be able to maintain a protection history. Make sure there is enough free space on the system drive.

5. Windows Security Issues: Windows Security may occasionally encounter issues or bugs that affect protection history. Keeping your Windows operating system and security software up to date with the latest updates and patches can help resolve such issues.

How to Fix Windows 11/10 Protection History Empty?

If you're facing the issue of protection history missing in Windows 10 or 11, you can try the following 5 fixes to resolve it:

Fix 1. Check for Windows Updates

If you can't see your Windows Defender protection history, start by checking your Windows Updates. Keeping your system and software up to date is crucial for security. Here's how:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

check-for-updates

2. You need to update your Windows 11 operating system to the latest version.

3. Restart Windows to check if the Windows 11 Defender protection history is empty.

Fix 2. Clear Detection History Files

Deleting detection history files can sometimes resolve "protection history not showing" issues with missing protection history in Windows Defender. Here's how you can do it:

1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and click “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

run-as-administrator

2. In the pop-up user account control window, select Yes.

3. Type del “ C:\ ProgramData\ Microsoft\ Windows Defender\ Scans\ mpcache *” / s> NUL 2> &1in the new window. Then press Enter.

4. Then, type del “ C: \ ProgramData\ Microsoft\ Windows Defender\ Scans\ mpenginedb.db”and press Enter.

5. Type del “C: \ ProgramData\ Microsoft\ Windows Defender\ Scans\ mpenginedb.db”and press Enter.

6. To complete the process, restart your computer. This step will help you verify if the issue of "protection history not showing" has been resolved.

Fix 3. Reset Windows Defender

To fix the error Windows Defender protection history missing in the Windows, you can try to reset and repair the Windows Photos app.

1. Press the Start button and type in Windows Security, and Select App.

windows-settings-select-apps

2. Click Apps & features>Windows Security > Advanced options > Reset.

Reset Windows Defender

3. Now you can check whether your protection history came back.

Fix 4. Run DISM and SFC Scans

If your protection history is missing, it may be due to corrupted system files. You can resolve this issue by running DISM and SFC scans. These scans will check and replace any damaged system files with the correct ones, without affecting your personal files.

1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and click “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

2. Copy the following command lines one by one. Then hit “Enter” to go on.

  • DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • sfc /scannow

dism-sfc

3. After the process, you can check whether these files’ file system has been fixed.

Fix 5. Uninstall Other Security Software

1. Start Control Panel on your PC. Click System and Security >Security and Maintenance.

security-and-maintenance

2. Go to Security by clicking the drop-down triangle on the right side.

Go Security

3. If you find any other security software listed here, proceed to uninstall them.

4. Reboot your computer to check your protection history again.

How to Recover Windows Defender Protection History Files?

After solving the issue of Windows Defender protection history missing, some users reported that they wanted to recover lost protection history files but didn't know how. A professional Windows data recovery program will be a good option. MyRecover is your second-to-none choice since it is efficient in data recovery in several aspects.

MyRecover
Professional Data Recovery Software
  • Have a high success rate, and fast speed to search recoverable files.
  • Support 200+ file types, enable to recover deleted Microsoft Word, PPT, Excel, ZIP, PDF, JPG, JPEG, etc.
  • Advanced scanning method: MyRecover will scan thoroughly and automatically to locate all the protection history files.
  • Enable file filtering and preview by Files Type, Size, Date, etc.
  • Compatible with Window 11/10/8/7 &Window Server.

Step 1. Download, install, and run MyRecover on your Windows. Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Scan D Disk

Step 2.MyRecover will scan your drive automatically and thoroughly to locate all the protection history files on the select drive. You can use the Search Box or the Filter feature to quickly locate the files you want.

Searvh ALBM Files

🌟Tip: Preview or filter your desired file based on Files Type (Documents, Image, etc.), Size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~ 512MB, 512MB above, etc.), Date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days).

Step 3. You will see a list of recoverable files that MyRecover found on your drive. Choose your desired protection history files to recover and choose Recover x files.

select-autocad-dwg-files-to-restore

Step 4. Select a new location to save the recovered files and click Select Folder to confirm it. Your files will be recovered in a few minutes or longer, depending on the amount of data you want to recover.

Select New Location

Notes:
  • Now, you could recover lost protection history files effortlessly. If you want to enjoy unlimited data recovery, please upgrade to the advanced editions.
  • If you are unable to recover lost protection history files with software or the situation is complicated, it's wise to seek help from data recovery services such as Geek Squad. They have skilled professionals and advanced equipment to handle even the toughest data recovery cases.

Conclusion

You can fix the issue of Windows 11 or 10 protection history empty easily using the above 5 ways. Additionally, the data recovery software MyRecover makes recovering your lost protection history effortless and efficient. It's worth trying.

Download Software Windows 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Remember, it's crucial to regularly back up your data and rely on a dependable storage device to minimize the risk of losing protection history files. Here we  recommend you to try this free and professional backup tool  like AOMEI Backupper Standard. When a crisis strikes, you'll be able to restore files from backups quickly and get your files back.

FAQs

1. Why is my protection history not showing up in Windows 11?

If your protection history is not showing up in Windows 11, it could be due to protection history settings, third-party antivirus software, Windows security database corruption, insufficient disk space, or Windows security issues.

2. How do I restore protection history in Windows 11?

You can review Windows Security Settings: Go to "Settings" > "Privacy & Security" > "Windows Security" and ensure that all relevant security settings are enabled and configured correctly.

3. How do you clear protection history?

  • Open Event Viewer.
  • Navigate to "Applications and Services Logs" > "Microsoft" > "Windows" > "Windows Defender."
  • Right-click "Operational" in the right pane.
  • Select "Clear Log..." and confirm.
Lori
Lori · Editor
Lori receives professional technical training since joining AOMEI, and aims at helping users troubleshoot problems on data recovery and protection. She focuses on simple, efficient and practical methods, and provides professional advice. Being able to help readers and users is her ultimate goal.