Microsoft changes Windows Defender Path on Windows 10

A recent update for Windows Defender to version 4.12.17007.17123 changed the path of the built-in antivirus software on Windows 10 devices.
Microsoft changed the paths the of the Windows Defender Antivirus service component MsMpEng.exe and the Network Realtime Inspection service component NisSrv.exe, as well as the path of Windows Defender Antivirus drivers.
The change affects machines running Windows 10 version 1703 and newer on Windows 10 Home, Pro and Enterprise machines.
Microsoft moved the files MsMpEng.exe and NisSrv.exe from %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\, and Windows Defender Antivirus drivers from %Windir%\System32\drivers to %Windir%\System32\drivers\wd.
The support page KB4052623 confirms the update, but does not provide explanation why the change was made. Windows 10 Home, Pro and Enterprise, and Windows Server 2016 are affected by the change according to Microsoft.
This article describes an antimalware platform update package for Windows Defender for the following operating systems: Windows 10 (Enterprise, Pro, and Home), Windows Server 2016.
Because of a change in the file path location in the latest update (Antimalware Client Version: 4.12.17007.17123)..
The change did cause issues with Windows 10's AppLocker functionality, and that is the main reason why Microsoft published the support article.
According to Microsoft's information, the path change could cause AppLocker to block many downloads on the Windows machine.
The company published a workaround that requires that administrators set the following path %OSDrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\* in the Group Policy.
The update may cause another rare issue according to Microsoft on systems on which Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection runs together with Windows Defender Antivirus. Systems may be put into "passive mode" during installation of the update which disables real-time protection.
Administrators need to delete the PassiveMode value in the Windows Registry under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender to resolve the issue. Microsoft notes that it may be necessary to take ownership of the Windows Defender subkey, and to enable full access to the user account to do so.
The following table lists the affected components, and the old and new storage location.
Component | Old location | New location |
Windows Defender Antivirus service (MsMpEng.exe) Network Realtime Inspection service (NisSrv.exe) |
%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender | %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\<Version> |
Windows Defender Antivirus drivers | %Windir%\System32\drivers | %Windir%\System32\drivers\wd |
Closing Words
It is unclear at this point in time why Microsoft made the Windows Defender path changes in first place. (via Deskmodder)


What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help