When your Windows 10 computer starts behaving strangely—slowing down, freezing, or acting unpredictably—you may suspect that it’s infected with a virus. While antivirus software is the first line of defense for most users, it’s entirely possible to remove a virus from Windows 10 without antivirus software. In this guide, we’ll walk you through How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus manually. Whether you don’t have antivirus software installed, or your existing antivirus software has failed to catch the infection, this step-by-step guide will help you regain control of your computer.
Why Would You Need to Remove a Virus Without Antivirus?
You might wonder why you’d need to remove a virus without antivirus software, especially when there are so many good options available. Here are a few reasons why this approach might be necessary:
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Antivirus Software is Inactive or Ineffective: Sometimes, your antivirus software might fail to detect a virus, or it could be turned off due to system issues.
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You Don’t Have Antivirus Installed: In some cases, you might not have antivirus software installed on your machine, or it may have expired.
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Malware Disables Antivirus Software: Some viruses are specifically designed to disable antivirus programs, making it impossible for them to do their job.
Whatever the reason, you can still manually remove the virus using built-in tools and other methods that can help restore your system to health.
How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus: Method 1 – Use Windows Defender Offline Scan
Windows Defender is Microsoft’s built-in antivirus tool, and it comes with a feature that can help you detect and remove viruses without the need for third-party antivirus software. Windows Defender can scan your system before the OS fully boots up, which helps in detecting viruses that might be hiding in memory.
Steps to Run Windows Defender Offline Scan:
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Open Windows Security: Click on the Start Menu and type Windows Security into the search bar. Select the app when it appears in the search results.
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Go to Virus & Threat Protection: In the Windows Security window, click on Virus & Threat Protection.
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Choose Scan Options: Under the Current Threats section, click Scan options.
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Select Offline Scan: From the list of scanning options, choose Microsoft Defender Offline Scan, and then click Scan now. Your computer will restart, and the tool will perform a deep scan before Windows 10 even loads, increasing the chances of catching viruses that are difficult to remove while the OS is running.
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Wait for the Scan to Complete: Once the scan is finished, Windows Defender will attempt to remove any malware it finds. Afterward, your computer will restart normally.
This method is highly effective for detecting and removing viruses that might be embedded in the system files or lurking in the background.
How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus: Method 2 – Boot in Safe Mode
Another effective method to remove viruses without antivirus software is to boot your computer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and programs, preventing malware from automatically loading and making it easier to delete infected files.
Steps to Boot into Safe Mode:
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Open the Settings Menu: Click the Start button and select Settings (the gear icon).
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Navigate to Recovery: In the Settings window, go to Update & Security > Recovery.
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Restart Your PC: Under the Advanced Startup section, click on Restart now. Your computer will restart, and you’ll be taken to a special menu.
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Choose Safe Mode: In the advanced startup menu, click on Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of startup options. Press F4 to enable Safe Mode.
Once your system is in Safe Mode, you can begin manually removing malicious files and programs. The virus should not be able to activate in this mode, making it easier to isolate and delete it.
How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus: Method 3 – Use Task Manager to Terminate Malicious Processes
Malware often runs in the background and can consume a lot of system resources. By using Task Manager, you can quickly spot suspicious processes that may be tied to the virus and terminate them before they can cause further harm.
Steps to Use Task Manager:
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Open Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
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Identify Suspicious Processes: Under the Processes tab, look for any suspicious or unfamiliar programs. If you notice a process that looks out of place, right-click on it and select Open File Location.
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Terminate the Process: If the file location looks suspicious, right-click on the process again and select End Task. Be cautious and make sure that you are not ending system-critical tasks.
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Delete the Associated Files: After stopping the malicious process, navigate to the file location and delete the associated files. If the file won’t delete, you may need to rename the file or use Safe Mode to remove it.
While Task Manager alone won’t completely remove all viruses, it is an essential step in manually stopping malware from running while you take further action.
How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus: Method 4 – Use System Restore
If you suspect that a virus has corrupted your system files or is causing instability, using System Restore can revert your computer to a previous point before the virus was installed.
Steps to Use System Restore:
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Open System Restore: Click on the Start Menu and type Create a restore point into the search bar. Select the System Properties option.
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Launch System Restore: In the System Properties window, click on System Restore. Follow the prompts to choose a restore point from before the infection occurred.
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Restore Your PC: Once you’ve selected a restore point, your computer will revert to that time, undoing any changes caused by the virus. The virus should no longer be present.
Be aware that using System Restore may remove recently installed applications and files, so make sure to back up important documents before proceeding.
How to Remove Virus from Windows 10 Without Antivirus: Method 5 – Manually Delete Temporary Files
Viruses often create temporary files that are stored in your system’s temporary folders. You can clear these files manually, which may remove some viruses and free up space.
Steps to Delete Temporary Files:
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Open the Run Dialog: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
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Access Temporary Files: Type
%temp%and press Enter. This will open the folder containing temporary files. -
Delete the Files: Select all the files in the folder (press Ctrl + A) and then press Delete. Some files may not delete, which is normal.
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Empty the Recycle Bin: Don’t forget to empty your Recycle Bin after deleting the files.
Removing temporary files can help clear out malware that’s hiding in your system.
Conclusion
If you’re facing a virus infection and don’t have antivirus software, you can still take steps to remove the malware from your Windows 10 computer. By using tools like Windows Defender, Safe Mode, and System Restore, you can detect and eliminate most viruses manually. In some cases, you might need to go a step further and delete suspicious files or use specialized tools to complete the removal.
While these steps can help, it’s always recommended to use a reputable antivirus solution for ongoing protection to prevent future infections. But in a pinch, knowing how to remove a virus from Windows 10 without antivirus can save your computer from further damage and keep your data safe.
