Eliminate Windows Defender Error Code 0x8050800c on Windows 10

by | Nov 11, 2019 | Windows Defender |

Windows Defender is a built-in defense against viruses, malware, spyware, and all other forms of external threats. But a few numbers of users are experiencing Windows Defender error code 0x8050800c while using this security feature. 

As a result, Windows 10 users fail to scan their PC for malicious programs. It seems to be a big problem when Windows Defender can’t carry its function and make your computer vulnerable to external threats. 

Thus, you need to fix this issue as soon as possible. This article has discussed all the possible ways of removing this error. 

Methods to Fix Windows Defender Error Code 0x8050800c on Windows 10 PC

Here are some simple tricks that you can try to get rid of this concerning issue.

Method 1: Install Pending Windows Updates for your PC

Since this solution has worked with several users, you can give it a try in the first place. You can update your Windows Operating System through the following steps:

  1. Go to the Start menu and open the Settings app. 
  2. Click ‘Update and Security’ and select Windows Update on the left pane. 
  3. Tap the ‘Check for Updates’ button and wait for Windows to check the pending updates. 
  4. Windows will display if there are pending updates for your PC. 
  5. Click the ‘Install’ button to get the available updates for your Windows. 
  6. After installing all the updates, choose the ‘Restart’ option from the Start menu. 
  7. After the system restarts, run Windows Defender to ensure that you are no longer getting an error. 

Method 2: Disable Periodic Scanning

  1. Choose Settings from the Start menu or press the Windows key and ‘I’ simultaneously to open the Settings window. 
  2. Type ‘Windows Defender’ in the search box and press ‘Enter.’
  3. Select Windows Defender from the search results and move the toggle for Periodic Scanning. 
  4. Now, run Windows Defender and select the ‘Turn On’ option. 

You won’t come across the Windows Defender error code 0x8050800c if it as occurring due to Periodic Scanning. 

Method 3: Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus

If you are running any third-party antivirus, then there are chances of having issues with Windows Defender. So, uninstall such antivirus and see whether it solves the problem or not. Here we have discussed the overall uninstallation process:

  1. Choose ‘Settings’ from the Start menu and click ‘System’ under it. 
  2. Now navigate to ‘Apps’ and loom for the installed applications. 
  3. If you find a third-party antivirus, then right-click on it and select ‘Uninstall’ from the context menu. 
  4. Click ‘OK’ on the resulting popup to proceed and run Windows Defender after the uninstallation is completed. 

Some antiviruses install multiple files in various system locations and thus, it becomes difficult to uninstall those security programs. If you encounter the same difficulty, then remove the leftover files with a software removal tool. Proceed to the next method if the error continues to appear on your PC.

Method 4: Clean Windows Registry

It is not advisable to edit Windows Registry still, we have explained the process for your convenience. 

  1. Press the Windows key and ‘R’ at the same time to open the Run dialog box. 
  2. Type ‘Regedit’ into the Run application and click ‘OK’ to launch Registry Editor. 
  3. Navigate to the path: ‘HKLM\software\microsoft\windows nt\current version\profilelist.’
  4. Open each key branch and you will find multiple values on the right-hand pane of the Registry window. 
  5. Search for ‘profileimagepath’ and check its value. 
  6. If the aforesaid registry entry displays the “S-1-5-…” branch, then move to the next entry.
  7. Right-click on a blank space on the Registry Editor window and choose ‘New’ from the drop-down menu. 
  8. Then add Multi-string Value and a new item will appear with the name ‘New Value #1.’. 
  9. Enter the new value in the search field of the Registry Editor so that it can read profileimagepath. 
  10. Close the Registry Editor window and restart the system. 
  11. Reopen Windows Defender to scan your PC without any error. 

Method 5: Scan for Corrupted Files

  1. Type ‘cmd’ into the Windows search bar and hit ‘Enter.’
  2. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Start menu and select ‘Command Prompt’ from the popup menu. 
  3. As Command Prompt appears in the search result, right-click on it and select ‘Run as Administrator.’
  4. Copy-paste the command: ‘DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth’ into the elevated command and press ‘Enter’ to execute it. 
  5. Type ‘sfc/scannow’ in another Command Prompt and press ‘Enter’ to launch the System File Checker tool. 
  6. The tool scans your PC and displays a message if it contains any corrupted file. 
  7. If you want, then the tool will repair the corrupted files as well. 

Method 6: Perform a Clean Boot

It is the last attempt to handle technical glitches resulting in Windows Defender error code 0x8050800c. Use the following steps to perform a clean boot:

  1. Enter ‘misconfig’ into the Windows search box and choose ‘System Configuration’ from the search result. 
  2. Navigate to the ‘Services’ tab and check ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ box. 
  3. Select the ‘Disable All’ option and move to the ‘Startup’ tab. 
  4. Then select ‘Open Task Manager’ from the submenu and select all items on the Task Manager window. 
  5. Tap the ‘Disable’ button and click ‘OK’ below. 
  6. Exit the Task Manager window and then the System Configuration window. 
  7. Reboot your PC and use Windows Defender without an error.

After trying out the above methods, Windows Defender will identify the malicious programs in real-time and secure your confidential documents.