Fix: You Need a New App to Open Windows Defender Link

When you try to launch Windows Security, you may sometimes get a strange alert that says you need a new app to open the Windows Defender link. This issue can affect both Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. Try restarting your computer and check if that changes anything. If the alert persists, follow the troubleshooting steps below.

My PC Says I Need a New App to Open Windows Defender Link

Reset Windows Security

Try resetting the Windows Security app and check if this quick solution solves the problem.

Launch Powershell with administrator rights and run the following command:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage

Then, restart your machine, go to Windows Security, and check if you’re still getting the same alert.

Register All AppX Packages

Use PowerShell to register all AppX packages. The commands to use may vary depending on your Windows version.

If you’re running Windows 11, launch PowerShell as an admin and run the commands below one by one:

• Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
• Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
• Set-ExecutionPolicy restricted

If you’re running Windows 10, you need to run the following commands:

• Add-AppxPackage -Register -DisableDevelopmentMode "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppXManifest.xml"
• Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage

Relaunch Windows Security and check the results. If you’re still getting the same prompt, restart your computer and try again.

Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Tools

Running two antivirus programs on your machine will lead to software conflicts. Uninstall all third-party security tools. Make sure Windows Security is the only antivirus running on your machine.

Go to Control Panel, click on Uninstall a Program and remove third-party security programs. Restart your computer, and check if you can launch Windows Security.

Check for Updates

Make sure to update Windows Security and your OS to the latest version. Go to Settings, click on Windows Update, and click on Check for updates. Wait until your computer installs the latest updates, and then restart it.

Conclusion

If Windows says, you need a new app to open the WindowsDefender link, launch PowerShell and reset the Windows Security app. Make sure to install all the AppX packages as well. Additionally, remove third-party security programs and install the latest updates.

Did you manage to solve the problem and launch Windows Security? Let us know in the comments below.