Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes for Windows is an anti-malware application that scans a Windows PC for malware, adware, spyware, trojans and potentially unwanted programs, then quarantines what it finds. This page explains, in plain English, what the Windows version does, how the free scanner differs from the paid tier, and how it fits alongside the security tools Windows already ships with.
This is an independent resource. We do not host installers and we are not the Malwarebytes support desk — everything here is written to help Windows users understand the software before and after they use it.
What Malwarebytes does on a Windows PC
The Windows application combines a signature database with behavior-based detection engines. Instead of only matching known file hashes, it looks at how a program behaves once it runs: what it writes to the registry, which processes it spawns, whether it tries to hook into the browser. That approach is why it is often described as an anti-malware scanner rather than a classic antivirus.
- Scans local drives, memory, startup items and the Windows registry
- Detects adware and potentially unwanted programs that traditional antivirus often ignores
- Moves detections into quarantine so they can be reviewed or restored
- Offers scheduled scans and, on the paid tier, continuous real-time protection
Malwarebytes Free for Windows
The free version is a manual scanner. You start a scan, it reports what it finds, and you decide what to quarantine. There is no always-on shield after the initial trial period ends, so the free tier is best understood as a second-opinion cleanup tool you run when something feels wrong with the PC.
That role is genuinely useful. If a browser suddenly opens new tabs, a toolbar appeared that you never installed, or the machine slowed down after a software bundle, a manual scan with Malwarebytes Free will often surface the cause even when the resident antivirus reported nothing.
Malwarebytes Premium for Windows
The paid tier adds real-time layers: web protection that blocks known malicious domains, exploit mitigation for browsers and Office applications, ransomware behavior monitoring, and scheduled automatic scans. For a household PC used for banking, work documents or gaming, those layers are the practical difference between finding malware after the fact and blocking it at the moment of contact. See our Malwarebytes Premium overview for a feature-by-feature breakdown.
System requirements
The current Windows build targets Windows 11 and Windows 10 on 64-bit hardware. Older releases supported Windows 7 and 8.1, but those lines no longer receive Microsoft security updates, which limits how much any scanner can protect them.
| Item | Practical requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Any modern 64-bit CPU (800 MHz or faster) |
| Memory | 2 GB minimum; 4 GB or more is realistic |
| Disk space | Around 250 MB free |
| Connection | Internet access for database updates |
How it works with Windows Security
Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) is the built-in antivirus in Windows 10 and 11. Malwarebytes registers itself so the two can coexist, and many people run Windows Security as the resident antivirus while using Malwarebytes for on-demand cleanup. Running two full real-time engines can cause CPU contention, so if you enable Premium's real-time protection, watch performance for a few days before adding a third security suite. Our comparison of Malwarebytes and Windows Security covers the trade-offs.
Where to start
- New to the software: what Malwarebytes is and how it works
- Setting it up: install Malwarebytes on Windows
- Cleaning an infected PC: Malwarebytes virus removal
- Choosing a tier: free vs premium
Frequently asked questions
Is Malwarebytes an antivirus?
It is marketed as anti-malware with antivirus capability. The paid tier includes real-time web, exploit and ransomware protection, which is enough for most home users to treat it as their main security application on Windows.
Can I run Malwarebytes and Windows Security together?
Yes. The two are designed to coexist on Windows 10 and 11. If you turn on real-time protection in both, monitor CPU and disk usage for a few days to make sure the machine still feels responsive.
Does Malwarebytes work on Windows 7?
Older builds supported Windows 7, but Microsoft no longer issues security updates for it, so unpatched operating-system flaws remain exploitable regardless of which scanner you install.
Malware-Bytes.net is an independent information resource about malware protection for Windows. We are not Malwarebytes, and this site is not the official Malwarebytes website or support channel. Malwarebytes is a trademark of Malwarebytes Inc.