Policy

Randomize scheduled task times

This policy setting allows you to configure the randomization of the scheduled scan start time and the scheduled definition update start time. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, and did not set a randomization window in the Configure scheduled task time randomization window setting , then randomization will be added between 0-4 hours. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, and set a randomization window in the Configure scheduled task time randomization window setting, the configured randomization window will be used. If you disable this policy setting, but configured the scheduled task time randomization window, randomization will not be done.

Policy
Pack Microsoft Windows
Category Windows Components / Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Policy ID ed035f97db52
Internal name RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes

Registry

Copy registry mappings

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes (enabled) = 1
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes (disabled) = 0

Policy notes

This policy setting allows you to configure the randomization of the scheduled scan start time and the scheduled definition update start time. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, and did not set a randomization window in the Configure scheduled task time randomization window setting , then randomization will be added between 0-4 hours. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, and set a randomization window in the Configure scheduled task time randomization window setting, the configured randomization window will be used. If you disable this policy setting, but configured the scheduled task time randomization window, randomization will not be done.

Related policies

Allow antimalware service to remain running alwaysAllow antimalware service to startup with normal priorityConfigure detection for potentially unwanted applicationsConfigure local administrator merge behavior for listsConfigure scheduled task times randomization windowControl whether exclusions are visible to local usersControl whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins