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Running a scan on Windows

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Sophos Home Support
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Applies to Sophos Home for Windows

How does Sophos Home's scan feature work?

Computers running Sophos Home are protected by its real-time features, which detect and stop threats as they try to access the system. Users can also run manual scans on their devices, or specific files/folders, to ensure systems are healthy when an infection is suspected.

  • A full system scan thoroughly checks all files and folders on your computer for potential threats. This process could take some time, depending on the number of files on your system.
    If using external drives, consider removing them and scanning them with a right-click scan at a later time instead.
  • A Fast Scan inspects system files , and will focus on system integrity.

Scans can be initiated in different ways and locations. See below for options:

How to scan your Windows device with Sophos Home

Fast Scan via Sophos Home Dashboard

  1. Access your Sophos Home Dashboard
  2. Click the computer that you wish to scan.
  3. Click the Scan button to start the scan on the computer, and then click Scan again when presented with the device offline message.
    Sophos Home Dashboard - Computer view:
    mceclip0.png

    Offline message (this appears by default):
    offline reminder.png
    Note: The message "If the device is offline it will be scanned when it is back online." is a static message and will not change. It is there to let you know that "IF" your device is offline when you press the scan button, the scan will start once your computer is back online. 
    If your device is currently online the scan will start after a few seconds.
  4. Upon completion, the scan will appear on your Sophos Home Dashboard under New Activity tab:
    mceclip0.png

Full and Fast Scans via the Antivirus

The Scan Computer button performs a Fast Scan, which  inspects system files , and will focus on system integrity. It can also triggera Full Scan that inspects all files and folders in your computer when clicking on the dropdown arrow.

  1. Double-click on the Sophos Home shield on the system tray.
    mceclip1.png

  2. Click on the arrow next to the Scan computer button to reveal the Full Scan option, or click Scan to start a Fast scan.


     

  3. A scan progress window will appear and provide details of completion when finished
    mceclip1.png

Right-Click Scan

A right-click scan allows to perform on-demand scans on files, folders and drives, including external drives.

  1. Open File Explorer or Navigate to the Folder location you want to scan
    1.png
  2. Right-click on This PC  to scan your system, OR  on any file or folder you wish to scan in the left panel then select Scan with Sophos Home. 
    IMPORTANT: Windows 11 users must click Show More options (or Shift-Right-Click on the file/folder) to find the option.
    2.png
  3. Accept the user account control message:
    mceclip0.png
     
  4. A scan progress window will appear and provide details of completion when finished
    mceclip1.png

Scheduling scans

  1. Sign in to your Sophos Home dashboard.
  2. Click the computer that you wish to scan.
  3. Navigate to PROTECTION ---> General --> Scheduled scan
  4. Click on the slider to enable the scan and choose the desired date/time.mceclip1.png
  5. Upon completion, the scan will appear in your Sophos Home Dashboard 

    Note: Scheduled scans will show on the Sophos Home dashboard on completion - The computer must be connected to the internet and not asleep for the scan to take place. If the machine is offline/asleep, then the scheduled scan will not run. Another scan will be attempted on the next scheduled day/time. 


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