What tick checking actually does

A tick check is a scan your device runs to look for ticks — small parasites that attach to skin and can carry disease. The term comes from the physical act of checking your body for ticks after being outdoors, and some device manufacturers borrowed the name for security scans that work the same way: they search through your system looking for unwanted programs or files that shouldn't be there.

When you run a tick check, your device examines files, running programs, and system settings against a list of known threats. If it finds something that matches, it flags it or removes it. This is different from a general antivirus scan, which looks for many types of threats at once. A tick check is narrower and faster — it hunts for one specific category of problem.

The term is most common in Australia and New Zealand, where it appears in device settings and support documentation. In North America and Europe, the same function is usually called a "malware scan" or "security scan". The function is identical regardless of what your device calls it.

Key Takeaways

  • A tick check scans your device for unwanted programs and files, similar to how you would physically check your body for ticks after being outside.
  • The scan compares files on your device against a list of known threats and flags or removes anything that matches.
  • Running a tick check takes anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how many files your device has and how thorough the scan is set to be.
  • You can usually schedule tick checks to run automatically at a time when you are not using your device, so they do not slow down your work.
  • A tick check is one part of device security, but it works best alongside other habits like keeping your operating system updated and not opening attachments from unknown senders.

Where to find the tick check on your device

On Windows, the tick check function is built into Windows Defender, which comes with every copy of Windows. Open the Start menu, type "Windows Defender" or "Windows Security", and click the result. Inside, look for "Virus and threat protection" on the left side. Click it, then click "Scan options" to choose how thorough you want the scan to be.

On Mac, the built-in security system does not have a tick check you run manually — instead, it scans files automatically in the background when they are first opened. If you want a more thorough scan, you can read a third-party tool like Malwarebytes for Mac, which offers a manual scan similar to Windows Defender's tick check.

On iPhone and iPad, Apple does not provide a tick check function because the operating system is designed to prevent most threats from running in the first place. If you are concerned about a specific app, you can delete it and reinstall it from the App Store, which will read a fresh copy that has passed Apple's review process.

On Android, the Google Play Protect service scans apps automatically, but you can also run a manual scan. Open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, select "Manage apps and device", click the "Manage" tab, and look for "Play Protect". Tap it, then tap "Scan" to run a manual check.

How to run a tick check step by step

On Windows, open Windows Security from the Start menu. Click "Virus and threat protection" on the left. Under "Current threats", you will see "Scan options". Click it to see four choices: Quick scan, Full scan, Custom scan, and Offline scan. A Quick scan takes a few minutes and checks the most common locations where threats hide. A Full scan checks every file on your device and can take an hour or more. Start with Quick scan unless you have a specific reason to believe something is wrong.

Click whichever scan type you chose. Windows will begin scanning when ready. You can close the window and use your device normally while the scan runs in the background, though your device may run slower. When the scan finishes, Windows will show you a summary. If it found anything, it will tell you what it found and what action it took — usually quarantine (moving the file to a safe location where it cannot run) or deletion.

On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select "Manage apps and device", click "Manage", find "Play Protect", and tap "Scan". The scan usually takes less than a minute. If Play Protect finds an app it considers unsafe, it will show you the app name and offer to uninstall it. You can choose to uninstall or ignore the warning, though ignoring warnings from Play Protect is not recommended.

What to do if a tick check finds something

If Windows Defender finds a threat during a tick check, it usually handles it automatically — most threats are quarantined (moved to a safe folder where they cannot run) or deleted. You will see a notification telling you what was found and what action was taken. In most cases, you do not need to do anything else. If the threat was in a program you use regularly, you may need to reinstall that program from its official source.

If the same threat appears in multiple tick checks, or if your device starts behaving strangely after a tick check (running slowly, crashing, losing files), the threat may have damaged something before it was caught. In that case, restart your device and run another tick check. If the problem continues, you may need to contact technical support or consider a full reinstall of your operating system, though this is rare.

On Android, if Play Protect flags an app, you have the choice to uninstall it when ready or leave it installed. If you trust the app and believe the warning is a false alarm, you can tap "Ignore" and keep using it. However, if you are not sure what the app does or where it came from, uninstalling is the safer choice. You can always reinstall it later from the Play Store if you change your mind.

How often you should run a tick check

Most devices run tick checks automatically in the background without you having to do anything. Windows Defender runs scans on a schedule you can set yourself — by default, it scans weekly. If you want to change when this happens, open Windows Security, click "Virus and threat protection", scroll down to "Virus and threat protection settings", and click "Manage settings". You can turn on "Scheduled scan" and choose a day and time when your device is usually on but you are not using it.

You should run a manual tick check (a Quick scan) if your device starts behaving strangely — running slowly, showing unexpected pop-ups, or crashing frequently. You should also run one if you downloaded a file from an untrusted source or opened an email attachment from someone you do not know. In normal circumstances, letting the automatic scans run is enough.

Do not run tick checks constantly throughout the day. Frequent scans use battery power on laptops and mobile devices, and they slow down your device while they run. Once a week for automatic scans, plus a manual scan when something seems wrong, is the right balance between security and usability.

Tick checks versus other types of security scans

A tick check is one tool among several that protect your device. It looks specifically for malware — programs designed to harm your device or steal your information. Other security tools look for different threats. A firewall blocks unwanted network connections. A phishing filter warns you about fake websites designed to steal passwords. Parental controls limit what content a device can access. None of these replace a tick check, and a tick check does not replace any of them.

Some third-party security software offers "comprehensive" scans that claim to do everything at once. These are usually slower and more resource-intensive than the built-in tick checks that come with your device. For most people, the tick check built into Windows Defender, Google Play Protect, or your device's native security system is sufficient. Third-party tools are worth considering only if you have a specific reason to believe your device has a serious problem that the built-in scan missed.

Why tick checks sometimes miss threats

A tick check can only find threats that are already in its database of known malware. If someone creates a new threat that has not been seen before, the tick check will not recognize it. This is called a "zero-day" threat, and it is rare but possible. This is why keeping your operating system and apps updated is important — updates often include information about new threats that tick checks can then recognize.

Tick checks also cannot protect you from threats that come from your own choices. If you read a file from an unsafe website, or if you give an app permission to access your contacts or location, a tick check cannot undo that. The best protection is a combination of tick checks, keeping your device updated, and being cautious about what you read and what permissions you grant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does running a tick check delete my files?

A tick check only deletes files it identifies as threats. If it deletes something you need, it is usually because that file was actually malware, or because the file was infected with malware and became unsafe to keep. If you are worried about losing important files, back them up before running a full scan, though this is rarely necessary.

Can I use my device while a tick check is running?

Yes, but your device will run slower while the scan is happening. The scan uses processing power to examine files, which means less power is available for other tasks. For this reason, it is best to run tick checks when you are not actively working — overnight, during lunch, or whenever your device is plugged in and you do not need it for other things.

What does it mean if a tick check finds nothing?

It means no threats matching the scan's database were found on your device. This is the normal result and means your device is clean. However, it does not mean your device is completely safe — it means no known malware was detected. New threats that are not yet in the database could still be present, which is why keeping your device updated is important.

How long does a tick check take?

A Quick scan usually takes two to five minutes. A Full scan can take thirty minutes to over an hour, depending on how many files your device has and how fast your storage drive is. Custom scans take as long as needed to check only the folders you selected. You can see an estimate of remaining time in the scan window.

Is a tick check the same as a virus scan?

A tick check is a type of virus scan, but the terms are not always used the same way. "Virus scan" is a general term for any scan that looks for malicious software. "Tick check" is a specific term, more common in Australia and New Zealand, that refers to the same function. They do the same job with different names.