How To Uninstall Avast | Clean Removal Steps

To uninstall Avast, remove it through system app settings or use the Avast Uninstall Tool for a deeper clean.

Avast can protect a PC or phone, yet there comes a time when you want it gone. Maybe you switched to another antivirus, your trial ended, or you just want to free up resources again. Removing every trace of Avast the right way keeps Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS stable and ready for your next security app.

This guide walks through simple removal on each platform, then shows what to do when Avast refuses to leave. You will see the standard methods first, then the heavy-duty Avast Uninstall Tool, plus a few checks so no Avast services stay on the system in the background.

How To Uninstall Avast On Windows 11 And 10

On modern Windows, the cleanest way to uninstall Avast is through Apps & features. This method works for Avast Free Antivirus and for most Avast One and Avast Internet Security installs.

Method 1: Remove Avast Through Apps & Features

Start with the normal Windows removal flow. For many people this is enough.

Open Apps Settings — Right-click the Start button and pick Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10).
Find Avast — Scroll the list, then select your Avast product entry.
Start Uninstall — Click the three-dot menu or right-click the entry and choose Uninstall, then confirm once more.
Approve The Prompt — When User Account Control appears, choose Yes so Windows lets the Avast uninstaller run.
Pick Uninstall In Avast Setup — In the Avast setup window, select Uninstall and continue through the short wizard.
Restart Windows — When Avast finishes, reboot so Windows can stop any remaining drivers and services.

After the reboot, open the Start menu and type “Avast.” If nothing related shows up, the main program is gone. If you still see an Avast entry, move on to the Avast Uninstall Tool section later in this guide.

Method 2: Use Programs And Features On Older Windows

Windows 7 and some older Windows 10 builds still rely on the classic Control Panel for many tasks. The Avast removal flow stays similar.

Open Programs And Features — Press Windows + X and select Programs and Features, or search for it from the Start menu.
Select Avast — Highlight Avast Free Antivirus or the Avast suite you want to remove.
Launch The Uninstaller — Click Uninstall on the toolbar above the list.
Confirm Permissions — Approve the User Account Control prompt so the setup window can load.
Choose Uninstall — In the Avast setup window, pick Uninstall and wait for the process to reach 100%.
Reboot When Asked — Restart Windows to finish the uninstall.

Use The Avast Uninstall Tool When Standard Removal Fails

Sometimes Avast will not uninstall through Windows settings. The setup might say that it is already running, or the progress bar freezes. In those cases the dedicated Avast Uninstall Tool, also called Avast Clear, is the safest way forward.

You can download the official tool from Avast’s own uninstall article for Windows, which explains that the utility runs in Safe Mode and cleans leftover files and drivers in one pass.

Download The Tool — Get avast_clear.exe from the official Avast uninstall tool guide and save it to your Downloads folder.
Run As Administrator — Right-click avast_clear.exe and select Run as administrator.
Allow Safe Mode Reboot — When the Avast Uninstall Tool offers to restart in Safe Mode, choose the reboot option.
Choose The Avast Product — In Safe Mode, pick the installed Avast product from the list. The default location is usually detected automatically.
Start Removal — Click Remove or Uninstall, then wait while the tool removes files, services, and drivers.
Restart Again — When prompted, restart Windows one more time to complete the clean-up.

If Avast had trouble uninstalling because the setup was “already running,” open Avast first, go to its menu, disable any self-defense option in the Troubleshooting area, then repeat the steps for the uninstall tool.

When To Prefer The Avast Uninstall Tool

The tool takes a little more time because of Safe Mode and two restarts. In return, it handles stubborn installs that normal methods leave behind, such as broken upgrades, locked files, or partial removals after a crash.

Method	Device Type	Best Use Case
Apps & features	Windows 10 / 11	Standard uninstall on a healthy system
Programs and Features	Windows 7 / older builds	Legacy Windows where Apps & features is missing
Avast Uninstall Tool	Windows (all)	Failed uninstalls, error messages, or registry leftovers

How To Uninstall Avast On Mac

Dragging Avast from Applications to the Trash does not remove every component. Avast for Mac includes system extensions that need its own uninstaller. Avast’s Mac Security article follows the same pattern: run the app first, then trigger the built-in uninstall menu.

Open Avast Security — In Finder, choose Applications, then double-click Avast Security.
Open The Menu Bar Item — With Avast active, click Avast Security in the macOS menu bar at the top of the screen.
Choose Uninstall Avast Security — Pick the uninstall option from the drop-down list.
Confirm Removal — In the uninstaller window, click Continue and enter your Mac administrator password when asked.
Wait For The Process To Finish — The uninstaller removes the app, background items, and system extensions.
Click Finish And Restart If Needed — Some versions ask for a reboot to release loaded components.

After uninstalling through the menu, open Finder and check /Applications and your ~/Library folder for leftover Avast folders. If you still see large data folders that carry the Avast name, move them to the Trash and empty it.

Tips For A Clean Avast Removal On Mac

Quit Avast First — Use the menu bar icon or Dock menu to quit Avast before running its uninstaller.
Keep Time Machine Up To Date — A fresh backup gives you a way back if you remove the wrong file.
Avoid Manual Deletion Of Extensions — Deleting kernel extensions by hand can lead to boot issues, so rely on the official uninstaller whenever possible.

How To Remove Avast On Android And Ios

Mobile Avast apps remove more easily than desktop versions. The process still matters though, especially if you plan to install a different security app afterwards.

Uninstall Avast Mobile Security On Android

Open Settings — On your Android phone, go to the main Settings app.
Find Apps — Tap Apps or Apps & notifications, then open the full app list.
Select Avast — Choose Avast Mobile Security from the list.
Tap Uninstall — Press Uninstall, then confirm on the pop-up prompt.
Restart The Phone — After removal, reboot the device to release cached services.

Uninstall Avast Secure Apps On Ios

Find The Avast Icon — Locate the Avast Secure Browser or Avast Security icon on your Home Screen.
Delete The App — Touch and hold the icon, tap Remove App, then choose Delete App.
Check Profiles — Open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and remove any leftover Avast configuration profile.

Once the app disappears from your Home Screen and Settings list, the mobile client is no longer active. Any VPN profile you removed will stop routing traffic through Avast services.

Fix Common Avast Uninstall Problems

Most Avast removals finish in a few minutes. When problems appear, they tend to follow a small set of patterns. Work through the most relevant case for your situation.

“Setup Is Already Running” Or The Uninstall Window Never Closes

Wait A Few Minutes — Avast often updates virus definitions after you log in, and the setup task can block removal until it finishes.
End Avast Tasks — Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, choose Avast items, and select End task.
Turn Off Self-Defense — Inside Avast settings, clear the self-defense check box in the Troubleshooting area so the uninstall tool can stop its services.
Use The Avast Uninstall Tool — When standard removal hangs, run avast_clear.exe in Safe Mode as shown earlier.

Avast Asks For A Password You Never Set

Check For Avast Account Lock — If your Avast install is linked with an online account, log in there and see whether a password lock was turned on.
Boot Into Safe Mode — Start Windows in Safe Mode with networking, then run the Avast Uninstall Tool to bypass normal desktop controls.
Contact Avast Through Its Help Pages — If the password lock blocks you, use the contact options on the Avast website from another device.

Windows Still Shows Avast As The Active Antivirus

After you uninstall Avast, Windows Security may still think a third-party antivirus is present. Microsoft’s Windows Security article explains that Defender usually turns itself back on when no other antivirus is registered.

Open Windows Security — From the Start menu, search for Windows Security and launch it.
Check Virus & Threat Protection — Check the status line. If Avast still appears there, restart once more.
Turn On Microsoft Defender — If the section shows that no antivirus is active, choose the option to enable Microsoft Defender Antivirus. You can read more about this in the official Windows Security guidance.

Leftover Avast Files After Uninstall

Check Program Files Folders — In File Explorer, open C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) and look for Avast folders.
Clear AppData — Type %ProgramData% into the address bar and review any Avast entries before deleting them.
Scan With Another Antivirus — After manual clean-up, run a scan with your next antivirus or with Microsoft Defender to confirm that no active Avast drivers remain.

What To Do After You Uninstall Avast

Once Avast is gone, your device should not stay unprotected for long. Pick a plan for each platform so real-time protection is running again.

Use Built-In Protection On Windows — On Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft Defender Antivirus usually turns on automatically when no other antivirus exists.
Review macOS Security Settings — On a Mac, check System Settings > Privacy & Security for Gatekeeper settings and any other security tools you trust.
Enable Google Play Protect — On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, and check that Play Protect scanning is on.
Rely On Built-In Ios Defenses — iOS includes many layers of sandboxing and app review. Keep the system updated and install apps only from the App Store.
Install A New Antivirus If You Prefer — If you want another antivirus suite, install it only after Avast is fully removed so two products do not clash.

A careful uninstall of Avast keeps Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS stable and ready for the next security step. Take a minute to confirm that each device has either its built-in protection running or a trusted replacement, then carry on with normal work.