How to Disable or Turn Off Avast Secure Browser

Avast Secure Browser is a Chromium-based web browser that often installs alongside Avast Antivirus. If you prefer your default browser or simply want it off your system, this guide walks you through uninstalling it completely on Windows and macOS, and also covers how to stop it from launching if you only want to disable it temporarily.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator rights on your computer (required to uninstall software).
• Your Avast account credentials if you want to stop it from reinstalling later (optional but recommended).
• About 10 minutes of your time.

Step-by-Step

On Windows 10 and Windows 11

1. Close the browser completely. Make sure no Avast Secure Browser windows are open. Check the system tray (bottom-right corner) for any lingering icons and right-click them to exit.
2. Open Windows Settings. Press Windows + I on your keyboard, or click the Start button and select the gear icon.
3. Go to Apps. Click on Apps (or Apps & features on older builds).
4. Find Avast Secure Browser. Scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to type “Avast Secure Browser.”
5. Click Uninstall. Click the three-dot menu next to the entry (or just click the app name) and select Uninstall.
6. Confirm the prompt. Windows will ask for confirmation. Click Uninstall again.
7. Complete the uninstaller wizard. Avast’s own uninstaller may open. Follow the on-screen prompts. It might ask why you’re uninstalling—choose any reason and click Uninstall.
8. Restart your computer. After the process finishes, restart to ensure all files and background services are removed.

On macOS

1. Quit the browser. Right-click the Avast Secure Browser icon in the Dock and select Quit, or press Cmd + Q.
2. Open Finder. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
3. Go to Applications. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
4. Drag to Trash. Locate Avast Secure Browser, drag it to the Trash (in your Dock), or right-click and choose Move to Trash.
5. Empty the Trash. Right-click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash. You may need to enter your administrator password.
6. Remove leftover files (optional). Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, type ~/Library/Application Support, and look for an “Avast” folder. Delete it if it exists. Repeat for ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Caches—look for anything with “Avast” in the name.

To prevent it from reinstalling (Windows only)

1. Open Avast Antivirus. Double-click the Avast icon in the system tray.
2. Go to Settings. Click the gear icon (usually top-right) and select General.
3. Find the browser option. Look for a section called “Avast Secure Browser” or “Browser protection.”
4. Uncheck the install option. Uncheck any box that says “Install Avast Secure Browser” or “Offer Avast Secure Browser.”
5. Save changes. Click OK or Save.

Common Mistakes

• Not closing the browser first. If the browser is running, the uninstaller may fail or leave files behind.
• Skipping the restart. Some background services (like scheduled tasks) may keep running until you reboot.
• Only deleting the desktop shortcut. Removing the icon from your desktop does not uninstall the program.
• Ignoring Avast’s own uninstaller. The Windows uninstaller may pause and ask you to confirm via a pop-up—if you miss it, the process hangs.
• Not disabling auto-install in Avast. If you leave the option enabled, Avast may reinstall the browser on the next update.

Tips

• Set your default browser before uninstalling. If Avast Secure Browser is your default, Windows will ask you to choose a new default browser after removal. Pick one beforehand to avoid confusion.
• Export your bookmarks first. If you have saved bookmarks in Avast Secure Browser, open the browser, press Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + O (Mac), click the three-dot menu, and choose Export bookmarks. Save the HTML file.
• Use a dedicated uninstaller tool. If the normal uninstall fails, tools like Revo Uninstaller (free version) can remove leftover registry entries.
• Check scheduled tasks. On Windows, open Task Scheduler and look for any tasks named “Avast” that might re-launch the browser.

Troubleshooting

Uninstall button is grayed out or missing. This usually means the browser is running in the background. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Processes tab, find “Avast Secure Browser,” right-click and select End task. Then try again.

The uninstaller hangs or freezes. Wait a few minutes—sometimes it’s waiting for a confirmation dialog that’s hidden behind another window. If it stays stuck, restart your PC in Safe Mode (press Shift while clicking Restart, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > 4) and uninstall from there.

Avast Secure Browser reappears after reboot. This means Avast Antivirus re-installed it. Open Avast, go to Settings > General, and uncheck the browser installation option. Also check Settings > Protection > Core Shields and look for any “Browser” toggle that might be forcing it.

Files remain after uninstall. Manually delete the leftover folders. On Windows, press Windows + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA% and delete the “AvastBrowser” folder. Also check %APPDATA% and %PROGRAMFILES% for Avast folders. On Mac, use the Library paths mentioned earlier.

Your default browser is not being recognized. After uninstalling, go to Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps and set your preferred browser (like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) as the default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Avast Secure Browser safe to uninstall? Yes. It is a standalone web browser. Removing it does not affect your antivirus protection. Avast Antivirus will continue to work normally.

Will uninstalling the browser delete my passwords and bookmarks? Yes, unless you export them first. The uninstaller removes all local data, including saved passwords, bookmarks, and history.

Why did Avast Secure Browser install without my permission? It often comes bundled with Avast Antivirus updates or as a “recommended” component during installation. You can prevent future installs by disabling the option in Avast’s settings as described above.

Can I just disable it instead of uninstalling? There is no official “disable” switch for the browser itself. You can prevent it from starting automatically by changing your default browser and removing any desktop shortcuts, but the program files remain. Uninstalling is the only complete way to turn it off.

Will uninstalling Avast Secure Browser slow down my computer? No, it will likely speed it up slightly, as the browser runs background processes even when not in use.

Does Avast Secure Browser share my data with Avast? The browser is developed by the same company, and its privacy policy allows data collection for analytics and advertising. Uninstalling it removes that data collection vector.

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