How to Uninstall Avast on Windows 10

This guide walks you through completely removing Avast antivirus from a Windows 10 PC, including using the official removal utility for stubborn cases. You’ll need to be logged in as an administrator and, ideally, have another antivirus ready to install afterward to keep your system protected.

What You’ll Need

• Windows 10 administrator account
• Internet connection (to download the Avast removal tool if needed)
• Your Avast license key (if you plan to reinstall later)
• Another antivirus program (recommended, to avoid leaving your PC unprotected)

Step-by-Step

1. Close Avast completely. Right-click the Avast icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and select Exit. If you don’t see the icon, click the up arrow to show hidden icons.
2. Open Windows Settings. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then click Apps (or Apps & features).
3. Find Avast in the list. Scroll down or use the search bar to locate Avast Free Antivirus or Avast Premium Security. Click on it.
4. Click Uninstall. A confirmation dialog may appear; click Uninstall again. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
5. Follow the Avast uninstaller prompts. The Avast uninstaller window will open. Choose Continue to proceed. It may ask why you’re leaving—select a reason or just click Continue.
6. Select “Yes, uninstall.” When asked if you’re sure, click Yes, uninstall. Avast will now remove its files. This can take a few minutes.
7. Restart your PC. When the uninstaller finishes, it will ask you to restart. Save any open work, then click Restart now. If it doesn’t prompt, restart manually.
8. Check for leftover files (optional but recommended). After restarting, open File Explorer and go to C:\Program Files\Avast Software and C:\ProgramData\Avast Software. If these folders still exist, delete them (you may need to enable hidden files in View options).
9. Install a new antivirus. If you don’t have another antivirus, install one now. Windows Defender is built-in and will automatically activate if no other AV is present, but you can also install a third-party one.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping the restart. Avast often leaves background services running until you reboot. Without a restart, files may remain locked and cause errors later.
• Not closing Avast first. If Avast is still running, the uninstaller may fail or hang. Always exit from the tray before starting.
• Deleting the installation folder manually before uninstalling. This can break the uninstaller and leave registry entries behind. Always use the proper uninstall process first.
• Ignoring leftover drivers. Avast installs kernel drivers. These are usually removed by the uninstaller, but if you see “aswSP.sys” or similar in Device Manager, you may need the removal tool.

Tips

• Use the official Avast Removal Tool if the standard uninstall fails or you get errors. Download it from the Avast website (search “Avast removal tool”), run it in Safe Mode if possible, and follow the prompts.
• Back up your license key before uninstalling, especially if you have a paid subscription. You’ll need it to reactivate if you reinstall.
• Schedule the uninstall for a time when you don’t need the PC for a while—it can take 10-15 minutes.
• Clean the registry with a trusted tool like CCleaner (optional) after uninstalling to remove any leftover entries. This is not strictly necessary but can prevent conflicts.

Troubleshooting

Uninstall button is greyed out or “Uninstall” does nothing. This often happens if Avast is corrupted. Try the following in order:

1. Restart your PC and try again.
2. Run the Avast Removal Tool (download from Avast’s site) in normal mode first, then in Safe Mode if it fails.
3. If the removal tool also fails, boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4). Run the removal tool again.

Error messages like “Another installation is in progress” or “Access denied.” These usually mean a background Avast process is still running. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), look for processes named “avast” or “asw”, right-click them and choose End task. Then try the uninstall again.

Avast reappears after restart. This can happen if Windows restored a system restore point or if a scheduled task re-installs it. Check Task Scheduler for any Avast tasks and disable them. Also, make sure you’re not using a “managed” version of Avast (from a corporate environment) that requires admin removal.

Windows Defender won’t turn on after uninstalling Avast. Go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings and toggle on Real-time protection. If it’s greyed out, open an elevated Command Prompt and run reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v DisableAntiSpyware /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f, then restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will uninstalling Avast slow down my PC?
No, it usually speeds it up, as Avast uses system resources. Your PC will be lighter without it.

Q: Can I reinstall Avast later without paying?
Yes, if you had a free version, you can reinstall it anytime from the Avast website. If you had a paid subscription, you can reinstall and log in with your account to restore the license.

Q: Do I need to uninstall Avast before installing another antivirus?
Yes, it’s strongly recommended. Running two antivirus programs at once can cause conflicts, performance issues, and false alarms.

Q: What if I don’t have another antivirus?
Windows 10 has built-in Windows Defender, which will automatically enable when it detects no other antivirus. It’s decent protection for most users.

Q: Why does Avast keep coming back after I uninstall it?
This can happen if you have a “managed” version or if a system restore point is being used. Use the official removal tool and check Task Scheduler for any Avast tasks.

Q: Is it safe to delete the Avast folders manually after uninstalling?
Yes, if the uninstaller has already run and you’ve restarted, you can delete any leftover folders in Program Files and ProgramData. Just make sure you’re not deleting anything that’s still in use.

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