Overview

Avast actively scans your computer for viruses and malware. By default, Avast automatically updates virus definitions and notifies you in case of program updates.

If you have changed the default settings, ensure your computer's security by keeping Avast up to date.

Go to Settings ▸ Update, and click Update in the Virus Definitions and Program sections.

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Smart Scan

Smart Scan merges Avast scan tools and features to perform a comprehensive scan of your system. The results page allows you to resolve any issues or threats.

To use Smart Scan, go to Scan ▸ Smart Scan.

On-demand scans

You can use on-demand scans in case you suspect suspicious activity on your computer or network.

To perform on-demand scans, go to Scan ▸ Scan for viruses, and select a scan from the dropdown menu:

• Quick scan performs a scan of the areas on your computer most susceptible to malware infection.
• Full system scan performs an in-depth scan of the system. All harddisks, rootkits, and auto-start programs are checked.
• Removable media scan scans all removable media that is currently attached to the computer, such as USB flash drives and external hard drives.
• Select folder to scan performs a full scan of a custom folder which is selected when the scan begins.
• Boot-time scan performs a scan at bootup to detect and remove viruses which are hard to reach after start up. The system drive and all auto-start programs are scanned, and all archive files found are unpacked.

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Avast comes with several tools and features that help to further protect your computer:

• Firewall is a feature in Avast Premier and Avast Internet Security that monitors all communication between your computer and outside networks and blocks unauthorized communication. Read more...
• SafeZone Browser is a web browser with built-in privacy features from Avast. Read more...
• Sandbox is a virtualization tool in Avast Premier, Avast Internet Security, and Avast Pro Antivirus which allows you to browse the web or run an application in a completely isolated, safe environment. Read more...
• Passwords is a password manager that stores your passwords securely while you only need to remember one Main Password. Read more...
• Rescue Disk allows you to create a bootable version of the Avast scanner on a USB or CD. This tool is especially useful to repair a PC hijacked by malware. Read more...
• Data Shredder is a feature in Avast Premier which allows you to irreversibly erase hard drive partitions or individual files with sensitive data (user data, licensed software, etc.), so that there is no way to restore data. Read more...

Avast offers premium features and tools that further enhance your Avast product.

• Passwords Premium is an enhanced version of the Passwords tool in Avast. It includes extra features such as One Touch Login and Password Gaurdian. Read more...
• Cleanup is an optimization tool that clears disk space and speeds up your computer. Scanning to see if your system needs a cleanup is free, but performing a system cleanup requires a paid activation code. Read more...
• SecureLine VPN is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which allows you to connect to the Internet via an encrypted tunnel to protect data you download and upload from eavesdropping. Read more...

These tools require an additional paid license. To purchase or activate any of the above tools, go to Settings ▸ Subscription, and scroll to the appropriate product.

Paid editions

To activate your paid Avast subscription, insert an activation code or license file. To use an activation code, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings ▸ Subcription.
2. In the Your Subscription screen, scroll to the product you would like to activate (for example, Avast Premier) and click Insert your activation code.
3. Enter the activation code you received via email, and click Next. Ensure that you are entering the activation code into the correct product's activation field.
4. Click OK when the confirmation message appears.

Free edition

Registration of the latest version of Avast Free Antivirus is no longer necessary, and you can begin using the product immediately.

• To get the latest version of Avast, you can update your program version.
• If you are unsure which version of Avast you have, you can check your program version.

Avast offers premium features that require an additional paid license. These features include Passwords, Cleanup, and SecureLine VPN. To activate any paid version of Avast or Avast premium features using an activation code:

1. Go to Settings ▸ Subcription.
2. In the Your Subscription screen, scroll to the product you would like to activate (for example, SecureLine VPN) and click Insert your activation code.
3. Enter the activation code you received via email, and click Next. Ensure that you are entering the activation code into the correct product's activation field.
4. Click OK when the confirmation message appears.

If Avast does not accept your license, follow the steps below:

1. Use our webform to resend your license to the e-mail address used for your purchase and try to insert the license into the program.
2. If the license insertion fails, uninstall Avast using the Avast Uninstall Utility and restart your computer.
3. Download and install the appropriate product version of Avast related to the purchased license.
4. Once again try to insert the license into Avast.

To disable auto-renewal of the Avast software license, follow the steps described for the distributor you used to purchase the license:

• Disabling Automatic Renewal Service for Avast orders distributed by Digital River
• Disabling Automatic Renewal Service for Avast orders distributed by Nexway

If you did not receive your purchased license, you can request it via our webform with the e-mail address you used during purchase.