Avast antivirus is a popular software that provides protection against various types of malware. However, there may be times when you need to disable it temporarily, such as when installing new software or troubleshooting issues on your computer. In this article, we will show you how to disable Avast antivirus in Windows 10.
Method 1: Using the Avast Antivirus Interface
The easiest way to disable Avast antivirus is by using its interface. Here's how:
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Avast+Antivirus+Interface" alt="Avast Antivirus Interface">
1. Right-click on the Avast antivirus icon in the system tray, and select "Open Avast user interface".
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Open+Avast+user+interface" alt="Open Avast user interface">
2. Click on the "Menu" button in the top-right corner of the interface, and select "Settings".
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Avast+Settings" alt="Avast Settings">
3. In the settings window, click on "Protection" in the left-hand sidebar.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Avast+Protection" alt="Avast Protection">
4. Click on the "Core Shields" tab, and toggle the switch next to "File Shield" to the off position.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Avast+File+Shield" alt="Avast File Shield">
5. Confirm that you want to disable the shield by clicking "Yes" in the pop-up window.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Disable+File+Shield" alt="Disable File Shield">
Your Avast antivirus should now be temporarily disabled. To re-enable it, simply toggle the "File Shield" switch back to the on position.
Method 2: Using the Windows Security Center
If you prefer to disable Avast antivirus using the Windows Security Center, you can follow these steps:
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Windows+Security+Center" alt="Windows Security Center">
1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, and type "Security Center" in the search bar.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Search+for+Security+Center" alt="Search for Security Center">
2. Click on "Security Center" in the search results to open it.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Open+Security+Center" alt="Open Security Center">
3. In the Security Center window, click on "Virus & threat protection".
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Virus+%26+threat+protection" alt="Virus & threat protection">
4. Click on "Manage settings" under the "Virus & threat protection settings" section.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Manage+settings" alt="Manage settings">
5. Toggle the switch next to "Real-time protection" to the off position.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Real-time+protection" alt="Real-time protection">
Your Avast antivirus should now be temporarily disabled. To re-enable it, simply toggle the "Real-time protection" switch back to the on position.
Method 3: Using the Avast Antivirus Uninstall Utility
If you need to disable Avast antivirus permanently, you can use the Avast Antivirus Uninstall Utility. Here's how:
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Avast+Uninstall+Utility" alt="Avast Uninstall Utility">
1. Download the Avast Antivirus Uninstall Utility from the official Avast website.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Download+Uninstall+Utility" alt="Download Uninstall Utility">
2. Run the uninstall utility as an administrator.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Run+Uninstall+Utility" alt="Run Uninstall Utility">
3. Select the version of Avast antivirus that you want to uninstall, and click "Uninstall".
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Select+Avast+Version" alt="Select Avast Version">
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Uninstall+Process" alt="Uninstall Process">
Your Avast antivirus should now be permanently disabled. To re-install it, simply download and install the latest version from the official Avast website.
Conclusion
Disabling Avast antivirus in Windows 10 can be done in a few easy steps using the Avast antivirus interface, the Windows Security Center, or the Avast Antivirus Uninstall Utility. Whether you need to disable it temporarily or permanently, these methods will help you achieve your goal. However, it's important to remember that disabling antivirus software can leave your computer vulnerable to malware, so it should only be done when absolutely necessary.
