Have you installed an antivirus on your phone, tablet or computer and you no longer want to use it? Don't panic, we'll explain how to easily uninstall your antivirus.
Is there a danger in running out of antivirus?
First of all, be aware that if you choose to uninstall your antivirus, you will then potentially be more subject to malicious attacks. If, on our mobiles, it is not necessarily essential to have an antivirus, it is very different on our computers. We invite you before continuing to consult our article "Should you install an antivirus?" To learn more on this subject.
Since Windows 10, Microsoft has directly integrated an antivirus into the operating system. This makes it possible in particular to counter a majority of viruses, but it is not enough. If you have a good antivirus, then this obviously offers you a lot more security.
Regardless of the operating system, with the exception of iOS, it is strongly recommended to have an antivirus anyway. Prevention is better than cure, and even if not having one does not necessarily represent an immediate danger, threats are omnipresent today.
If you still want to uninstall your antivirus, be sure to be careful. Whether temporarily or not, be extra vigilant when browsing the internet. Do not download files from unknown sites and do not click on suspicious links (especially those embedded in content received by e-mail).
Why uninstall your antivirus?
The question to ask is very simple: why uninstall your antivirus? Do you find yours ineffective or does it slow down your device? You just think you don't need it? Does it regularly detect false positives? Know that for all these questions, there is an answer.
If it is your antivirus that is causing you a problem, it is obvious that we advise you to turn to another software. This market is now particularly competitive and allows us to have a wide choice of antiviruses which are generally very effective. This is even the case of the free versions which are more and more powerful.
Remember, however, that it is not recommended to install two antiviruses at the same time on your computer. This can indeed create a conflict, which will then be especially counterproductive for the security of your device.
How to remove an antivirus on Windows?
To be able to uninstall an antivirus on Windows, it's ultimately very simple. This is, as for all other software, a manipulation to be performed from your control panel.
To carry out a clean removal of an antivirus, you must therefore open the Windows menu. Then go to "Control Panel"> "Programs and Features". Once you're there, your antivirus should appear in the list. All you have to do is select it and then choose the option to remove your antivirus.
Note that there may sometimes be errors, especially on Windows. In this case, there are several possible options. First of all, you will have to look in the folders of your computer, the place where your antivirus is located. Most of the time, this takes the form of a folder named after your antivirus in the “Program Files” folder at the root of your hard drive.
Once in this folder, you may then find an .exe file to run called “Uninstall.exe”. It will allow you to proceed with the uninstallation of your antivirus. If again this does not work, we advise you to contact the company behind the antivirus.
All security companies today offer software that allows you to easily uninstall without leaving traces, all antivirus software. Customer services are rather responsive and will therefore not hesitate to direct you to their utilities allowing you to permanently delete their services.
How to remove an antivirus on MacOS?
When it comes to antiviruses on MacOS, there are two ways to uninstall them: it depends on how you installed your antivirus. First, we will tell you how to remove an antivirus installed by the Mac App Store.
If you downloaded an antivirus from the Mac App Store, then you can remove it directly from the Launchpad. This is the menu that will list your software. It's a gray icon with a little rocket, a classic that every macOS user is familiar with.
Once in this menu, all you have to do is click on the icon of your antivirus. At that moment, all the applications will start to vibrate and those installed via the App Store will then display a small cross at the top right. In theory, this will be the case with your antivirus. Nothing could be simpler: just click on the cross and validate! The antivirus is uninstalled, so you will no longer have access to your protection software against various threats.
If you have installed your antivirus in a "classic" way, using a file downloaded from your internet browser, then it is a little different. To proceed with its complete deletion, you must open your "Finder". Then go to the "Applications" folder. At this point, all you need to do is look for your antivirus and simply delete the folder or drag it to the trash. Nothing's easier !
No matter how you install your antivirus on Mac OS, now you know how to uninstall. It only takes few seconds.
How to uninstall antivirus on iPhone and iPad?
If you own an iPhone or iPad, you're probably well aware that antiviruses don't really exist on iOS. These are applications that protect you from certain malicious attacks such as phising, but not against viruses. Indeed, Apple does not authorize the publication of applications of this type on its App Store. These are not really antiviruses, but simply protection-related services (which are more or less effective).
However, this does not prevent all the giants of the sector such as Avast, Bitdefender or Kaspersky from offering their computer security applications on the App Store. If you have installed them and want to remove them, it is done very simply, just like any other application.
To remove your “antivirus” on iOS, all you have to do is go to your home screen where you have all your applications. Once you've located the app you want to delete, it's very easy: just press it for a few seconds.
A menu will then open with an option "Delete the app" at the bottom in red. You just have to click on it. You will then be asked for additional confirmation. Once you've clicked "Remove" again, you'll be good to go!
How to remove an antivirus on Android?
Have you installed an antivirus on Android and faced some problems? Some unfortunately do not hesitate, for example, to display advertisements in an untimely way, others will slow down your tablet or phone. In this case, an uninstallation is necessary, it is obvious.
To be able to remove an antivirus, it is exactly the same procedure as for another application. This obviously works on an Android tablet or phone. The menu titles may vary depending on your software overlay. Nevertheless, the handling remains on the whole the same.
There are two options for this. The first is universal, it consists of going directly to the Play Store. In the menu, then choose "My games and applications". Then all you have to do is choose your antivirus and click on "Uninstall". It's very fast and will work with any Android device that has the Google Play Store.
For the second option, go to the settings of your Android device. Then, you just have to select the "Applications" section. Here, all of your applications will normally be displayed. You will then simply have to select the antivirus that you want to remove. Once you click on it, an “Uninstall” option should be available. After confirmation, it will be finished.
To proceed with the removal of your Android antivirus, it is therefore rather simple and quick. Note, however, that the devices are sometimes very different, the options may vary. If you can't find how to do it through your phone settings, then don't hesitate to use the Google Play Store option.
Finally, uninstalling an antivirus is not very complicated. When everything is running smoothly, most of the time it takes a few minutes. Note, however, that removing software of this type, without quickly replacing it with a competing solution, carries risks. This increases your machine's exposure to threats. So be careful about this.
For further :
- How does an antivirus work?
- What is a virus and how does it work?
- Do you have to install an antivirus on a smartphone?
- Do I need to install an antivirus on my iPhone?
- Which Android antivirus should you choose?
- Should an antivirus be installed on a tablet?
- Should I use an online antivirus?
