Avast Mobile Security is a security app for Android that helps protect your mobile device from unwanted phishing, malware, spyware, and malicious viruses such as trojans. It also helps secure your email accounts and accounts associated with your email addresses, lock your sensitive apps, and protect access to your photos stored on your device. Refer to the sections in this article for instructions on using Avast Mobile Security.

Run a Smart Scan

When you open Avast Mobile Security, you have the option to run a Smart Scan, which checks your device for any potential threats. To start the scan:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Run Smart Scan on the main Avast Mobile Security screen.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to resolve any issues found or tap Skip to do this later.

For detailed instructions on how to solve the found issues, refer to the sections below.

Schedule regular scans

The Smart Scan button on the main app screen scans apps installed on your device and informs you about security risks caused by changes in default Android settings.

To schedule automatic scans:

1. Tap Account ▸ Settings.
2. Tap Security.
3. Tap Automatic scan.
4. Ensure the slider at the bottom of the screen is On.
5. Specify Scan days and Scan time by selecting the days and time when you want the scan to automatically run.

Scheduled scans run automatically as configured.

Configure Scan Settings

To configure your protection settings:

• Tap Account ▸ Settings.
• Tap Security.
• Configure the following settings:
  • Scan System Apps: Use the slider to enable scanning the system apps for malware, privacy risks, and unusual behavior.
  • Scan files: Use the slider to enable scanning the files in your device's storage.
  • Ransomware Recovery: Use the slider to help remove ransomware that may take over your device.

Use Scam Guardian

Scam Guardian is one of the main features of Avast Mobile Security. It provides users with the following tools to recognize and avoid online threats, improving digital security:

• Avast Assistant: An AI-powered assistant that helps you check suspicious messages, emails, links, and images for scams. Avast Assistant is included in the free version.
• Web Guard: This tool scans internet activity in real time to prevent malware from downloading onto devices and help you avoid suspicious websites. Web Guard is included in the free version.
• SMS Guard: A paid scam protection tool that scans text messages in your default messaging app to help detect potentially risky links or scam content.
• Email Guard: A paid feature that scans incoming emails in your online accounts and labels each new email as Safe, Suspicious, or Scam.
• Call Guard: A paid feature that automatically blocks suspicious and scam calls, and helps you identify whether incoming calls are from trusted contacts, businesses, or potentially risky sources.
• Link Guard: A paid feature that scans links you access from outside your browser, such as links from emails or messages, and warns you if they are dangerous before opening them in your default browser.

Email Guard, SMS Guard, Call Guard, and Link Guard make up Scam Guardian Pro, which is included in Avast Mobile Security Premium and Avast Mobile Security Ultimate.

To learn about how to set up and use these features, refer to the following articles:

• Scam Guardian Pro - Getting Started
• Email Guard - Getting Started

Use Network Inspector

Network Inspector scans the Wi-Fi network your device is connected to and helps identify potential vulnerabilities that could put your data at risk.

To set up Network Inspector:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ Network Inspector.
2. Tap Get started.
3. Tap Open Settings, then allow Avast Mobile Security access to your device's Precise location.
4. Tap Open Settings again, then select Allow all the time to allow Avast Mobile Security to scan Wi-Fi networks and alert you to potential threats.
5. When permissions are granted, Avast Mobile Security automatically scans the connected network for vulnerabilities. Review any detected issues and follow the recommendations provided to help protect your network and connected devices. Tap Done.

Network Inspector continues to monitor your Wi-Fi networks automatically and alerts you if new vulnerabilities are detected.

Use App Insights

Avast Mobile Security includes two App Insights features:

• App Insights (free): Provides usage information about the apps on your device and lets you view which permissions each installed app requires.
• App Insights for Google Play (paid): Analyzes the apps you have installed from Google Play based on various security and privacy criteria and provides insights into any potential risks associated with those apps. This feature is included in Avast Mobile Security Premium and Avast Mobile Security Ultimate.

To review your apps with App Insights:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ App Insights.
2. Tap Get started.
3. Tap Scan device, if prompted, and wait while App Insights loads the apps installed on your device.
4. To view details about a specific app, tap the app name. Alternatively, tap the search icon in the top-right corner and search for an app.
5. Review the usage information and permissions required by the app. If you have a paid version of Avast Mobile Security, App Insights for Google Play also shows potential security and privacy risks for apps installed from Google Play.

Enable VPN Secure Connection

Using VPN Secure Connection requires one of the following subscriptions:
• Avast Mobile Security Ultimate for Android
• Avast Ultimate Multi-device
• Avast Premium VPN for Android
• Avast Premium VPN Multi-device
For information on activating a paid subscription, refer to the following article: Activating Avast Mobile Security.

VPN Secure Connection uses Virtual Trusted Network (VPN) technology to create an encrypted, private connection, helping protect the data you send and receive over the internet and keeping your online activity private. To activate VPN Secure Connection:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Connect.
3. If prompted, tap Allow to grant Avast Mobile Security access to your location, and tap OK to give Avast Mobile Security permission to set up a VPN connection.

VPN Secure Connection is now active.

Connect to another server

By default, VPN Secure Connection connects to the fastest available server. You can also choose a specific server location. Some locations allow you to select a specific city. To connect to another server:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap the location selector at the bottom of the VPN screen.
3. Use the search box or browse the list to find a location. Optionally, tap ••• next to a location to select a specific city.

Connect to an advanced server

Advanced servers are designed for specific use cases. Using these servers may affect connection speed. To connect to an advanced server:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap the location selector at the bottom of the VPN screen.
3. Select one of the following:
   • P2P-Optimized Region: Designed for peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing.
   • Double VPN: Routes your connection through two servers to help enhance your privacy and security.
   • IP Rotation: Regularly changes your IP address to help reduce tracking and location-based restrictions.
Double VPN and IP Rotation do not connect when the Mimic protocol is selected. If you cannot connect to one of these servers, set the VPN protocol to WireGuard or Automatic.

Refresh your IP address

If you experience connection issues while using the VPN, you can refresh your IP address. IP refresh is not available when connected to Double VPN or IP Rotation servers. To refresh your IP address:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. While connected to the VPN, tap the IP refresh button.

Pause or disconnect your VPN connection

To pause or disconnect your VPN connection:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Choose one of the following:
   • While connected to the VPN, tap the Pause button, then select how long you want to pause the VPN.
   • While connected to the VPN, tap the Disconnect button.

Manage Auto Connect rules

Auto Connect automatically turns on the VPN when you connect to an unsecured network. To configure Auto Connect:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the VPN screen.
3. Tap Auto Connect.
4. If prompted, follow the steps below to grant Avast Mobile Security Location permissions:
   The exact steps may be different based on your device model and/or Android version.
   • Tap Allow.
   • Tap Permissions.
   • Tap Location ▸ Allow all the time.
5. Select when the VPN connects automatically: Unsecured Wi-Fi, Any Wi-Fi, or Any Wi-Fi or cellular data.
6. Optionally, to add a Trusted Network, tap Trusted Networks ▸ + (the plus icon) to add the current network to the list of Trusted Networks.

The VPN does not connect automatically while you are connected to a Trusted Network.

Turn on Ad Tracker Blocking

Ad Tracker Blocking helps prevent tracking of your online activity by advertisers, apps, and third-party trackers while the VPN is enabled. To turn on Ad Tracker Blocking:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the VPN screen.
3. Tap Ad Tracker Blocking.
4. Turn on the Block Ad Trackers slider.

Set up Split Tunneling

Split Tunneling allows you to choose which apps use the VPN connection and which bypass it. To set up Split Tunneling:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the VPN screen.
3. Tap Split Tunneling.
4. Turn on the Split Tunneling slider.
5. Tick the apps you want to exclude from the VPN connection.

Turn on Kill Switch

The Kill Switch blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection unexpectedly disconnects until it is restored, helping prevent your data from being exposed. To turn on the Kill Switch:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the VPN screen.
3. Turn on the Kill Switch slider.

Traffic remains blocked until the VPN reconnects or you turn off Kill Switch. Local devices are not accessible while Kill Switch is enabled.

Choose a VPN protocol

The VPN protocol determines how your connection is established. The default protocol is suitable for most scenarios, but you can change it to improve connection stability or speed. To choose a protocol:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ VPN.
2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the VPN screen.
3. Tap VPN Protocol Settings.
4. Select the protocol you want to use: Automatic (recommended), WireGuard, Mimic, OpenVPN (UDP), or OpenVPN (TCP).

Use App Lock

App Lock is only available if you have a paid version of Avast Mobile Security (Avast Mobile Security Premium or Avast Mobile Security Ultimate).

App Lock helps protect most of your sensitive apps with a PIN or pattern. If your device supports fingerprint unlocking, you can also use a fingerprint to unlock apps protected by App Lock. To set up App Lock:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ App Lock.
2. If prompted, tap Get started.
3. Tap Set up PIN to create the PIN that will be used to unlock protected apps.
4. Select the email account that will be used to reset the App Lock PIN if it is forgotten, then tap OK.
5. Create a four-digit PIN, then enter it again to confirm.
6. Tap Grant permissions ▸ Open Settings, then follow the on-screen instructions to grant the permissions that Avast Mobile Security requires.
   Depending on which permissions have already been granted, you may be asked to allow Usage data access, System overlay, Accessibility, and Run in background.
   Advanced Protection in Android restricts a permission that Avast Mobile Security needs. While Advanced Protection is turned on in Settings ▸ Security & privacy ▸ Advanced Protection, some Avast Mobile Security features cannot be turned on. The restriction is intended behavior in Android, not a problem with your device or with Avast Mobile Security. A resolution is in progress.

   For more information about the permissions required by Avast Mobile Security, refer to the following article: Permissions required by Avast Mobile Security.

7. Tap Enable App Lock. Optionally, set up a pattern or fingerprint as alternative unlock methods.
8. App Lock is now enabled. On the main App Lock screen, tap the slider next to each app you want to protect.

App Lock is now enabled for the selected apps. When opening a protected app, use the configured PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to unlock it.

App Lock is designed to work with the vast majority of applications available in the Google Play Store. However, certain apps, like Google Wallet, cannot be protected by App Lock. These apps may have their own security measures, which may be incompatible with the App Lock feature. Additionally, some apps, particularly banking and fintech apps that display a brief loading or splash screen at launch (e.g. Barclays), may show the App Lock screen and accept your PIN correctly, but then return to the home screen instead of opening the app. We are continuously working to improve App Lock compatibility, and support for more apps may be added in future updates.

Manage App Lock settings

To manage App Lock settings, follow the steps below:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ App Lock.
2. Enter your App Lock PIN.
3. Tap ⋮ More options (the three dots) ▸ Settings.
4. Tap PIN & pattern to access the following options:
   1. Use fingerprint: If your device supports fingerprint unlocking, enable this option to unlock protected apps and features using your fingerprint.
   2. Change PIN: Set a new App Lock PIN. To use this option, first enter the current App Lock PIN.
   3. Set up pattern: Unlock protected apps with a swipe gesture rather than a PIN code.
   4. App Lock timeout: Select the time limit before your apps lock.
Regardless of the timeout settings, App Lock always locks your apps when your screen turns off. When one app is unlocked, all other apps managed by App Lock are also automatically unlocked so you can access all your apps within the timeout period. When an app managed by App Lock is launched within the selected timeout, the countdown stops and restarts.

Disable App Lock

To disable App Lock:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ App Lock.
2. Enter your App Lock PIN.
3. Tap the main App Lock slider so that it changes from blue (ON) to gray (OFF).

App Lock is disabled.

Reset App Lock PIN

If you forget your App Lock PIN, you can reset it by following the steps below:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ App Lock.
2. When you are asked to enter your PIN, tap Forgot your PIN?.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the PIN using your Google Account credentials.

Your App Lock PIN is reset.

Check for hacks and leaks

The Hack Alerts feature monitors online accounts associated with an email address and notifies you if the email address is involved in a data breach.

To have Hack Alerts continuously monitor your account for leaks, you must sign into your Avast Account.

To enable Hack Alerts:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ Hack Alerts.
2. Tap Add email, enter the email address you want to monitor, then tap Add.
3. After the scan is complete, tap Start monitoring. If prompted, sign in to your Avast Account.
4. Open your email inbox and locate the email from notification@emails.avast.com with the subject line Please verify your email. Tap the Verify my email button.
5. In the Avast Mobile Security app, select your email address and tap Already verified.

Hack Alerts is now active and continuously monitors the selected email address for new data breaches. Free users can monitor one email address. Paid users can monitor up to five email addresses.

To remove an email address, select the email you want to stop monitoring and tap the trash icon ▸ Yes, remove.

Manually check an email address

To manually check an email address for leaks:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ Hack Alerts.
2. Tap Check now.
3. Enter the email you want to check and tap Check data breaches.

The scan results show any affected online accounts or the message No compromised accounts.

Securing compromised accounts

If Hack Alerts finds any breaches related to your email address, the affected accounts appear under Compromised accounts. Change the passwords for all affected accounts as soon as possible:

1. Tap an account in the Unresolved list.
2. Tap Change password and follow the on-screen instructions to update the password. When finished, tap Mark as resolved.

Configure Photo Vault

If you uninstall Avast Mobile Security on Android, photos stored in the Photo Vault are no longer accessible. They can be restored by reinstalling Avast Mobile Security on the same device and setting up Photo Vault again using the same email address and PIN code. To avoid losing access, export your files from Photo Vault before uninstalling the app.

Photo Vault allows you to protect access to your photos stored on your device with a PIN code. Photos that are moved to Photo Vault are encrypted and hidden.

To protect photos using Photo Vault:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ Photo Vault.
2. Tap Continue and, if prompted, follow the on-screen instructions to Set up PIN and Grant permissions.
3. Optionally, set up a pattern or fingerprint as alternative unlock methods.
4. Tap Enable Photo Vault.
5. Once Photo Vault is enabled, tap Add photo, then select one of the following options:
   • Restore hidden photos: This option only appears if you have used Photo Vault before on this device. Enter your old PIN to restore any hidden photos.
   • Take new photo: Take a new photo and directly add it to Photo Vault.
   • Import from gallery: Select photos from your existing gallery. Tap the photo(s) you want to hide, then tap Hide now.

The selected photos are now stored in Photo Vault and hidden from the device gallery.

In the free version of Avast Mobile Security, you can protect up to 10 photos. With a paid version of the app, you can protect an unlimited number of photos.

Export or delete photos from Photo Vault

To export or delete photos, tap and hold the photo(s), then select one of the following icons at the top of the screen:

• Export icon: Restores a photo to its original location and makes it visible outside Photo Vault.
• Trash icon: Removes a photo from the Vault and from the original location. This action cannot be undone.

Reset your Photo Vault PIN

If you forget your Photo Vault PIN:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Security ▸ Photo Vault.
2. When you are asked to enter your PIN, tap Forgot your PIN?.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the PIN using your Google Account credentials.

Your Photo Vault PIN is reset.

Clean junk from your device

Junk Cleaner detects dispensable items that are occupying your device's storage, including leftover APKs, residual files, and visible cache. To remove these items to free up storage space:

1. Open Avast Mobile Security and tap Explore ▸ Cleanup ▸ Junk Clean.
2. If prompted, tap Open Settings, then ensure the slider next to Allow permission is ON to grant All file access.
3. After the scan is complete, select the item types you want to clean. Item types are divided into two sections (you may see one or both sections, depending on which data types are stored on your device):
   • Unneeded files: Data that has been carefully selected to ensure that it is truly dispensable.
   • Files to review: Data that may not be valuable to you. We recommend reviewing items included in this group and only ticking items that are dispensable. All items are unselected by default and will not be deleted unless you manually select them.
4. Tap Finish cleaning to delete the selected items.

The selected items are removed from your device.

Further recommendations

For information about additional features available in Avast Mobile Security for Android, including Privacy Advisor and Wi-Fi Speed test, refer to the following article:

• Avast Mobile Security - FAQs
• Avast Mobile Security
• Android

Updated on: November-10-2026