General
What is Avast Cleanup Premium?
Avast Cleanup Premium is an optimization tool that includes a range of scans that are designed to detect unnecessary items and performance issues, helping to free up disk space and improve the speed of your system.
How will Avast Cleanup Premium help improve the performance of my device?
With frequent use, the reliability and performance of your PC begins to decline. You may notice the following issues:
- Applications that run very slowly, crash, or freeze.
- A lack of disk space.
- Pop-ups from 'bloatware' applications.
- Problems while starting your PC.
When you use Avast Cleanup Premium to scan for and resolve issues on your PC, you may improve the speed of your PC, clear disk space, eliminate unwanted applications, and fix corrupted internal drives.
How do I use Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed instructions on how to start using Avast Cleanup Premium, refer to the following article:
Download and Installation
How can I download and install Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed installation and activation instructions, refer to the following articles:
What are the system requirements for Avast Cleanup Premium?
- Windows 11 except Mixed Reality and IoT Edition; Windows 10 except Mobile and IoT Edition (32 or 64-bit); Windows 8/8.1 except RT and Starter Edition (32 or 64-bit); Windows 7 SP1 or later, any Edition (32 or 64-bit)
- Windows fully compatible PC with Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 processor or above (must support SSE3 instructions); ARM-based devices are not supported
- 1 GB RAM or above
- 1 GB free space on the hard disk
- Internet connection to download, activate, and maintain application updates
- Optimal standard screen resolution no less than 1024 x 768 pixels
Is there a free-trial version of Avast Cleanup Premium available?
Yes. After installing Avast Cleanup Premium, you have free access to all features and functions for a limited time period. A payment method is required to sign up for a free trial. When the trial ends, your paid subscription starts, unless canceled before.
Can I use Avast Cleanup Premium without installing Avast Antivirus?
Yes. Avast Cleanup Premium can be installed as a standalone application without Avast Free Antivirus or Avast Premium Security installed on your PC.
Is Avast Cleanup Premium included when I subscribe to Avast Premium Security?
No. Avast Cleanup Premium requires a separate, paid subscription to use. You cannot use an Avast Premium Security subscription to activate Avast Cleanup Premium.
Subscription and Activation
How do I activate Avast Cleanup Premium?
Avast Cleanup Premium is a paid app that requires a subscription to use. For detailed activation instructions, refer to the following article:
How do I know when my subscription expires?
Open Avast Cleanup Premium, hover your mouse over the side menu, then click Settings, and select the My subscription tab. The subscription duration and expiration date are listed under My subscription.
Can I use my Avast Cleanup Premium subscription on multiple devices?
You can activate Avast Cleanup Premium simultaneously on the number of devices you specified during purchase. You can verify the number of devices in your order confirmation email, or via the Avast Account that contains your Avast Cleanup Premium subscription.
If you have reached the device limit for your purchased subscription, you can start using Avast Cleanup Premium on a new device by following the steps below:
- Uninstall Avast Cleanup Premium from one of your current devices.
- Install Avast Cleanup Premium on the new device.
- Activate it on the new device.
What should I do if activation is unsuccessful?
To learn how to resolve some of the most common activation issues, refer to the following article:
If the issue persists, contact Avast Support.
Features
What is Auto-Clean?
The Auto-Clean scan performs a comprehensive check of your system that helps detect broken or redundant items and tracking data.
It detects and resolves the following issues:
- Broken Registry keys: Links in your system registry that may be outdated or broken.
- Broken shortcuts: Invalid shortcuts leading to non-existent files or applications.
- System junk: Unnecessary files (such as driver packages, temporary files, and log files) that occupy a lot of space and slow down your system.
- Browser cache: A temporary storage location on your computer that holds downloaded files (for example, picture files stored from websites).
- Cookies: Data files that record information about the websites you visit.
- Browsing and download history: The history of visited websites and downloaded files from your browser (this option only removes the list of files and does not delete any files stored on your PC).
To run Auto-Clean, open Avast Cleanup Premium and click Scan now or Rescan.
What is Disk Cleaner?
The Disk Cleaner feature scans for and allows you to delete files that may be using a large amount of disk space on your PC. You can review and clean leftover files created by the system, programs, or installers, such as temporary, log, and cached files.
What is Browser Cleaner?
The Browser Cleaner feature scans for leftover files and tracking data, such as browser cache, cookies, and history stored on your PC while you browse the web.
What is Sleep Mode?
Certain applications slow down your system by running silently in the background. Avast Cleanup Premium scans for these applications, then allows you to safely put them to sleep and boost performance.
What is App Manager?
App Manager scans your PC for outdated or unused applications, then allows you to easily update, uninstall, or simulate uninstalling them. This helps ensure your apps are running in the optimal way, and frees up resources on your PC.
What is Disk Manager?
The Disk Manager feature includes Disk Doctor, which scans your internal drives for disk errors caused by corrupted files, then offers to repair found issues. If left unrepaired, corrupted files can cause crashes, unexpected behavior, problems starting your PC, and the loss of personal data.
It also includes Optimize and defrag, which helps improve performance and storage efficiency by re-organizing your hard disk drive to ensure that fragments of the same file are stored together.
To check your disks, open Avast Cleanup Premium and hover your mouse over the side menu, then click Disk Manager ▸ Check Disks.
After checking your disks, Disk Manager lists any drives that it recommends to scan. The following options are available for each listed drive:
- Analyze: Scans the relevant drive to check for issues.
- Delete system junk: Prompts you to do a Disk Cleaner scan.
- Delete browser data: Prompts you to do a Browser Cleaner scan.
What is Fix Issues?
The Fix Issues feature checks for a variety of problems that may impact the performance and security of your PC. Avast Cleanup Premium may detect the following issue types during a Fix Issues scan:
- Unusual system settings: Settings configurations that may affect the reliability of your PC's behavior.
- Outdated programs: Commonly used software on your PC that is out-of-date.
- Disk errors: Corrupted files on your internal drives. For more information, refer to the Disk Manager section.
- Disk fragmentation: Data fragments that are stored separately on the hard disk drive. For more information, refer to the Disk Manager section.
To review and resolve issues, open Avast Cleanup Premium and hover your mouse over the side menu, then click Fix Issues.
What is Data Recovery?
The Data Recovery feature helps you to recover deleted files from hard drives and other storage devices.
What is Undo Center?
The Undo Center allows you to reverse certain changes that Avast Cleanup Premium has made to your PC. To reverse a change: Hover your mouse over the side menu and click Undo Center to view a list of actions, then click Undo next to any changes you want to reverse.
![](https://static.avast.com/support/kb/images/v2024/icon/av_settings.webp)
What is Statistics?
The Statistics screen shows you what you have accomplished in Avast Cleanup Premium. You can see an overview of the actions you have completed in the app in the last 30 days.
Settings
How do I adjust general Avast Cleanup Premium settings?
Open Avast Cleanup Premium and hover your mouse over the side menu, then click Settings (the gear icon). The following options are available under the General tab:
- Language: Change the language of the application.
- Undo Center: Select which categories you want to create backups for.
- Avast Support Tool: Use the Support Tool to check for common issues in the app, and gather logs that you can send to the support team.
- Developer settings: Configure advanced settings that control how Avast Cleanup Premium behaves when the application is closed. Disabling these settings may prevent Avast Cleanup Premium from working properly.
How do I adjust App Manager settings?
The App Manager feature keeps commonly used third-party software updated to eliminate potential security risks and improve the overall performance of your system. To specify how Avast Cleanup responds when it detects an outdated program on your PC, open Avast Cleanup Premium, hover your mouse over the side menu, and click Settings (the gear icon). The following options are available under the App Manager tab:
- Uninstall Simulator: Provides a secure simulated environment to practice removing software, without the risk of losing essential programs. Select when the programs on your Uninstall Simulator list get completely removed from your PC.
- Uninstaller: Enables you to completely remove any program that you no longer use. Select the duration after which programs should be categorized as unused.
- Updater: Helps you find and install program updates for a smoother and safer experience. Select how the feature will handle outdated applications.
How do I adjust Browser Cleaner settings?
Avast Cleanup Premium allows you to choose how long you keep your browser data before it is cleaned. You can also create exceptions for websites that you want to stay logged into.
To manage Browser Cleaner settings:
- Open Avast Cleanup Premium and hover your mouse over the side menu, then click
Settings (the gear icon).
- Select the Browser Cleaner tab.
- To adjust the cleaning delay:
- Click the drop-down menu under Cleaning delay.
- Click the drop-down menu under Cookies or Browsing history to specify how long Avast Cleanup Premium keeps them in your web browsers.
- After the selected period, Avast Cleanup Premium will remove Cookies or Browsing history.
- To adjust the cookie allowlist:
- Click the drop-down menu under Cookie allowlist.
- Enter the website URL (for example, example.com) in the upper text box, and click Add.
...Alternatively, select a website from the list of popular websites in the lower text box, and click Add. - The selected website is now excluded from cookie clearing.
Can I schedule Avast Cleanup Premium to run automatically?
Yes, you can configure Avast Cleanup Premium to perform Auto-Clean scans automatically. When enabled, Auto-Clean doesn't require any action from you, and runs silently in the background to free up space on your PC by removing dispensable items, such as broken shortcuts and registry items.
To enable Auto-Clean, open Avast Cleanup Premium, hover your mouse over the side menu, and click Settings (the gear icon). Select the Auto-Clean tab and click the gray (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON). The Auto-Clean settings screen also allows you to choose the frequency of the scans, and manually select which items Avast Cleanup Premium deletes during Automatic Cleaning.
- 100 MB or more of cleanable space on your system
- 100 or more broken registry items
- 100 or more broken shortcuts
- 100 or more tracking cookies
Can I review found issues before Avast Cleanup Premium optimizes my device?
Yes. When Avast Cleanup Premium completes a scan, you can review and manage any found issues.
When Auto-Clean is enabled, you can select which items Avast Cleanup Premium has permission to automatically delete by clicking the arrow next to a category to view its individual items, then manually de-select any items you don't want to be deleted automatically.
How can I control which data I share with Avast and third parties?
To change your personal privacy settings:
- Open Avast Cleanup Premium, hover your mouse over the side menu, and click Settings (the gear icon).
- Select the Privacy tab.
- Tick or untick the boxes next to the privacy settings according to your preferences.
What does Avast Cleanup Premium do with my encrypted files?
Avast Cleanup Premium ignores encrypted partitions and files to ensure your privacy and security. If your entire hard drive is encrypted, Avast Cleanup Premium cannot scan and optimize your system.
Troubleshooting
How can I uninstall Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the following article:
How can I report a problem or suspected bug?
If Avast Cleanup Premium produces unexpected results or error messages, report the issue to Avast Support by submitting a ticket.
Send a detailed description of how to reproduce the error and include the following information:
- Your version of Windows and your PC's brand, model, and graphics card.
- A detailed description of the problem and the sequence of actions leading up to the issue.
- Any error messages displayed.
- Any differences on your PC following the issue.
How do I report a falsely identified junk file or program that Avast Cleanup Premium removed from my system?
If Avast Cleanup Premium disables or removes a file or an application that you wanted to keep, report the issue to Avast Support. Include the exact file or application name, all relevant details, and the undesired result.
What can I do if I see the error message 'Well, this is embarrassing'?
For detailed troubleshooting steps, refer to the following article:
General
What is Avast Cleanup Premium?
Avast Cleanup Premium is an optimization tool that includes a range of scans that are designed to detect unnecessary items and performance issues, helping to free up disk space and improve the speed of your system.
How will Avast Cleanup Premium help improve the performance of my device?
With frequent use, the reliability and performance of your Mac begins to decline. You may notice the following issues:
- Applications that run very slowly, crash, or freeze.
- A lack of disk space.
- Unwanted applications on your Mac.
- Problems while starting your Mac.
When you use Avast Cleanup Premium to scan for and resolve issues on your Mac, you may improve the speed of your Mac, clear disk space, and eliminate unwanted applications.
How do I use Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed instructions on how to start using Avast Cleanup Premium, refer to the following article:
Download and Installation
How can I download and install Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed installation and activation instructions, refer to the following articles:
What are the system requirements for Avast Cleanup Premium?
- Apple macOS 14.x (Sonoma), Apple macOS 13.x (Ventura), Apple macOS 12.x (Monterey), Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur), Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina), Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave), Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra), Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
- Intel based Mac computer with 64-bit processor or Apple silicon chip (M1)
- 512 MB RAM or above (1 GB RAM or higher preferred)
- 68 MB minimum hard disk free space
- Internet connection to download, activate, and maintain application updates
- Optimally standard screen resolution not less than 1024 x 768 pixels
Can I use Avast Cleanup Premium without installing Avast Antivirus?
Yes. Avast Cleanup Premium can be installed as a standalone application without Avast Security or Avast Premium Security installed on your Mac.
Is Avast Cleanup Premium included when I subscribe to Avast Premium Security?
No. Avast Cleanup Premium requires a separate, paid subscription to use. You cannot use an Avast Premium Security subscription to activate Avast Cleanup Premium.
Subscription and Activation
How do I activate Avast Cleanup Premium?
Avast Cleanup Premium is a paid app that requires a subscription to use. For detailed activation instructions, refer to the following article:
How do I know when my subscription expires?
Open Avast Cleanup Premium and click Settings. Select the Subscription tab, and check the subscription expiration date under Your current subscription.
Can I use my Avast Cleanup Premium subscription on multiple devices?
You can activate Avast Cleanup Premium simultaneously on the number of devices you specified during purchase. You can verify the number of devices in your order confirmation email, or via the Avast Account that contains your Avast Cleanup Premium subscription.
If you have reached the device limit for your purchased subscription, you can start using Avast Cleanup Premium on a new device by following the steps below:
- Uninstall Avast Cleanup Premium from one of your current devices.
- Install Avast Cleanup Premium on the new device.
- Activate it on the new device.
What should I do if activation is unsuccessful?
To learn how to resolve some of the most common activation issues, refer to the following article:
If the issue persists, contact Avast Support.
Features
What is Clean clutter?
Clean clutter scans several areas of your hard drive and detects unnecessary files that you can remove to free up disk space on your Mac.
To free up disk space, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Clean clutter ▸ Scan clutter. After the scan completes, you can review the amount of space taken up by unnecessary files and select which files you want to remove from your Mac.
What is Clean browser?
The Clean browser option allows you to easily protect your privacy by removing cookies and other browsing data from your web browsers.
To clean browsers, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Clean browser ▸ Scan browsers. After the scan completes, you can review the number of items found on each of your installed web browsers. Optionally click Details next to a browser to view the specific item types found and specify exactly what you want to remove.
You can optionally configure Avast Cleanup Premium to clean your browsers automatically. You can also add allowed websites that are always exempt when Avast Cleanup Premium clears cookies and other browsing data.
What is Find duplicates?
Find duplicates detects multiple files with identical content.
To find duplicates, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Find duplicates twice. After the scan completes, you can review the detected duplicate files and select which files you want to remove from your Mac.
What is Analyze photos?
Analyze photos detects photos that are blurry, badly-lit, or similar.
To scan your photos, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Analyze photos ▸ Find photos. You can specify where Avast Cleanup Premium will look for photos, and then after the scan completes, review and select which photos you want to delete.
What is Uninstall apps?
Uninstall apps allows you to easily find and remove applications from your Mac that you no longer use.
To uninstall applications you no longer use, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Uninstall apps ▸ Show apps. Review the list of applications installed on your Mac and select which applications you want to delete.
What is Manage startups?
Manage startups allows you to turn off processes that launch automatically when you start up your Mac.
To turn off a startup item, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select Manage startups ▸ Show startups. Review the list of applications, launch agents, and launch daemons and click the green (ON) slider so that it changes to gray (OFF) next to a process you want to remove from startup.
What is System monitor?
System monitor allows you to check the current status of your Mac by scanning your Mac's CPU, processor, hard drive, and battery.
To scan your system, hover your mouse over the menu on the left-hand side of Avast Cleanup Premium. Select System monitor ▸ Scan system. Review your system's usage and follow the Recommendations provided in the lower left-hand corner.
Settings
How can I customize Avast Cleanup Premium notifications?
To specify when you want to receive notifications from Avast Cleanup Premium:
- Open Avast Cleanup Premium and click
Settings.
- Select the Alerts tab.
- Adjust the following options according to your preferences:
- Notify me when my clutter is more than: Tick or untick this option to enable or disable notifications about the amount of clutter on your Mac. When this option is enabled, you can use the drop-down menu to customize the minimum amount of clutter that will trigger a notification.
- Notify me when my disk space is less than: Tick or untick this option to enable or disable notifications about the amount of free disk space on your Mac. When this option is enabled, you can use the drop-down menu to customize the amount of remaining free disk space that will trigger a notification.
- Notify me when I can delete leftover app files from my Trash: Tick or untick this option to enable or disable notifications about removing unnecessary app files from your Trash, such as log files and cache.
Can I review found issues before Avast Cleanup Premium optimizes my device?
Yes. When Avast Cleanup Premium completes a scan, you can review and manage any found issues.
How can I control which data I share with Avast and third parties?
To change your personal privacy settings:
- Open Avast Cleanup Premium and click
Settings.
- Select the Privacy tab.
- Tick or untick the boxes next to the privacy settings according to your preferences.
Troubleshooting
How can I uninstall Avast Cleanup Premium?
For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the following article:
How can I report a problem or suspected bug?
If Avast Cleanup Premium produces unexpected results or error messages, report the issue to Avast Support by submitting a ticket.
Send a detailed description of how to reproduce the error and include the following information:
- Your macOS version.
- A detailed description of the problem and the sequence of actions leading up to the issue.
- Any error messages displayed.
- Any differences on your Mac following the issue.
Why do I need to close open applications before Avast Cleanup Premium continues cleaning?
When you perform a Clean clutter scan, Avast Cleanup Premium scans for unnecessary files, including those stored in your browsers and applications. If the applications containing these files are running when you click Clean, Avast Cleanup Premium asks you to close the applications to prevent them from crashing or malfunctioning.
Why doesn't Avast Cleanup Premium clean anything from my system?
Avast Cleanup Premium is a paid app that requires a subscription to use. If you installed Avast Cleanup Premium but you have not purchased a subscription or activated the app, the application runs in scan-only mode and cannot clean anything.
Why do I need to grant permissions to Avast Cleanup Premium?
Each time you remove files, photos, or applications using Avast Cleanup Premium, you are asked to authorize the cleaning process by entering the password that you use when you start your Mac. This stops unauthorized users clearing items from your system folders.
How do I send feedback about Avast Cleanup Premium?
- Ensure the Avast Cleanup Premium window is open and active.
- Click Help ▸ Send Feedback on the left side of the Apple menu bar.
- Enter your feedback, optionally include your name and email address, then click Send.
General
What is Avast Cleanup for Android?
Avast Cleanup for Android is a mobile app designed to help you improve the performance of your device and preserve storage space by removing unnecessary media, files, and apps. Remove these items by transferring them to cloud storage and/or deleting them from your device. You can also optimize your photos, so they consume less space.
How can I free up space on my device?
We recommend the methods below:
- Tap the Quick Clean button on the dashboard to scan for and then delete dispensable items, including thumbnails, APKs, residual files, browser data, and hidden and visible cache.
- Tap the Media tile on the dashboard to review the photos, videos, and other media stored on your device. Avast Cleanup identifies media that you may want to remove, and allows you to either delete the suggested items, or send them to cloud storage.
- Tap the Sleep Mode tile on the dashboard to release device memory by stopping your apps from running in the background when they are not in use.
- Try optimizing your photos so that they take up much less space on your device without noticeable differences in quality.
How do I use Avast Cleanup?
For detailed instructions on how to start using Avast Cleanup, refer to the following article:
Download and Installation
What are the system requirements for Avast Cleanup on Android?
- Google Android 9.0 (Pie, API 28) or higher
- Internet connection to download, activate, and maintain app updates
If you are using a custom ROM (Read Only Memory), the app may not work as expected. Report any feedback regarding this issue to Avast Support.
How do I download and install Avast Cleanup on Android?
For detailed installation and activation instructions, refer to the following articles:
Subscription and Activation
What are the benefits of an Avast Cleanup Premium subscription?
Avast Cleanup Premium is the paid version of the app. With a Premium subscription, you can take advantage of the following paid features:
- Custom Dashboard: Add shortcuts to the Avast Cleanup dashboard so you can quickly access the information and tools that you use most often.
- Deep Clean: Access and delete hidden cache files that occupy a lot of space on your device.
- Automatic Cleaning: Schedule regular cleanings that run in the background without interrupting usage.
- Browser Cleaning: Quickly clean unimportant browser data.
- Photo Optimizer: Control the size and quality of your optimized photos with customizable optimization settings.
- Themes: Customize the appearance of the Avast Cleanup app.
- Direct support: Contact Avast Support from the app to receive help directly from our Customer Care team.
- Block ads: Eliminate third-party ads from your Avast Cleanup experience.
Get Avast Cleanup Premium by tapping Upgrade in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Which features are included in the other paid versions of Avast Cleanup?
In addition to Avast Cleanup Premium for Android, we also offer the following paid subscriptions:
- Avast Cleanup Premium Plus: Includes Avast Cleanup Premium for Android, and Avast Mobile Security Premium for Android (each for use on up to 5 Android devices simultaneously).
- Avast Mobile Ultimate: Comes with all of the apps included in Avast Cleanup Premium Plus, and additionally includes Avast SecureLine VPN for Android (for use on up to 5 Android devices simultaneously).
How can I subscribe to a paid version of Avast Cleanup?
- Tap Upgrade in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
- Select your preferred plan, then select Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transaction.
When the transaction completes, your subscription activates automatically on the device used for purchase. Your purchased subscription is valid on all devices that are connected to your Google Account and have Avast Cleanup installed.
Is my subscription for Avast Cleanup Premium also valid for other paid Avast apps?
No. If you purchase Avast Cleanup Premium, your subscription is valid only for this app. Avast Cleanup Premium Plus and Avast Mobile Ultimate are also valid for other paid Avast Android apps.
What happens if I upgrade to Avast Mobile Pro Plus or Avast Mobile Ultimate from my current subscription?
When you upgrade from one paid version of Avast Cleanup to another (for example, from Avast Cleanup Premium to Avast Mobile Ultimate), Google Play Store automatically calculates how much of your original subscription was unused. To compensate you for the value of this unused subscription, you receive access to the upgraded subscription for a period of time that is equivalent to the value of that unused subscription at no extra cost. This means that you are not immediately charged when you activate your upgraded subscription but when that period ends (unless canceled first). The length of that access period depends on how much of your original subscription was unused. The date of your first payment is displayed during the subscription upgrade.
How can I start using my Avast Cleanup subscription on another Android device?
When you subscribe to a paid version of Avast Cleanup via Google Play Store, your subscription activates automatically on the Android device you use to subscribe. To start using your subscription on a different Android device:
- On the new device, sign in to Google Play Store with the same Google Account you used to subscribe to Avast Cleanup.
- Download and install the latest version of Avast Cleanup for Android from Google Play Store.
- After installation, open Avast Cleanup and tap Get started.
- Select Already purchased? ▸ Restore from Google Play.
Avast Cleanup automatically retrieves and activates your subscription from Google Play Store on that device.
How can I cancel a paid Avast Cleanup subscription?
Uninstalling Avast Cleanup from your Android device does not cancel your subscription, and you will continue to be charged for the subscription until you cancel it.
To cancel a paid Avast Cleanup subscription purchased via Google Play Store:
- Open Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Tap your profile image in the top-right corner and select Payments and subscriptions.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Select the paid Avast Cleanup subscription that you want to cancel.
- Tap Cancel subscription, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the cancellation.
Your subscription is now canceled. You receive confirmation of the cancellation by email.
For detailed instructions to cancel an Avast subscription purchased via Google Play Store, refer to the following article:
Features
What is Quick Clean?
When you tap the Quick clean button on the dashboard, the Quick Clean review screen lists all of the item types that are available to clean. These item types are separated into two categories:
- Unneeded files: Data that Avast has carefully selected to ensure that it is truly dispensable, including thumbnails, APKs, residual files, browser data, and visible and hidden cache. All categories are selected by default for cleaning, except Thumbnails.
- Files to review: Data that may or may not be valuable to you. We recommend reviewing items included in this category and selecting only those items that are dispensable. All items are unticked by default and will not be removed unless you manually select them for deletion.
Untick any item types that you do not want Avast to process when you run the Quick Clean. You can also tap the down arrow next to an item type to view specific items on your device. Untick specific items to ensure they will not be processed when you run the Quick Clean.
Can I restore files that are deleted during a Quick Clean?
No. You can't restore files that are deleted during a Quick Clean. This function was carefully designed to only remove data that is truly dispensable, such as system caches that can be easily replaced, or APK files that are already installed.
What is hidden cache and how is it different from visible cache?
The apps on your device create temporary files called cache. Once this cache is no longer needed, it remains on your device and occupies space until you remove it.
Avast Cleanup scans for the following types of cache:
- Hidden cache: Takes up a large amount of space on your device and is difficult to remove. Normally you need to go to your device settings and manually remove the hidden cache for each app individually. However, the Deep Clean feature allows you to remove hidden cache for multiple apps simultaneously each time you run a Quick Clean scan. Deep Clean may only be available in the paid version of the app.
- Visible cache: Takes up less space on your device and is easier to remove. In all versions of Avast Cleanup, you can remove visible cache for multiple apps simultaneously each time you run a Quick Clean scan.
How can I use the Sleep Mode tile?
Sleep Mode stops apps from running in the background, releasing memory for other tasks. When Sleep Mode is enabled, follow the steps below to start force stopping your apps:
- Open Avast Cleanup and tap the Sleep Mode tile on the dashboard.
- By default, you see a list of Last used / Can be stopped apps. These are the apps that are currently running in the background of your device. You can optionally tap the
Filters icon to change the types of apps that are displayed, or how the apps are sorted.
- Apps that we recommend you to force stop are ticked by default. To manually specify the apps that you want to force stop, tap Deselect all. You can then tick only the app(s) that you want to force stop.
- Tap Force stop to immediately stop the selected apps from running in the background.
The selected apps are no longer running in the background. A force stopped app normally cannot access your device memory again until you manually open it.
Is it harmful to stop apps using the Sleep Mode feature?
No. Mobile apps are designed to cope with sudden closures, so stopping apps via Sleep Mode is not harmful.
How can I use the Tips tile?
When you tap the Tips tile on the dashboard, you can review tips for clearing space on your device.
The first time you use the Tips feature, you are prompted to specify which kinds of tips you want Avast Cleanup to prioritize. Tap Tips ▸ ⋮
More options (three dots) ▸ Customize tips to set your preferences via the Analysis Preferences screen.
How can I use the Media tile?
When you tap the Media tile on the dashboard, you can review an overview of the media that is stored on your device, including suggestions for clearing space. The Media Overview screen is divided into the following sections:
- Photo analysis:
- Similar: Groups of photos with nearly identical content.
- Bad: Photos that may be out of focus, dark, or of low quality.
- Sensitive: Photos sent or received via social apps that may be private or sensitive.
- Old: Photos that were time-stamped a month or more ago.
- Optimizable: Photos that can be resized and compressed to save storage space without impacting the quality.
- Folders: An overview of folders on your device. Folders are arranged in size order, and especially large folders are marked red.
- Large videos: Identifies any videos larger than 20 MB stored on your device.
The Media tool allows you to easily clear space on your device by deleting unwanted media, or alternatively sending items to cloud storage.
How can I use the Apps tile?
When you tap the Apps tile on the dashboard, Avast Cleanup displays an overview of the apps installed on your device. This data helps you release storage space by identifying apps that it may be beneficial to uninstall. The Apps Overview screen is divided into the following sections:
- Drainers: Identifies apps that may be draining your data and battery.
- Usage: Displays apps based on frequency of use. You can view Times opened, Screen time, and Unused apps.
- Growing: Identifies apps that are occupying more space on your device than previously.
- Notifying: Identifies apps that have sent you the most notifications in the last 7 days.
What is Photo Optimizer?
You can use Avast Cleanup to optimize your photos by decreasing their pixel size. An optimized photo looks almost the same as the original, while consuming much less space on your device.
To optimize photos on your device:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Photo Optimizer. - Tap Show photos and tick the photo(s) you want to optimize, then tap Confirm to return to the main Photo Optimizer screen.
- Tap Continue to proceed with default optimization, or tap Setup to preview an optimized image. If you have a paid Avast Cleanup subscription, you can additionally set the optimization level according to your needs.
- Under Original photos, tap Select to specify what will happen to your original photo(s). Options include Just delete, Keep originals, or send to cloud storage.
- Tap Optimize now to immediately start optimizing the selected photo(s).
When optimization is complete, tap the back arrow to return to the main Avast Cleanup screen.
Why is the Thumbnails category unticked by default?
Thumbnails are the small versions of pictures used for previews. Deleting thumbnails during a Quick Clean can delete significant amounts of data on some devices, while on others the effect is very limited. For this reason, the category is unticked by default. You can test the effectiveness of this option on your device and decide whether to tick it or not.
Premium Features
How can I add a shortcut to my dashboard?
With a paid Avast Cleanup Premium subscription, you can customize the dashboard by adding shortcuts.
To add a shortcut, follow the relevant step below:
- Add your first shortcut: Tap Add shortcut at the bottom of the dashboard.
- Add additional shortcuts: Tap Customize at the bottom of the dashboard, then tap the
Plus icon in the top-right corner of the Customize screen.
On the Add shortcut screen, the following options are available:
- Use a pre-made shortcut: Tap Apps, Photos, or Other files to specify which item type you want to manage via the new shortcut. You can then specify the data that will be available via the new shortcut by selecting one of our pre-made views.
- Create a custom shortcut: Tap New shortcut, and select Apps or Files to specify which item type you want to manage via the new shortcut. You can then precisely configure the exact data that will be available via the new shortcut, and how the data will be sorted.
You can modify your existing shortcuts by tapping Customize at the bottom of the dashboard. The following options are available for each shortcut:
- Edit the shortcut: Tap the
Pencil icon.
- Move the shortcut: Touch and hold the
icon (four lines) and drag an item up or down according to your preferences. The listed items appear in the order that they appear on your dashboard.
- Delete the shortcut: Tap the
Trash icon.
To confirm your changes and return to the dashboard, tap the Tick icon in the top-right corner.
What is Deep Clean?
Deep Clean allows you to remove hidden cache to release storage space on your device. You can remove hidden cache each time you run a Quick Clean scan via the dashboard.
What is Auto Cleaning?
Auto Cleaning is a paid feature available in Avast Cleanup Premium, which allows the app to run regular cleanings without you manually activating them each time.
To configure Auto Cleaning:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Auto Cleaning. - Tap the
gray (OFF) slider at the top of the screen so that changes to
blue (ON).
- Specify how regularly you want to schedule cleanings (every 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or week), and the minimum amount of space you want to clean.
- Under Clean automatically, select the item types that Avast has permission to remove during the cleaning. All categories are selected by default, except Thumbnails.
Automatic Cleaning is now configured and will run as specified. If you enable the Notify me when cleaning is complete option, you are informed each time Automatic Cleaning is complete.
What is Browser Cleaner?
Browser Cleaner allows you to easily remove saved data collected by your browsers when you search online.
To clean browser data:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Browser Cleaner. - Tap See scan results.
- All Browser data items are automatically selected to clean. Untick any items that you do not want to clean, then tap Finish cleaning.
- If prompted, tap Start cleaning to delete the selected items.
What is Sleep Mode?
Sleep Mode identifies the apps that are currently occupying your device memory by running background processes, and allows you to select the apps that you want to force stop. This releases memory for other tasks and speeds up your device. When you force stop an app, it normally cannot access your device memory or send you notifications again until you manually open it.
To enable Sleep Mode:
- Open Avast Cleanup and tap the Sleep Mode tile on the dashboard.
- If prompted, tap the
Permission missing panel to grant the required permissions in your device settings. You cannot use Sleep Mode without granting Avast Cleanup the required permissions.
- Tap See stoppable apps to start using Sleep Mode.
When Sleep Mode is enabled, you can force stop selected apps every time you tap the Sleep Mode tile on the dashboard.
How is Photo Optimizer in Avast Cleanup Premium different than in the free version of the app?
Photo Optimizer in Avast Cleanup includes a selection of optimization levels:
- Aggressive: Optimizes images to free the maximum amount of space on your device.
- High: Creates optimized images that are ideal for viewing on a small device screen.
- Moderate: Creates optimized images that are suitable for viewing on larger device screens, such as tablets and laptops.
- Low: Creates optimized images that are suitable for printing.
When you use the free version of the app, only Moderate optimization is available. With a paid Avast Cleanup subscription, you can select any of the optimization levels above each time you use Photo Optimizer.
Cloud Services
What is cloud storage?
'The cloud' refers to virtual storage space where you can store media and files, such as photos, videos, and documents. Several cloud storage providers exist. With Avast Cleanup, you can connect to and transfer files and media from your device directly to Google Drive or Dropbox.
You can be connected to multiple Google Drive accounts, and one Dropbox account simultaneously. Connect to a cloud storage account via ☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings ▸ Cloud services.
How can I connect Avast Cleanup to my cloud storage account?
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Tap Cloud services.
- Perform the relevant action:
- Connect to a new account: Tap Connect next to the relevant cloud service provider, then follow the on-screen instructions to sign in or create a new account.
- Disconnect from an existing account: Tap
⋮
More options (three dots) next to the account you want to disconnect from, then tap Sign out.
How can I transfer an item to cloud storage?
- Ensure that Avast Cleanup is connected to your cloud storage account.
- Tap
☰
Menu (three lines) in the top-left corner of the dashboard. - Tap Photos, Audio, Video, or Files, depending what you want to transfer.
- Tick any items that you want to transfer.
- Select Backup. If you are connected to multiple cloud storage accounts, select the account that you want to use.
The transfer starts immediately if your device is connected to the internet.
Can I keep copies of the items I transfer to cloud storage on my device?
Yes. To ensure media and files are not deleted from your device after you transfer them to cloud storage:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Tap Cloud services.
- Tap the
blue (ON) slider next to Delete files after transfer so that it changes to
gray (OFF).
This setting affects all connected cloud services.
Why does a file upload restart from the beginning after a transfer queue is paused?
Incomplete file transfers are automatically deleted by cloud storage providers when a transfer is paused. Therefore, you can only pause and resume an entire queue.
Where can I find items after I transfer them to cloud storage?
To locate an item that you transferred to cloud storage, sign in to your cloud storage service and access the relevant folder:
- In Google Drive: AvastCleanup
- In Dropbox: Avast Cleanup (in the Apps folder)
Your transferred items are organized in the same way that they were organized on your device.
Why did Avast Cleanup fail to transfer an item to my cloud storage account?
The typical reasons a file transfer can fail are:
- The internet connection is poor or unavailable.
- The cloud storage service is unavailable.
- There is insufficient space available in your cloud storage account.
If you encounter a failed transfer, retry the transfer later, or with a different cloud storage provider.
Settings
How can I customize the recommendations I see via the Tips feature?
You can specify which Tips you are most interested in seeing via the Analysis preferences screen:
- Open Avast Cleanup and tap
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Select Analysis preferences.
- Touch and hold the
icon (four lines) next to a tip category and drag the panel up or down according to your preferences.
Avast Cleanup will now show tips according to your specified preferences.
How can I customize Avast Cleanup Premium notifications?
To specify when you want to receive notifications from Avast Cleanup Premium:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Tap Notifications.
- Tap the slider at the top of the main Notifications screen to disable all Notifications and Reports. Alternatively, select the notification type, and tap the
blue (ON) slider next to the notification you don't want to receive, so that it changes to
gray (OFF).
- Optionally, adjust the following options according to your preferences:
- Frequency (paid feature): Choose how often you want to receive notifications.
- New installs: Choose the day of the week you want to receive an up-to-date report of newly installed applications.
You will now see Avast Cleanup notifications according to your preferences.
How do I use Real-time Detection?
Real-time Detection can be used to detect App leftovers and Battery monitoring. App leftovers allows you to be notified if there's any unimportant data left behind after uninstalling an app. Battery monitoring can show you insights about how to save power on your phone.
To turn on App leftovers or Battery monitoring:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Tap Real-time Detection.
- Tap the slider beside each feature from
gray (OFF) to
blue (ON).
How do I verify which version of Avast Cleanup is installed on my device?
- Open Avast Cleanup and tap
☰
Menu (three lines). - Tap About this app.
- Verify your current app version under Avast Cleanup.
How can I control which data I share with Avast and third parties?
To change your personal privacy settings:
- Open Avast Cleanup and go to
☰
Menu (three lines) ▸ Settings. - Tap Personal privacy.
- To opt out, tap the
blue (ON) slider next to any of the following options so that it changes to
gray (OFF):
- Share app-usage data with Avast to help us with new product development.
- Share app-usage data with 3rd-party analytics tools to improve this app.
- Share app-usage data with Avast so we may offer you upgrades or other products. (In the free version of the app, this option is enabled by default and does not appear.)
Troubleshooting
How can I uninstall Avast Cleanup from my device?
To uninstall Avast Cleanup:
- Open your device Settings and go to Apps.
- Select Avast Cleanup.
- Tap Uninstall from the App info screen.
For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the following article:
How can I report an issue to Avast Support?
We offer many self-help articles on the Avast Support pages. However, some issues may require deeper investigation by Avast Support.
If you have a paid subscription to Avast Cleanup Premium, you can contact Avast Support. Our support agents will help you resolve your issues.
How can I disable third-party ads in Avast Cleanup?
To eliminate third-party ads in Avast Cleanup, upgrade to Avast Cleanup Premium. Although we're confident that both the free and the paid version of the app significantly improve the performance of your device, Avast Cleanup Premium does not contain third-party ads and includes a range of additional features and benefits. You can start using Avast Cleanup Premium by tapping the Upgrade badge in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Why wasn't everything cleaned?
The Cleaning results screen may show that an item Failed to be cleaned. For better cleaning results, follow the tips below:
- Ensure uninterrupted cleaning: Deep Clean and Sleep Mode navigate your device settings to clean cache and put apps to sleep. If this process is interrupted it may fail to complete.
- Select less items: Prioritize cleaning by selecting fewer items to clean at once. Additionally, use
Filters in Sleep Mode to select the order that apps are cleaned.
- Reset Accessibility permission: Turn the Accessibility permission for Avast Cleanup off and on again via your device settings.
If the issue persists, you can send a message to Avast Support directly from the app in Avast Cleanup Premium.
- Avast Cleanup Premium 24.x for Windows
- Avast Cleanup Premium 4.x for Mac
- Avast Cleanup 24.x for Android
- Avast Cleanup Premium 24.x for Android
- Microsoft Windows 11 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education - 32 / 64-bit
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
- Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
- Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate - Service Pack 1, 32 / 64-bit
- Apple macOS 14.x (Sonoma)
- Apple macOS 13.x (Ventura)
- Apple macOS 12.x (Monterey)
- Apple macOS 11.x (Big Sur)
- Apple macOS 10.15.x (Catalina)
- Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
- Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
- Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
- Google Android 9.0 (Pie, API 28) or later
Updated on: June-02-2022