Installation issues

Review the information below, which explains how to resolve some of the most common installation issues:

• To ensure that your Windows device is properly prepared for installation, refer to the following article: Preparing your PC for installation of Avast software.
• Refer to the following article for information on how to solve the 'The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is not running' error: Troubleshooting 'The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) service is not running' error during installation of Avast Antivirus.
• If you see the Package Broken or Not a Valid Win32 Application error when trying to run the installation file of an Avast product on your Windows device, the setup file may be corrupted. Refer to the following article for information on how to solve this issue: Troubleshooting installation errors caused by corrupted setup files.
• Ensure that no other antivirus applications (including expired or trial versions) are installed on your Windows device or Mac before installing Avast. For more information, refer to the following article: Uninstalling other antivirus software.
• Check if your Avast Antivirus is working correctly. For more information, refer to the following article: Ensuring Avast Antivirus is installed and actively protecting your PC.
• In some cases, the Action Center or Security Center in Windows reports that an antivirus software is not installed on your Windows device although Avast Antivirus is installed. Refer to the following article for information on how to solve this issue: Troubleshooting when Windows does not detect Avast Antivirus installation.

If installation continues to fail, contact Avast Support. After you submit the request, an Avast Support agent will contact you to help resolve the issue.

Activation issues

Review the information below, which explains how to resolve some of the most common activation issues:

• If you see an error message during activation, refer to the following article for advice: Troubleshooting common activation error messages.
• If you are trying to activate a mobile app, refer to the following article for advice: Troubleshooting activation issues in Avast mobile apps.
• Ensure you are correctly entering your activation code (including hyphens). For more information, refer to the Locate your activation code section of this article.
• Ensure that your Avast Account is linked to the Avast subscription that you are trying to activate. For more information, refer to the following article: Adding a missing subscription to your Avast Account.

If you are still unable to activate your subscription, contact Avast Support. After you submit the request form, an Avast Support agent will contact you to help resolve the issue.

Updated on: 03/11/2025