Start secure browsing

1. On your mobile device, tap the Avast Secure Browser icon. The app opens to the main browser screen.
2. Select from the following actions:
   1. Account: Tap the Account icon and sign in with your Avast Account to sync your browsing data across multiple devices. For more information about syncing Avast Secure Browser, refer to the article: Syncing Avast Secure Browser.
   2. Add shortcut: Tap the + plus icon to bookmark your favorite websites.
   3. Security & Privacy Center: Tap Security & Privacy Center icon to access features that allow you to manage your online activity.
   4. Address bar: Tap the search box, then enter a search term or website URL to start browsing the internet in Normal Mode. You can also choose your default search engine.
   5. Tabs: Tap the square tabs icon to view the browser tabs that are currently open in each browser mode.
   6. Private Mode: Tap the Private Mode icon to open a new tab in private mode.
   7. Menu: Tap ⋮ Menu (the three dots) to access additional settings.
   8. Tabs: Tap the square tabs icon to view the browser tabs that are currently open in each browser mode.
   

To learn more about the features available in Avast Secure Browser, refer to the sections in this article.

Choose a default search engine

To change your default search engine, follow the steps below:

1. Tap the address bar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the search engine icon in the top-left corner of the screen, then choose your preferred search engine.

Your preferred search engine is set.

Change browser modes

Avast Secure Browser offers two browser modes: Normal Mode and Private Mode. This allows you to organize your browsing activity according to the mode best suited for the sites you visit.

To open a tab in a different browser mode or to view currently open tabs organized by browser mode, follow the steps below:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser, then tap the square tabs icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the icons at the top of the screen to switch between modes. Open tabs are visible on the applicable mode screen.
   1. Normal: Normal Mode is a balance of security and privacy. It allows you to disguise your location with VPN and block web attacks and unsafe downloads using the Web Shield. Ads & trackers are blocked (balanced mode).
   2. Private: Private Mode offers the same security options as Normal Mode, but also disables screenshots and automatically deletes all browsing data and history when you close the browser.
3. To open a new tab in the selected mode, tap New tab, then search for or enter the URL of the site you want to open.

The new tab opens in your selected browser mode.

Adjust security and privacy features

To configure features in Avast Secure Browser:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and tap the Security & Privacy Center icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Select from the following options:
   1. In-browser VPN: Disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For more information, refer to the Browser VPN section of this article.
   2. Device-Wide VPN: Allow all of the apps on your device to connect more securely to the internet via Avast VPN servers. This feature is only available in Avast Secure Browser PRO.
   3. Block ads & trackers: Prevent advertisements from loading on the websites you visit. For more information, refer to the Adjust AdBlock section of this article.
   4. Site settings: Site settings allow you to manage whether websites can use your device’s location, microphone, or camera. When a site requests permission, a pop-up will appear, giving you the option to allow or block access.
   5. Web Shield: Enable to automatically block access to malware and phishing sites to protect your personal data from theft.
   6. Password Manager: Enable to store your saved passwords.
   7. Configure advanced settings.
   

The security and privacy features are configured according to your preferences.

Enable Browser VPN

Choose if you want to disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). To connect to Browser VPN:

1. Tap the gray (OFF) slider next to In-browser VPN so that it changes to blue (ON).
2. Optionally, to connect to a different location, tap the down arrow.
3. Tap Locations and select your preferred location.

You are connected to a browser VPN.

Adjust AdBlock

AdBlock prevents advertisements from loading on the websites you visit. This improves the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. AdBlock is enabled by default and set to Balanced mode. To change the AdBlock mode:

1. Tap the down arrow next to Block ads & trackers.
2. Choose from the following AdBlock modes:
   1. Basic blocking: Blocks disruptive ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standards. This includes pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing videos.
   2. Balanced (Recommended): Blocks most ads to improve the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, and some social media ads. Some ads that are helpful when searching online will still show in this mode.
   3. Strict: Blocks almost all ads. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, some social media ads, and 99% of other ads. We do not recommend selecting this mode because it may cause some websites not to load properly, or even make some websites completely inaccessible. If you do select this mode, tap Set strict to confirm your choice.
   

1. Balanced (Recommended): Blocks most ads to improve the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, and some social media ads. Some ads that are helpful when searching online will still show in this mode.
2. Basic blocking: Blocks disruptive ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standards. This includes pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing videos.
3. Strict blocking: Blocks almost all ads. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, some social media ads, and 99% of other ads. We do not recommend selecting this mode because it may cause some websites not to load properly, or even make some websites completely inaccessible. If you do select this mode, tap Set strict to confirm your choice.

Your preferred AdBlock mode is set.

Allowed ads list

You can also add websites to your Allowed ads list. This means ads still appear on the websites you specify. To add a website to your allowed ads list:

1. Open the website.
2. Tap Security & Privacy Center in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
3. Next to Ads blocked, tap Allow ▸ Allow ads.

The website is added to the allowed ads list and ads are now visible when you access the website using the current browser mode. Ads on other websites continue to be blocked according to your browser mode settings.

Configure advanced settings

To adjust advanced settings according to your preferences:

1. Tap Advanced settings.
2. The following additional security and privacy settings are available:
   1. Lock browser: Set a passcode to lock your browser.
   2. Prevent screenshots: Tap to enable masking and prevent screenshots.
   3. Enable screen masking: Tap to enable masking and prevent screenshots.
   4. Download without asking: Tap the gray (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON), to enable Avast Secure Browser to immediately download files without prompting you to first confirm that you want to download the file.
   5. Clear cookies & data: Tap to immediately clear all cookies in the selected browser mode.
   

The advanced settings are configured.

Modify general settings

To adjust general settings according to your preferences:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser, then tap ⋮ Menu (the three dots) ▸ Settings (the gear icon) in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Select from the following options:
   1. Appearance: Switch the app theme to light or dark mode and move the address bar to the top or the bottom of the screen.
   2. Widgets: Add shortcuts to Avast Secure Browser from the Home screen of your device for faster and more convenient browsing.
   3. Help: Contact support.
   4. Reset to default settings: Tap to return the browser mode to the default settings.
   5. Reset Avast Secure Browser: Reset deletes your passcode, bookmarks, preferences, and all browsing data. This action cannot be undone once you select it.
   

The general settings are configured.