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Managing administrative accounts on your Windows PC

By default, you must actively authorize installation or reinstallation of any software on your Windows PC. This prevents viruses, malware, or unauthorized individuals from stealthily installing unwanted software without your consent. Before installing Avast software, we recommend signing in to Windows as a user with administrative privileges to make authorization as simple as possible.

Refer to the sections in this article to check which existing user accounts on your PC have administrative privileges, before signing into an administrative account and installing your Avast product. This article also contains troubleshooting steps if you do not have access to an administrative account.

Check which accounts have administrative privileges

  1. Click the Windows Start button, start typing control panel to open the search field, then select Control Panel from the search results.
  2. Select User Accounts, then click User Accounts again.
  3. Click Manage another account.
  4. A window appears showing your current User Accounts. For User Accounts with administrative privileges, Administrator appears under the user name.

Sign in to Windows using an account with administrative privileges before installing Avast software.

You may be able to create an additional user account on your PC, and optionally give administrative privileges to that account. For instructions, refer to the article below from Microsoft support:
  1. Press the Win and X keys on your keyboard simultaneously, then select Control Panel from the menu that appears.
  2. Select User Accounts and Family Safety, then click User Accounts.
  3. Click Manage another account.
  4. A window appears showing your current User Accounts. For User Accounts with administrative privileges, Administrator appears under the user name.

Sign in to Windows using an account with administrative privileges before installing Avast software.

  1. Click the Windows Start button, type user accounts into the search field, and select User Accounts from the search results.
  2. Click Manage another account.
  3. A window appears showing your current User Accounts. For User Accounts with administrative privileges, Administrator appears under the user name.

Sign in to Windows using an account with administrative privileges before installing Avast software.

Install your Avast product

  1. Download the setup file for your Avast product using the relevant link below (by default, downloaded files are saved to your Downloads folder):

    Avast Premium Security | Avast Free Antivirus | Avast Cleanup Premium | Avast SecureLine VPN | Avast AntiTrack | Avast Driver Updater | Avast Battery Saver | Avast BreachGuard
  2. Right-click the downloaded avast_(...)_setup_(...).exe setup file and select Run as administrator.
  3. Refer to the relevant step below to authorize installation:
    • If you are signed in to Windows as a user with administrative privileges, click Yes when prompted for permission by the User Account Control dialog.
    • If you are not signed in to Windows as a user with administrative privileges, enter an administrative account password into the User Account Control dialog and click Yes to authorize the installation.
If you are unable to install Avast software because you cannot access an administrative account, refer to the troubleshooting section in this article for advice.
  1. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation of your Avast product. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the relevant article below:

    Avast Premium Security | Avast Free Antivirus | Avast Cleanup Premium | Avast SecureLine VPN | Avast AntiTrack | Avast Driver Updater | Avast Battery Saver | Avast BreachGuard

Troubleshooting

Refer to the relevant section(s) below for advice if you cannot access an administrative account:

Use an alternative administrative account

You may be able to authorize installation of Avast software by entering credentials for an alternative user account with administrative privileges. When the User Account Control dialog appears, click More choices to see a list of administrative accounts on your PC and select an alternative account. If you only have 1 account with administrative privileges, the 'More choices' option does not appear.

Reset your administrative account password

In some cases, you may be able to reset the password for your administrative account. Refer to the article below from Microsoft support for more information:

Further recommendations

If neither of the solutions above resolve your issue, contact your device manufacturer.

  • All available Avast products for Windows
  • 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

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