For information about Avast Mobile Security for Android and iOS, refer to the following article: Avast Mobile Security - FAQs.
Download and Installation
What are the system requirements for Avast Premium Security and Avast Security for Mac?
For detailed information on system requirements for Avast Premium Security and Avast Security, refer to the following article: System requirements for Avast applications.
What is the difference between Avast Premium Security and Avast Security?
Avast Security is a free app that does not require a paid subscription to use. After installation, Avast Security is ready to use. For access to additional features, upgrade to a paid Avast Premium Security subscription.
Avast Premium Security includes additional features and requires a paid subscription. The additional features are Real Site, Ransomware Shield, the option to monitor your network in real time using Network Inspector, and the option to protect your email mailbox across all devices using Email Guard.
How do I download and install Avast Premium Security or Avast Security?
For installation instructions, refer to the relevant article: Installing Avast Security & Installing Avast Premium Security.
If you have purchased Avast Premium Security, you can activate it after installation. Refer to the following article for detailed instructions: Activating an Avast Premium Security subscription.
Subscription and Activation
How do I upgrade from Avast Security to Avast Premium Security?
To upgrade to Avast Premium Security:
- Open Avast Security and click Go premium on the main screen.
- Follow the on-screen purchase instructions.
After purchase, Avast Premium Security automatically activates and replaces Avast Security on your Mac device.
How do I activate Avast Premium Security?
You can activate Avast Premium Security using your Avast Account or a valid activation code. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
For information about activating Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) on other platforms, refer to the following article:
How do I check when my subscription expires?
Open Avast Premium Security and go to ☰ Menu ▸ My subscriptions. The duration of your subscription is listed under Subscriptions on this Mac.
Can I transfer my subscription to another device?
Yes. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
Can I use my subscription on different platforms?
You can activate Avast Premium Security (Single-Device) on one device at a time, and transfer it to another device on the same platform.
Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) helps protect up to 10 devices simultaneously on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You can freely transfer it from one device or platform to another.
Check your Avast Account or order confirmation email to confirm which subscription type you purchased.
How can I cancel the renewal for my Avast subscription?
For information about canceling the renewal for an Avast subscription, refer to the following article:
Features
What are the differences between the scan types?
The following scan types are available on the Scan Central screen:
- Smart Scan: A quick scan of the most vulnerable areas of your Mac.
- Deep Scan: An in-depth scan of your entire system.
- Targeted Scan: Scan specific files or folders you select.
- External Storage Scan: Scan any removable storage devices connected to your Mac, such as USBs or external drives.
- Custom Scans: Set up a scan with your own parameters and schedule it to run regularly and automatically.
For more information about each type of scan as well as scan settings, refer to the following article:
How do I run a scan?
To run an Avast Security scan:
- Open Avast Security and click the Virus Scans tile.
- To start your preferred scan:
- Smart Scan: Click Scan now, then Next when prompted to progress to the next stage of the scan.
- Deep Scan: Click the Deep Scan tile.
- Targeted Scan: Click the Targeted Scan tile, then select the files or folders you want to scan, and click Open.
- External Storage Scan: Click the External Storage Scan tile, then select the removable drives you want to scan, and click Start.
- Custom Scan: Select the Scheduled scans tab, hover your cursor over the panel for the scan you want to run, then click the
►play button (Start scan now). This option is only available if you have already set up a Scheduled scan.
For more information about each type of scan as well as scan settings, refer to the following article:
How do I schedule a scan?
To schedule a Targeted Scan, Deep Scan, or Mac Scan to run regularly and automatically:
- Open Avast Security and click the Virus Scans tile.
- Select the Scheduled scans tab on the Scan Central screen.
- Click Schedule a new scan.
- Fill in the scan parameters, and optionally select your preferred advanced settings and add any exceptions.
- Click Save to confirm the settings for your scheduled scan.
Your scan will run according to the schedule you specified and appears in the Scheduled Scans list.
To edit or delete the scan, hover your cursor over the scan details, and click … More options (three dots), then select Edit scan or Remove scan.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
What is File Shield?
File Shield is the main layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans programs and files on your Mac for malicious threats in real-time before allowing them to be opened, run, modified, or saved. If malware is detected, File Shield prevents the program or file from infecting your Mac.
For more information about File Shield and other Core Shields, refer to the following article:
What is Web Guard?
Web Guard (formerly known as Web Guard) is an additional layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans data that is transferred when you browse the internet in real-time to prevent malware, such as malicious scripts, from being downloaded and run on your Mac.
For more information about Web Guard and other Core Shields, refer to the following article:
What is Scam Guardian?
Scam Guardian is a feature of Avast Security that provides tools to identify and avoid online scams. It includes:
- Avast Assistant: An AI-driven tool designed to analyze texts, emails, and links for signs of scams. Beyond detecting suspicious content, it serves as a cybersecurity resource, allowing users to ask questions on various topics related to online safety.
- Web Guard (formerly known as Web Guard): One of the Core Shields of Avast Security, which scans internet activity in real-time to prevent malware, such as malicious scripts, from being downloaded.
- Email Guard (formerly known as Email Guardian): A premium feature that scans incoming emails in your online email accounts, labeling received emails to indicate potential scam and phishing risks.
For more information, refer to the following articles:
What is Real Site?
Real Site is a paid feature available in Avast Premium Security. It helps protect against DNS (Domain Name System) hijacking by providing an encrypted connection between your web browser and the Avast owned DNS server. DNS hijacking (or DNS redirection) is a type of malicious attack that redirects you from the site you want to visit, to another site that may look just like it, but which can steal information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. This type of attack is especially dangerous when used with banking and shopping websites. Real Site is designed to block these fake websites and to ensure that the displayed website is the actual authentic one you want to visit.
To turn on Real Site:
- Open Avast Security and select the Core Shields tile.
- Click the slider under Real Site so it turns green (ON).
What is Traffic Monitor?
Traffic Monitor checks if any apps are using too much data and slowing down your internet. You can also find out where your apps send data and check if any apps are connecting to servers in a specific location.
For more information about Traffic Monitor, refer to the following article:
What is Network Inspector?
Network Inspector scans your network for vulnerabilities and identifies potential security issues that open the door to threats. This feature checks the status of your network, devices connected to the network, and router settings. Network Inspector helps you secure your network to prevent attackers from accessing it and misusing your personal data. If you have an Avast Premium Security subscription, Network Inspector can monitor your network in real time.
For more information about Network Inspector, refer to the following articles:
What is Email Guard?
Email Guard (formerly known as Email Guardian), available in Avast Premium Security, scans your web-based email account in real-time and flags suspicious emails that may contain malware or phishing scams.
For more information about Email Guard, refer to the following articles:
What is Ransomware Shield?
Ransomware Shield is a paid feature available in Avast Premium Security. It helps secure your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. This feature automatically helps secure your Pictures and Documents folders, and allows you to specify which other folders you want to protect from untrusted applications. Additionally, you can specify which applications are allowed to modify the files in your protected folders.
For more information about Ransomware Shield, refer to the following article:
What is Quarantine?
Quarantine is a safe place for storing potentially harmful files and completely isolating them from the rest of your operating system. Files in Quarantine are not accessible to any outside processes, software applications, or viruses.
For more information about Quarantine, including how to send files from Quarantine to Avast Threat Labs, refer to the following article:
General Settings
How do I use Avast Security?
For detailed instructions on how to start using Avast Security or Avast Premium Security, refer to the following article:
How do I check which version of Avast Security is installed?
To check which version of Avast Security is installed on your Mac, go to ☰ Menu ▸ Preferences ▸ General. The version number is displayed at the top of the screen.
How do I exclude files or websites from scanning by the Core Shields?
To set an exclusion for a Core Shield:
- Open Avast Security and go to
☰Menu ▸ Preferences ▸ Core Shields. - Select the relevant shield tab, then click Add exceptions.
- If you are adding an exclusion for File Shield, select the file and click Open. For Web Guard, specify the domain name and service, then click Add.
For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for Core Shields, refer to the following article:
How do I exclude files or folders from the predefined scans?
To set an exclusion for one of the predefined scans:
- Open Avast Security and go to
☰Menu ▸ Preferences ▸ Scans. - Select the relevant scan tab, then click Add exceptions.
- Select a file or folder, then click Open.
For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for the predefined scans, refer to the following article:
How do I add scan exclusions for Email Guard?
To set an exclusion for Email Guard:
- Open Avast Security and go to
☰Menu ▸ Preferences ▸ Email Guard. - Click Add exceptions.
- Specify the email domain name and email protocol, then click Add.
For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for Email Guard, refer to the following article:
Troubleshooting
What does the status message 'Unable to scan' mean in scan results?
The status message 'Unable to scan' means that the file could not be scanned, possibly due to an encrypted ZIP file, or because the files are currently in use. The status does not mean that there is anything wrong with the file, only that it is not available for scanning.
What does the status message 'This Mac is not fully protected' mean?
If you see the status This Mac is not fully protected, you need to allow permissions so that Avast Security can help protect your system. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
What should I do if I'm unable to browse the web or use other software on my Mac?
The Core Shields in Avast Security detect and block suspicious files, dangerous websites, and unauthorized connections. In some cases, a Core Shield may cause connectivity issues. If you are unable to use online software or browse certain sites, use the troubleshooting steps below to determine if a shield is causing the issue:
- Open Avast Security and click Core Shields.
- Click the green (ON) slider above File Shield so that it changes to red (OFF), then perform your original action (for example, if you were unable to access a certain site, try to access the site again).
- If the connectivity issue persists, click the red (OFF) slider to enable the shield again, then repeat the steps above for each shield.
When you determine which shield is causing the connectivity issue, you can set an exclusion for a certain file, site, or mail server by using the steps in the following article:
What should I do if activation is unsuccessful?
Retrieve the activation code from your Avast Account or order confirmation email and confirm that the code is for Avast Premium Security for Mac. Then try to activate the application again. If activation is unsuccessful, refer to the following article:
How can I send file logs to Avast Support about an issue?
Avast Security and Avast Premium Security for Mac include a built-in reporting tool that allows you to generate a support package and submit it to Avast Support for analysis.
For detailed instructions to submit a support package, refer to the following article:
How do I uninstall Avast Premium Security or Avast Security?
For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the relevant article below:
- Avast Premium Security
- Avast Security
- macOS
Updated on: 24/06/2025
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