Quarantine is a safe place in Avast Antivirus apps for storing potentially harmful files and completely isolating them from the rest of your operating system. Files in Quarantine cannot be accessed or run by any outside processes, software applications, or viruses.

By default, files are moved to Quarantine in the following ways:

• If you run a predefined Avast scan and it detects a suspicious file.
• If an active Avast shield detects a suspicious file.

Alternatively, you can move files to Quarantine manually.

Quarantine is available on Windows and Mac, in all Avast Antivirus apps:

• Avast Antivirus (Avast Free Antivirus / Avast Premium Security)
• New Avast One
• Old Avast One

Access Quarantine

Access Quarantine in one of the following ways:

Windows

• Avast Antivirus: Open Avast Antivirus, then go to Protection ▸ Quarantine.
• New Avast One: Open Avast One and ensure Free Antivirus / Premium Security is selected, and go to Quarantine.
• Old Avast One: Open Avast One, then select Explore ▸ Quarantine ▸ Open Quarantine.

Alternatively, in the notification area of the Windows taskbar, right-click the Avast icon and select Open Quarantine.

Mac

• Avast Antivirus: Open Avast Antivirus and click the Quarantine tile on the main screen.
• New Avast One: Open Avast One and ensure Free Antivirus / Premium Security is selected, and go to Quarantine.
• Old Avast One: Open Avast One, then select Explore ▸ Quarantine ▸ Open Quarantine.

Move files to Quarantine

Avast automatically moves malicious files to Quarantine in the following ways:

• If an Avast scan detects a suspicious file and you confirm that the detected file should be moved to Quarantine.
• If an active Avast shield detects a suspicious file.

To manually add files to Quarantine:

1. On the Quarantine screen, click Add file.
2. Locate the file you want to move to Quarantine, and click Open.

The file now appears in Quarantine and you can send it for analysis.

Restore files from Quarantine

To move a file out of Quarantine:

1. Tick the box next to the relevant file(s) in Quarantine.
2. Click … More options (the three dots), then select an action:
   • Restore: Moves the file to its original location on your device.
   • Restore and add exception (Windows only): Moves the file to its original location, and adds the file to your exceptions list to exclude it from all Avast Antivirus scans and shields.
   • Extract / Restore as: Moves the file to a chosen location on your device.

The selected file(s) are restored.

Submit files to Avast Threat Labs

You can send files to Avast Threat Labs, directly from Quarantine, for further analysis. We recommend sending the following file types:

• Potential malware: Files that Avast has not identified as malware, but you believe may be malicious.
• False positive: Files that Avast has identified as malware, but you believe may be clean.

To submit a file to Avast Threat Labs:

1. Tick the box next to the relevant file(s) in Quarantine.
2. Click … More options (the three dots), then select Send for analysis.
3. Select either Potential malware or False positive and enter any additional information about the file into the text box, then click Send.
   
   If you are submitting a False positive, specify the Program name, Program publisher, Program version number, and the reason why you believe the file or program should not have been detected.

The file(s) are submitted to Avast Threat Labs.

Delete files from Quarantine

To permanently delete a file from Quarantine:

1. Tick the box next to the relevant file(s) in Quarantine.
2. Click Delete at the bottom of the Quarantine screen.

The file is now deleted from your device.

Manage Quarantine settings

By default, Quarantine is allocated a maximum space of 5120 MB, which you can change in Quarantine settings. To configure Quarantine space allocation:

1. Click Settings (the gear icon) in the top right corner of the Quarantine screen.
2. Click in the text box, and redefine the maximum size for your Quarantine.

The Quarantine space allocation is now changed.

Updated on: 21/01/2026