Start secure browsing

1. Tap the Avast Secure Browser icon on the Home screen of your device. The app opens to the main browser screen.
2. Select from the following actions:
   1. My 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 following article: Syncing Avast Secure Browser.
   2. Upgrade now: Tap to purchase an Avast Secure Browser PRO subscription.
   3. Upgrade now: Tap to purchase an Avast Secure Browser PRO subscription.
   4. Security & Privacy Center: Tap the green icon to open the Security & Privacy Center tools and features to manage your online activity.
   5. Search or type URL: Tap the search bar, then enter a search term or website URL to start browsing the internet in Secure Mode.
   6. Add shortcut: Tap the + plus icon to bookmark your favorite websites.
   7. Menu: Tap … Menu (three dots) to access the browser menu options.
   8. Tabs: Tap the square tabs icon to view browser tabs that are currently open in each browser mode.
   9. Search: Tap the search icon to access the browser search bar.
      The search icon changes to a home icon when you are browsing a website. Tap the home icon to return to the main Avast Secure Browser screen.

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

Change browser modes

Avast Secure Browser offers three browser modes: Secure Mode, Secure & Private Mode, and Custom Mode. Each mode applies different security and privacy settings to the tabs you open within that mode. This allows you to organize your browsing activity according to the privacy settings best suited for the sites you visit. By default, all new tabs opened from the main browser screen open in Secure Mode.

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. If you have any tabs currently open, these are visible on the applicable mode screen.
   1. Secure Mode: A balance of security and privacy. Does not delete browsing data and history when you exit the browser. Disguising your location with VPN is optional. Ads & trackers are blocked (balanced mode). Do not track is on, and connections are upgraded to HTTPS.
   2. Secure & Private Mode: Truly anonymous, incognito browsing. Deletes all browsing data and history when you exit the browser. Your location is disguised by VPN. Ads & trackers are blocked (balanced mode). Do not track is on, and connections are upgraded to HTTPS.
   3. Custom Modes: (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO) Create, customize, and save your own set of security and privacy preferences when browsing.
   4. Custom Modes: (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO) Create, customize, and save your own set of security and privacy preferences when browsing.
3. To open a new tab in the selected mode, tap the green + plus icon, then search for or enter the URL of the site you want to open.

The new tab opens in your selected browser mode. Tap the home icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen to return to the main Avast Secure Browser screen.

Adjust browser mode settings

You can optionally customize the security and privacy settings for each browser mode. To access browser mode settings:

1. Tap the square tabs icon at the bottom of the main Avast Secure Browser screen.
2. Select your preferred browser mode using the icons at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Settings (the gear icon).
4. Select from the following options:
   • VPN: Disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For more information, refer to the Browser VPN section.
   • AdBlock: Prevent advertisements from loading on the websites you visit. For more information, refer to the Block ads & trackers section.
   • Do not track: Automatically enabled in Secure Mode and Secure & Private Mode to stop websites from tracking your online activity. It is only possible to disable this setting using a Custom Mode in Avast Secure Browser PRO.
   • Secure DNS over TLS: Select your preferred Domain Name System (DNS). With an Avast Secure Browser PRO subscription you also have the option to add a custom DNS.
   • Search engine: Select your preferred search engine.
   • Search Engine: Select your preferred search engine.
   • Privacy Statistics: Enable to view active and available statistics for a time period.
   • Privacy statistics: Enable to view active and available statistics for a time period.
   • Delete browsing data on exit: Enable Avast Secure Browser to automatically delete all open tabs, history, cache, and cookies when you close the browser.
   • Show Search Suggestions: Enable for search suggestions while browsing.
   • Show search suggestions: Enable for search suggestions while browsing.
   • Delete Tabs on Exit: Choose if you want Avast Secure Browser to automatically delete all open tabs when you close the browser.
   • Additional download and data settings

Browser VPN

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

Available in Avast Secure Browser PRO, choose if you want to disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

• Enable: Tap VPN is OFF, then tap the gray (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON).
• Disable: Tap VPN is ON, then tap the green (ON) slider so that it changes to gray (OFF) and tap Change setting to confirm.

• Enable: Tap VPN OFF, then tap the X (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON).
• Disable: Tap VPN is ON, then tap the green (ON) slider so that it changes to X (OFF) and tap Change setting to confirm.

Block ads & trackers

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 AdBlock is on.
2. Tap the circle next to your preferred AdBlock mode:
   • 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.
   • Essential: Blocks disruptive ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standards. This includes pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing videos.
   • 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 to not 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 the Security & Privacy Center icon in the top-right corner.
3. Tap the green (ON) slider next to Block ads on so that it changes to gray (OFF).

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.

Additional settings

The following additional download and data settings are also available for each browser mode:

• 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.
• Prevent screenshots: Tap to enable masking and prevent screenshots.
• Enable screen masking: Tap to disable masking.
• Request desktop version for all websites: Tap to enable the desktop version of websites.
• Manage Custom DNS nodes (Avast Secure Browser PRO): Add or remove custom DNS nodes from the DNS list.
• Close all tabs now: Tap to immediately close all open tabs in the selected browser mode.
• Clear cookies: Tap to immediately clear all cookies in the selected browser mode.
• Encrypted cache: Tap the green (ON) slider so that it changes to gray (OFF) if you do not want Avast Secure Browser to encrypt your cache data in the selected browser mode.
• Switch connection & delete: Enable to delete browser cookies and cache when switching VPN on and off or changing location.
• Close all tabs now: Tap to immediately close all open tabs in the selected browser mode.
• Clear cookies & data for this mode: Tap to immediately clear all cookies and browser data in the selected browser mode.
• Restore default settings: Tap to return the browser mode to the default settings.

Access menu and settings options

Open Avast Secure Browser and tap … Menu (three dots) at the bottom of the main browser screen to access menu options such as:

• Your browsing history for each browser mode
• Bookmarked websites
• Your media vault
• Your media vault
• App settings

Select Settings for the following options:

• Security & data settings: PIN code, fingerprint, and face unlock options.
• Browser Security, Privacy & Data: PIN code, Touch ID, and Face ID options.
• Appearance: Switch the app to dark mode.
• Set as default browser: Set Avast Secure Browser as your default browser so that URL links always open in Avast Secure Browser.
• Password Manager: Store your saved passwords.
• Device-Wide VPN Settings: Allow all of the apps on your device to connect securely to the internet via Avast VPN servers (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO).
• Device-Wide Security Scan: Scan your device for vulnerabilities.
• Secure DNS over TLS: Change your Domain Name System (DNS) from the default selection.
• Web Shield: An added layer of protection against fake websites (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO).
• Web Shield: An added layer of protection against fake websites (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO).
• Browser Appearance: Switch the app to dark mode.
• Device-Wide VPN: Allow all of the apps on your device to connect securely to the internet via Avast VPN servers (available in Avast Secure Browser PRO).
• Install widgets: Add shortcuts to Avast Secure Browser from the Home screen of your device for faster and more convenient browsing.