How to Fix the “Avast Unable to Scan” Issue on Windows/Mac
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Do you have an antivirus installed on your PC or Mac? If yes, it’s most likely Avast. It’s one of the best free antivirus software with more than 100 million users worldwide. However, sometimes this powerful security tool may give you a headache, that is “avast unable to scan”.
When you are trying to run a virus scan or search for updates, an error message pops up and simply says “avast was unable to restore successfully.” At this time, what can you do? Don’t worry! We will show you how to fix avast inability to scan issues in 3 easy ways below.
*Note: For the following methods, we are working on Windows 10 to avast how to view unable to scan files.
Solution 1: Restart your PC/Mac and Launch Avast Again
Step 1: Press “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” all at once to restart your PC. If that doesn’t work, try these steps:
a. Turn off your computer using the power button (If you use a laptop like me, simply close it)
b. Once it’s completely shut down, turn it on again and immediately press “F8” several times until you see the selection screen come up (usually this option comes up right after you hear your computer beep)
c. Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode with Networking” and press enter (You can also try the other options like “Safe Mode”, but they didn’t work for me)
d. Once you’re in, restart your PC and it should work fine now! You may need to change some settings though or reinstall something.
Step 2: Launch Avast again by just double-clicking on its desktop shortcut (If you don’t have one, search for avast on your Windows/Mac program files and pin it). After launching, please check if there is a small gear at the top right corner of your screen.
If so, click on it and configure the settings to scan everything automatically with higher priority than before. This will help ensure that your virus scan will work next time.
Step 3: If that doesn’t seem to fix your avast unable to scan error, please try our second solution below.
Solution 2: Update your Antivirus in Safe Mode
Step 1: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features and uninstall “avast” from your computer.
Step 2: Restart your PC/Mac and press the F8 key again (on Step 1), this time select “Safe Mode with Networking”. Then launch Internet Explorer or Firefox browser by right-clicking on the shortcut, choose run as administrator. Please get connected to the internet ASAP!
Now update your antivirus software manually through its official website online by downloading a fresh installer file. If you don’t have one, the official website of your antivirus software should help you out with that.
Step 3: After installing, launch your updated antivirus program and see if it works fine now! If not, move on to our third solution below.
Solution 3: Reinstall Avast on PC/Mac
If all else fails to fix avast unable to scan error for some reason, please try reinstalling the antivirus software completely on your computer. This is actually a very simple thing to do but it can be pretty time-consuming depending on how many programs are installed on your PC/Mac. So let’s get started!
Step 1: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall or change a program and uninstall “avast” completely on your PC/Mac.
Step 2: Reboot your computer and open Avast again while it’s still in safe mode (on Step 1). Restore the defaults if possible by clicking on the question mark at the top left corner of its user interface. Finally, just follow the installation wizard for avast to reinstall it back onto your computer and everything should work fine now! Your Computer Should Be Safe Now! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this post with others. If you have any problems installing/reinstalling avast, let us know how we can help you in the comment section below!
Frequently asked questions
What is avast?
Avast! antivirus software provides the latest in security and virus protection technology. Renowned for having one of the best detection rates, its advanced threat detection system blocks viruses, spyware, worms and all other types of malware from infecting your computer.
It also detects a variety of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) which may come bundled with legitimate software. Avast! protects not only against viruses but also ransomware, phishing attacks and identity theft.
Is avast! safe to use?
Yes, it is. Millions around the world trust their computers with our antivirus solutions every day, so you can too. We have put together a team of security experts who employ innovative technologies that work non-stop to keep your data, privacy and PC safe.
What is malware? What types do avast! detect?
The term “malware” refers to a type of software designed to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. In general terms, it includes viruses, worms, trojans and any other program specifically designed to accomplish one of these objectives.
Avast defends against all kinds of malicious software you may encounter when browsing the web, including ransomware which encrypts files on your computer rendering them inaccessible unless you pay a ransom for the decryption key. In order to give you full protection avast blocks attacks even before they reach your browser.
How to view unable to scan files on mac?
A scan should be performed
Click on the option “some files could not be scanned”
