Cancel Avast through your account settings

The fastest way to cancel Avast is to log into your account on Avast's website and end the subscription yourself. You will need the email address and password you used when you bought the subscription. Cancelling this way takes about five minutes and gives you immediate confirmation.

Go to www.avast.com and click the account icon in the top right corner. Select "Account" or "My Account" from the menu. Look for a section called "Subscriptions," "My Products," or "Licenses" — the exact name changes depending on when your account was created. Find the Avast subscription you want to cancel and look for a button that says "Cancel," "Manage," or "End Subscription." Click it and follow the prompts to confirm.

Avast will usually ask why you are cancelling. You can skip this question or answer it — either way, the cancellation will go through. After you confirm, you should see a message saying your subscription has been cancelled. Check your email for a confirmation message from Avast within a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Avast account at www.avast.com and find the Subscriptions section to cancel without calling anyone.
  • Avast will stop charging you on your next billing date, not immediately, so check your confirmation email for the exact date.
  • If you cannot find the cancel button or your account will not load, contact Avast support by email or chat instead of calling, because wait times for phone support are often longer than two hours.
  • Uninstalling Avast from your computer does not cancel the subscription — you must cancel through your account or contact support.
  • If Avast charged you after you cancelled, contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge while you wait for Avast support to respond.

What happens to your subscription after you cancel

When you cancel Avast, the subscription ends on your next billing date, not right away. If you paid for a year and you cancel three months in, you will keep Avast protection until the one-year mark. Avast does not refund the unused portion of your subscription in most cases, so cancelling early means you lose that money.

Check your confirmation email to see the exact date your subscription ends. Mark that date on your calendar. On that date, Avast will stop working and you will see a message on your computer saying your license has expired. At that point, you can uninstall Avast or replace it with a different security program.

Contact Avast support if you cannot cancel online

If you forget your password, cannot log into your account, or the cancel button does not appear, you will need to contact Avast support. Do not call the phone number on a search result — many of those are third-party support services that charge fees. Instead, go to www.avast.com/support and look for "Contact Us" or "Chat with Support."

Avast offers live chat and email support. Live chat is usually faster — you can often connect within 10 to 20 minutes during business hours. Have your email address and the last four digits of the card you used to pay ready before you start the chat. Tell the support agent you want to cancel your subscription and provide your account email. They will cancel it for you and send a confirmation email.

Email support takes longer, usually one to three business days, but it creates a written record of your cancellation request. This is useful if Avast charges you again after you cancel and you need to show your bank that you asked them to stop.

Uninstall Avast after your subscription ends

Cancelling your subscription does not remove Avast from your computer. After your subscription ends, the program will still be installed but it will not work. You can leave it there, but most people uninstall it to free up space and avoid confusion.

On Windows, go to Settings, then "Apps," then "Apps & Features." Scroll down and find "Avast" in the list. Click it and select "Uninstall." Windows will ask you to confirm — click "Uninstall" again. The program will remove itself and you may need to restart your computer.

On Mac, open Finder and go to the Applications folder. Find Avast and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash. Some versions of Avast leave behind small files called "preference files" — you can ignore these or search online for "remove Avast preference files Mac" if you want to clean them up completely.

Stop Avast from charging you if cancellation fails

In rare cases, Avast charges your card even after you cancel. This usually happens because the cancellation did not go through, or because you cancelled but the system took a few days to process it. Check your bank or credit card statement about one week after you cancel to make sure no charge appears.

If Avast charged you after your cancellation date, contact your bank or credit card company first. Tell them you cancelled the subscription and ask them to dispute the charge. Most banks will reverse the charge within two to five business days while they investigate. At the same time, contact Avast support with a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation and your bank statement showing the unwanted charge. Keep all emails from both Avast and your bank in case you need them later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cancelling Avast give me my money back?

Avast does not refund unused subscription time in most cases. If you paid for a year and cancel after three months, you lose the remaining nine months of payment. Some credit card companies offer purchase protection that covers refunds — contact your card issuer to ask if your purchase is covered.

What if I cancel but Avast keeps sending me emails?

After you cancel, Avast may still send you marketing emails for a few weeks. Open one of these emails and look for an "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom. Click it to remove yourself from their mailing list. If emails continue after that, reply to one and ask to be removed, or contact Avast support.

Can I cancel Avast through the program itself on my computer?

Some versions of Avast have a cancel button inside the program, but most do not. Your safest option is to cancel through your account on www.avast.com or contact support. If you see a cancel option in the Avast program, you can use it, but confirm the cancellation by checking your email and your bank statement.

What security software should I use after I cancel Avast?

Windows comes with built-in security called Windows Defender that works without paying extra. Mac comes with similar built-in protection. If you want a different paid program, research options before you uninstall Avast so you are not left without protection. Never run two security programs at the same time — they interfere with each other.

How long does it take for Avast to stop charging after I cancel?

Avast stops charging on your next billing date, which could be anywhere from one day to one year away depending on when you bought your subscription. Your confirmation email will tell you the exact date. If Avast charges you after that date, contact your bank to dispute it.