Cancel McAfee directly through your account or contact their support team
McAfee lets you cancel through your online account dashboard, by phone, or by email. The fastest route is logging into your McAfee account, finding the subscription section, and selecting cancel — this takes about five minutes and gives you immediate confirmation. If you cannot access your account or prefer to speak to someone, McAfee's phone support can process the cancellation while you wait. You will need your account email and the last four digits of the payment method you used.
Refunds depend on how long you have had the subscription. McAfee offers a 30-day refund period from the date you purchased or renewed — if you are within that window, you can request a refund when you cancel. Outside that window, cancellation stops future charges but does not return money already paid. Some credit card companies will reverse charges if you dispute them, but McAfee's policy is the starting point.
Keep your cancellation confirmation email. It shows the date you cancelled and whether a refund was issued. If McAfee continues to charge you after cancellation, you will need this proof to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your McAfee account, go to Subscription or Billing, and select Cancel Subscription to stop charges immediately without calling.
- McAfee refunds purchases within 30 days of the original purchase or renewal date; cancellations outside that window stop future charges but do not return past payments.
- If you cannot access your account, call McAfee support at 1-888-905-7555 (US) with your account email and payment method details ready.
- Save your cancellation confirmation email as proof in case McAfee charges you again or you need to dispute the charge with your bank.
- If McAfee continues charging after you cancel, contact your credit card company or bank to dispute the charge and request a reversal.
Cancel through your McAfee account online
Open a web browser and go to account.mcafee.com. Sign in with the email address and password you use for McAfee. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot password" and follow the reset link sent to your email.
Once you are logged in, look for a section labeled Subscription, Billing, or Account Settings — the exact name varies depending on which McAfee product you have. Click on it. You should see your current subscription listed with a renewal date. Look for a button or link that says Cancel Subscription, End Subscription, or Remove. Click it.
McAfee will ask why you are cancelling and may offer you a discount to stay. You can skip these offers and continue to the cancellation confirmation. The page will show your cancellation date and whether you are within the 30-day refund window. If you are, it will tell you a refund is being processed. Screenshot or print this page.
Call McAfee support to cancel by phone
If you prefer to cancel over the phone or cannot access your account, call McAfee support. The US number is 1-888-905-7555. Have your account email address and the last four digits of your payment method ready before you call.
Tell the support agent you want to cancel your subscription. They will confirm your account details, ask if you want a refund (if you are within 30 days), and process the cancellation. The entire call usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Ask the agent to email you a cancellation confirmation and note the date and time of the call in case you need to reference it later.
If you are outside the United States, visit mcafee.com/support and select your country to find the correct phone number or contact method for your region.
Request a refund if you are within 30 days
McAfee's refund window is 30 days from the date you purchased or renewed your subscription. If you cancel within that period, you can request a refund at the same time. When you cancel online, the system will tell you whether you are may be able to access. If you cancel by phone, ask the agent whether your purchase date qualifies you.
If you are may be able to access, the refund is usually processed to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days. Check your bank or credit card statement to confirm the credit appears. If 10 business days pass and you do not see the refund, contact McAfee support again with your cancellation confirmation number.
If you are outside the 30-day window, you cannot get a refund from McAfee directly. However, if McAfee charged you without your permission or you believe the charge was fraudulent, you can contact your bank or credit card company to dispute it. Provide them with your cancellation confirmation and explain the situation.
Stop McAfee from charging you again
After you cancel, McAfee should not charge you again. However, if a charge appears on your statement after your cancellation date, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Tell them you cancelled the subscription and provide your cancellation confirmation email as proof.
Your bank can dispute the charge on your behalf and reverse it if McAfee cannot show they had permission to bill you after the cancellation date. This process is called a chargeback. Keep all emails from McAfee, your cancellation confirmation, and your bank statements showing the unwanted charges.
If McAfee continues to charge you repeatedly, you may also want to contact your state's attorney general office or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to file a complaint. The FTC has a complaint form at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
What to do if you cannot access your account
If you have forgotten your password or cannot log into your McAfee account, you still have two options: reset your password or call support. To reset your password, go to account.mcafee.com and click "Forgot password." Enter the email address associated with your account. McAfee will send a password reset link to that email. Click the link, create a new password, and log in to cancel as described above.
If you do not have access to the email address you used to create the account, or if the reset link does not arrive, call McAfee support at 1-888-905-7555. The agent can verify your identity using your payment method and account details, then cancel the subscription for you over the phone.
Uninstall McAfee from your device after cancelling
Cancelling your subscription stops the charges, but the McAfee software remains on your computer or phone until you remove it. Uninstalling is a separate step. On Windows, go to Settings, then Apps, find McAfee, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications, find McAfee, and drag it to the Trash. On Android or iPhone, open your app store, find McAfee, and tap Uninstall or Remove.
Some McAfee products leave behind files even after uninstalling. If you want a complete removal, McAfee offers a removal tool on their support website. Search for "McAfee removal tool" on mcafee.com/support to download it for your device type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel McAfee anytime or only at renewal?
You can cancel anytime, even in the middle of your subscription period. Cancellation stops future charges immediately. If you cancel before your renewal date, you will not be charged again, but you will lose access to McAfee protection on that date unless you purchased annual coverage that has not yet expired.
What if McAfee says I am not within the 30-day refund window?
If McAfee denies your refund request, you can still contact your credit card company or bank to dispute the charge. Explain that you cancelled within a reasonable time and believed you were within the refund period. Your bank can investigate and may reverse the charge even if McAfee refuses.
Do I need to uninstall McAfee before cancelling?
No. You can cancel your subscription first, then uninstall the software whenever you want. Cancelling stops the charges; uninstalling removes the program from your device. You can do them in either order.
Will cancelling McAfee affect my other accounts or devices?
If you have McAfee installed on multiple devices under one account, cancelling the subscription removes protection from all of them. If you want to keep McAfee on some devices but not others, you will need to uninstall it manually from the devices you no longer want it on.
How long does it take for McAfee to stop charging after I cancel?
Cancellation takes effect immediately. If your next renewal date is coming up, McAfee will not charge you on that date. If you cancel and a charge still appears, contact your bank right away — it should not happen, and your bank can reverse it.