How to disable McAfee on your computer
McAfee antivirus can be disabled temporarily or removed entirely, depending on whether you want to keep it installed but inactive, or uninstall it completely. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and the method also depends on which McAfee product you have — the consumer version (McAfee Total Protection or McAfee LiveSafe) works differently from McAfee+, which is McAfee's newer subscription product.
Most people disable McAfee temporarily when it conflicts with another program, slows down their computer, or they want to test a different antivirus. Permanent removal is less common but takes only a few minutes once you decide to do it.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you can disable McAfee's real-time scanning from the main program window without uninstalling it, which takes under a minute.
- Complete removal on Windows requires going through Control Panel or Settings to uninstall the program, then using McAfee's removal tool if the standard uninstall leaves files behind.
- On Mac, disabling happens in System Settings under Privacy & Security, where you can revoke McAfee's permissions and prevent it from running at startup.
- McAfee+ (the newer subscription version) can be disabled by signing out or uninstalling the app, but the account itself remains active until you cancel the subscription.
- After disabling or removing McAfee, Windows Defender (built into Windows) or your Mac's native protections will resume automatically.
Disabling McAfee temporarily on Windows
If you want to keep McAfee installed but turn off its real-time scanning, open the McAfee program window and look for a button or toggle labeled "Real-Time Scanning," "Protection," or "Virus and Spyware Protection." Click it to turn scanning off. The exact location varies by version — in newer versions it may be under a "My Safety" or "Protection" tab at the top of the window.
Disabling real-time scanning stops McAfee from monitoring your computer in the background, which can speed things up if McAfee is slowing you down. However, your computer will no longer be actively scanned for threats while this is off. Windows Defender will not automatically take over; you will have an unprotected gap until you re-enable McAfee or install another antivirus.
To re-enable it, open McAfee again and toggle the same setting back on. If you cannot find the toggle or the program will not open, move to the uninstall section below.
Uninstalling McAfee completely on Windows
To remove McAfee entirely, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features (on Windows 11) or Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features (on Windows 10). Scroll down, find McAfee in the list, click it, and select "Uninstall." Follow the prompts and restart your computer when prompted.
Sometimes the standard uninstall leaves behind files and registry entries that can cause problems. If you want a complete removal, download McAfee's official removal tool from their support website — search for "McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool" and download the version matching your McAfee product. Run the tool, restart your computer, and it will clean up leftover files that the standard uninstall missed.
After uninstalling, Windows Defender will automatically turn itself back on to protect your computer. You do not need to do anything — it happens in the background.
Disabling McAfee on Mac
On Mac, McAfee integrates with the operating system more deeply than on Windows, so disabling it requires a few steps. First, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security, and scroll down to find McAfee in the list of apps with special permissions. Click McAfee and uncheck any permissions it has — particularly "Full Disk Access" and "System Extension." This prevents McAfee from running in the background.
Next, open System Settings > General > Login Items and remove McAfee from the startup list so it does not launch when you restart. Then open the McAfee app itself, go to Settings or Preferences, and look for an option to disable real-time scanning or protection. Finally, quit the McAfee app and it will remain off until you manually restart it.
To fully uninstall McAfee on Mac, open the Applications folder, find McAfee, and drag it to the Trash. Then empty the Trash. Some McAfee versions also install a system extension that may remain — if you see McAfee still listed in Privacy & Security after uninstalling the app, restart your Mac and the extension should disappear.
Disabling McAfee+ (the subscription version)
McAfee+ is McAfee's newer product and works differently from older versions. To disable it, sign out of your McAfee account within the app — go to Settings or Account, find the sign-out option, and click it. This stops the app from protecting your computer and removes your subscription features.
If you want to remove the app entirely, uninstall it the same way you would any other program (through Settings > Apps on Windows, or Applications folder on Mac). Signing out or uninstalling the app does not cancel your subscription — your account remains active and you will continue to be charged. To stop the charges, you must cancel your subscription through your McAfee account on their website or contact McAfee support.
What happens after you disable or remove McAfee
On Windows, Windows Defender automatically activates once McAfee is gone or disabled. You will see a notification in the system tray confirming that Windows Defender is now protecting your computer. On Mac, the built-in XProtect and Gatekeeper protections resume automatically.
Both Windows Defender and Mac's native protections are less resource-intensive than McAfee, so your computer may run faster after removal. However, they offer fewer features — no firewall, no password manager, no VPN — so if you removed McAfee because it was slowing you down, consider installing a lighter antivirus instead of relying only on the built-in protection.
Troubleshooting if McAfee will not disable or uninstall
If McAfee will not turn off or uninstall normally, restart your computer in Safe Mode (on Windows, restart and hold Shift; on Mac, restart and hold Shift immediately after the startup sound). Safe Mode loads only essential programs, which often allows you to uninstall software that is stuck. Then try uninstalling McAfee again.
If Safe Mode does not work, use McAfee's removal tool (available on their support site) or contact McAfee support directly — they can provide a forced removal command or tool specific to your version. On Mac, if McAfee remains in Privacy & Security after uninstalling the app, restart your computer and check again; the entry usually disappears on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my computer be unprotected if I disable McAfee?
Only if you disable real-time scanning but keep McAfee installed. If you uninstall McAfee entirely, Windows Defender or Mac's built-in protections take over automatically within seconds. You will not have a gap in protection.
Can I disable McAfee without uninstalling it?
Yes. On Windows, toggle off real-time scanning in the McAfee program window. On Mac, remove McAfee's permissions in Privacy & Security and remove it from Login Items. The app stays installed but does not run.
Do I need to cancel my subscription if I uninstall McAfee?
Uninstalling the app does not cancel your subscription — you will still be charged. To stop charges, cancel your subscription through your McAfee account online or contact McAfee support. Signing out of the app also does not cancel it.
Why is McAfee slowing down my computer?
McAfee's real-time scanning runs constantly in the background and uses significant CPU and disk resources. Disabling real-time scanning may speed things up, but if you want full protection, switching to a lighter antivirus like Windows Defender or Bitdefender may be a better option.
What is the difference between disabling and uninstalling McAfee?
Disabling keeps the program installed but turns off its protection. Uninstalling removes the program entirely from your computer. Disabling is temporary and reversible; uninstalling is permanent unless you reinstall it later.