How to Update Avast Antivirus on Windows

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Avast updates virus definitions and its application automatically when updates are available. To check manually on Windows, right-click the Avast icon in the taskbar notification area and choose Update → Engine and virus definitions or Update → Program. This guide covers Avast Antivirus and Avast One for Windows; the precise menu labels come from an Avast Support article updated June 2, 2022, and may differ in newer releases.

What Avast updates—and what it does not

There are three separate update functions to distinguish:

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• Virus definitions and streaming updates: These help Avast identify threats. Avast says definitions update automatically when available; streaming updates are enabled by default in the products described in its support article.
• Avast application: A program update includes the Avast application and, according to Avast, also updates the engine and virus definitions. Application updates provide bug fixes and general improvements. Avast may ask you to restart to finish.
• Other installed applications: Avast Software Updater is for third-party apps, not Avast’s own definitions or program. Avast says automatic third-party application updates in Avast Antivirus are available only in Premium Security; Avast One has separate Software Updater instructions.

Avast recommends leaving automatic updates enabled: “We strongly recommend you keep these automatic updates enabled.” Avast Support’s update instructions describe automatic, notification-based, and manual settings.

Manually check for Avast updates on Windows

These menu labels are from Avast Support’s Windows instructions, which identify Avast Free Antivirus 24.x, Avast Premium Security 24.x, and Avast One 24.x. If your current app looks different, use the update controls shown in the app or consult Avast’s current support guidance.

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Update virus definitions

1. In the Windows taskbar notification area, right-click the Avast icon.
2. Choose Update → Engine and virus definitions.
3. If the check does not begin automatically, click Check for updates.
4. Wait for Avast to display Virus definitions are up to date.

Update the Avast application

1. Right-click the Avast icon in the taskbar notification area.
2. Choose Update → Program.
3. If needed, click Check for updates, then wait for Avast Antivirus is up to date.
4. Restart the computer if Avast prompts you to do so.

Check automatic update settings

1. Open Avast and select Menu → Settings → General → Update.
2. Expand More options under the relevant update section.
3. Review whether definition and application updates are set to automatic, notification-based, or manual.

Avast says automatic updating is selected by default in the described products and recommends keeping it enabled. Manual-only updating means you must remember to check yourself; notification-based settings prompt you rather than installing automatically.

If Avast is not updating

• Check the connection: Avast cannot update virus definitions while the device is offline. Its system requirements also state that internet access is needed to maintain updates.
• Give the check time to finish: Avoid interrupting an update in progress, and restart if Avast requests it.
• Compare your menus with the current app: The detailed support instructions were updated June 2, 2022, while Avast’s requirements page lists Windows Avast Free Antivirus 26.x and Avast Premium Security 26.x. Menu names can change between releases.

If the update still fails, the available guidance does not establish a reliable fix for every error code or failure scenario. Use Avast’s current support resources for the specific message you see, and avoid unofficial download mirrors.

Scope of these steps

The detailed manual instructions here are for Avast products on Windows. The cited support page covers Windows versions of Avast Free Antivirus, Avast Premium Security, and Avast One; these steps do not establish the update procedure for macOS, Android, or iOS.

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