Let’s be real. Avast is that overprotective friend who screams at you for looking at a shady website. It means well, but sometimes you need it to chill out. Maybe you’re installing a weird mod for a game. Or you know a program is safe, but Avast thinks it’s a supervillain.
You don’t want to nuke it from orbit—just give it a nap. Here’s how to temporarily turn off Avast, no drama required. It’s like putting a guard dog in a timeout, but with more clicks and fewer slobbery toys.
Why You’d Even Do This (The Fun Part)
Avast sometimes mistakes a harmless file for a digital gremlin. Imagine trying to install a retro game emulator. Avast screams, “MALWARE ALERT!” and deletes it. You, meanwhile, just want to play Super Mario 64 in 4K.
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Turning it off is like telling your bouncer friend, “Hey, I’m just grabbing my jacket from the scary back room.” You’re in control. And honestly, it’s oddly satisfying to boss around a security program for 10 minutes.
Fun fact: Avast once argued with a screenshot tool I use daily. It claimed the tool was “attempting to steal logins.” The tool was literally a camera for my desktop. Paranoia runs deep in antivirus software.
Method 1: The Quick and Dirty Way (10-Second Flick)
Look at your system tray—that little icon area near your clock. Find the orange Avast icon. Right-click it like you mean it. You’ll see a menu with an option to “Avast Shields Control.”
Click it. Now choose how long you want Avast to shut its virtual mouth. Your options are 10 minutes, 1 hour, until restart, or permanently (don’t pick that unless you’re feeling spicy).
Pick “10 minutes” if you’re just installing a quick thing. Pick “1 hour” if you’re about to binge-mod a game. The program will go poof into quiet mode. Your computer will feel lighter. The silence is golden.
Secret bonus: Avast will get scared and ask if you’re sure. It’ll flash a yellow warning triangle. Click “Yes” anyway. You’re the boss here. Not a nervous orange icon.
How to Turn Off or Disable Avast Temporarily
Method 2: The Digital Deep Dive (The Pro Move)
Want more control? Open Avast completely. Double-click that icon. It’s like opening the door to its treehouse. Then, navigate to “Protection” in the left menu (it looks like a shield).
Click “Core Shields.” You’ll see a bunch of toggles and switches. This is the nerve center. You can toggle off individual shields—like the File Shield or Web Shield. Or just flip the big master switch to “Off.”
Avast will groan. It’ll show a dramatic red pop-up saying, “You are now unprotected!” Ignore it. That’s just its way of guilt-tripping you. You’re in charge. This method is great if you need to keep Avast off while editing a dodgy PDF.
Quirky fact: Avast actually keeps track of how many times you turn shields off. My log says I’ve done it 47 times. It probably has a little digital notebook with my name in it, underlined in red.
Method 3: The Nuclear Option (For Tech Rebels)
Sometimes, even the toggle doesn’t work. Avast refuses to sleep. That’s when you get serious. Open Windows Settings (the gear icon). Go to “Apps” and find Avast in the list.
Click “Advanced options.” Then, scroll down to “Terminate” and hit it. This kills the Avast process immediately. It’s like unplugging a noisy appliance. No warning. No guilt trip. Just silence.
Downside: Avast will restart itself when you reboot your PC. But for a 15-minute installation spree? Works perfectly. I used this once to install a font pack Avast thought was a virus. The font was literally Comic Sans. Judge all you want, but Avast should not fear a font.
How To Turn Off Avast Antivirus 2020 Temporarily or Completely
The Golden Rule (Don’t Be Dumb)
Only turn Avast off when you absolutely know your source is safe. Downloading questionable “free MP3 converters” while shields are off is like juggling knives while riding a unicycle. Not recommended.
I once turned off Avast to install a lightweight photo editor. A friend who didn’t know better did it for a “free VPN” pop-up. That friend now has a Bitcoin miner on their laptop. Don’t be that friend.
Short rule: Turn it off, do your thing, then turn it back on immediately. Avast will pop a notification saying, “I’m back! Miss me?” Roll your eyes. Click “Restore Shields.” Crisis averted.
Why This Is Actually Kind of Fun
There’s an odd thrill in temporarily disabling a program whose job is to protect you. It’s like holding your breath or staring without blinking. A tiny rebellion. You get to decide the rules.
Avast is a great tool—don’t get me wrong. It catches real nasties. But sometimes, it needs a chill pill. By learning these tricks, you’re not just bypassing software; you’re declaring independence from overly anxious code.
Plus, it’s a great party trick. At a LAN party, you can say, “I disabled my antivirus to mod this game.” People will nod knowingly. You’ll feel like a coder. In reality, you just clicked three buttons. But shh—let them think you’re a wizard.
So go ahead. Right-click that orange icon. Set a timer. Install your weird tool. Then wake Avast up. It’ll be fine. You’ve got this.