Avast Blocking Something? Troubleshooting Guide

TL;DR

Avast sometimes incorrectly flags legitimate software or websites as threats. This guide helps you identify if Avast is causing issues and how to fix them, including adding exceptions, checking scan settings, and temporarily disabling it for testing.

1. Identify the Problem

1. What’s being blocked? Is it a specific program, website, file download, or something else? Note down exactly what Avast is preventing.
2. Avast Alerts: Check your Avast notifications and history for details about the block. Look for error messages or descriptions of the detected threat.
3. System Slowdown: Is your computer running slower than usual *only* when Avast is active? This could indicate a false positive causing excessive scanning.

2. Add an Exception

If Avast is blocking a program you trust, adding it as an exception will tell Avast to ignore it during scans.

1. Open Avast: Double-click the Avast icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen).
2. Go to Settings: Click ‘Menu’ (usually three horizontal lines) then select ‘Settings’.
3. General > Exceptions: Navigate to ‘General’ and then click on ‘Exceptions’.
4. Add Exception: Click ‘Add Exception’. You can add:
   • File Path: For a specific program file (e.g., C:Program FilesMyProgrammyprogram.exe).
   • Folder: To exclude an entire folder from scans.
   • Website URL: To allow access to a website Avast is blocking.
5. Confirm: Click ‘OK’ or ‘Add’ to save the exception.

3. Check Scan Settings

Sometimes, overly aggressive scan settings can lead to false positives.

1. Open Avast: Double-click the Avast icon in your system tray.
2. Go to Protection > Scans: Navigate to ‘Protection’ and then click on ‘Scans’.
3. Custom Scan Settings: Click ‘Settings’ under Custom Scans.
4. Adjust Sensitivity: Lower the scan sensitivity if it’s set too high. Be cautious with this; lower sensitivity may miss real threats.
5. Check for Heuristic Analysis: Ensure heuristic analysis is enabled, but consider temporarily disabling it to see if it resolves the issue (re-enable later).

4. Temporarily Disable Avast

Disabling Avast will help you determine if it’s *definitely* causing the problem. Important: Only disable Avast temporarily for testing, and re-enable it as soon as possible.

1. Right-click the Avast icon: In your system tray.
2. Select ‘Avast shields control’: Choose a temporary disabling option (e.g., ‘Disable shields for 10 minutes’).
3. Test: Try to perform the action that was being blocked. If it works, Avast is likely the cause.
4. Re-enable: Right-click the Avast icon again and select ‘Enable all shields’.

5. Check for False Positive Reports

Other users might have reported the same issue with Avast incorrectly flagging a file or program.

1. Avast Virus Chest: Open Avast and go to ‘Protection’ > ‘Virus Chest’.
2. Submit File for Analysis: If the blocked item is in your Virus Chest, right-click it and select ‘Report as False Positive’.
3. Online Forums/Communities: Search online forums or the Avast community website to see if others have experienced similar problems.

6. Update Avast

An outdated version of Avast may contain bugs or incorrect definitions.

1. Open Avast: Double-click the Avast icon in your system tray.
2. Check for Updates: Click ‘Menu’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Updates’. Ensure automatic updates are enabled, and manually check for updates if needed.

7. Contact Avast Support

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact Avast support directly for assistance.