How to uninstall Avast on Mac completely
Avast runs in the background all the time, so dragging the app to the Trash doesn’t remove it: Avast itself says so. Use its uninstaller first, then check the few background items that can stay in the system folders.
- Open MacWashing and choose Uninstaller in the sidebar.
- Click Show Apps and check Avast Security in the list.
- Click Remove and confirm. Files that may be yours are listed as Possible and stay unchecked.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Uninstall Avast from its own menu
Avast Security and Avast One have the same uninstaller. The steps below name Avast Security. For Avast One, the menu items say Avast One instead.
- Open Avast Security.
- In the menu bar, choose Avast Security › Uninstall Avast Security.
- In the uninstaller window, click Continue.
- Enter the password you use to log in to your Mac and click Install Helper.
- Wait while the app is removed. If macOS asks for your password again, enter it and click OK.
- When you see the confirmation, click Finish.
If the Avast menu isn’t in the menu bar, click the Avast window first: the menu bar shows the menus of the app in front.
Or run the uninstaller from Finder
- Open Finder › Applications.
- Open Avast Security Uninstaller (or Avast One Uninstaller).
- Click Continue and follow the same steps as above.
Don’t just drag Avast to the Trash. Its background parts keep running, and the app isn’t fully removed.
What Avast leaves behind
After the uninstaller has finished, check these system folders. Each file starts a part of Avast in the background:
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.init.plist— an Avast background service that starts with the Mac./Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.update.plist— Avast’s update service./Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.uninstall.plist— another Avast background task./Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.userinit.plist— an Avast item that starts when you log in.
Remove the leftovers by hand
- In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G), type a path from the list above and press Return.
- Move the file to the Trash. Files in
/Libraryneed your administrator password. - Repeat for the other paths.
- Restart your Mac, so nothing from Avast is running any more, then empty the Trash.
Avast isn’t the only app that leaves files behind: see how to uninstall apps on Mac completely.
With MacWashing, it’s one click
The Uninstaller in MacWashing knows the files Avast creates in the system folders and removes them together with the app, background items included.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
Will MacWashing delete my own files when it removes Avast?
No. The Uninstaller checks only what belongs to the app: its settings, caches, logs and background items. Folders that may hold your own files are listed as Possible and stay unchecked until you check them yourself, and apps go to the Trash by default, so you can put them back.
What if Avast is still running?
MacWashing waits for it to quit, or quits it at your request, and only then removes its files.
Is it free to uninstall Avast with MacWashing?
Yes, within the free trial: System Junk and the Uninstaller free up to 25 GB in total, with no account or card needed.
Does uninstalling Avast cancel my subscription?
No. Avast says removing the app doesn’t cancel a subscription. Cancel it in your Avast account, or in your App Store subscriptions if you bought it there.
Why can’t I just drag Avast to the Trash?
Avast keeps background services running. Avast’s own support site says moving the app to the Trash doesn’t fully uninstall it. Its uninstaller stops and removes those services.
Is my Mac unprotected after I remove Avast?
macOS has its own built-in malware protection, XProtect, which works without any extra app and is updated by Apple. Whether you want another security app on top of it is up to you.