Microsoft – Completely remove a McAfee anti-virus
Problem
A customer who has McAfee software and wishes to completely remove it from the system.
Detail
McAfee is one of a number of major anti-virus solutions that do deals with computer manufacturers to pre-install their software titles onto consumer PCs. In return the PC manufacturer often subsidises the price of the machine to the customer. If a customer has to restore their machine to factory defaults they may find this software gets reinstalled even if they have abandoned using it some time ago. As such McAfee and others are frequent offenders at causing disruption or slow performance on computers and are sometimes hard to remove as well.
Resolution
Although there is a Windows uninstall you can access via Apps and Features, this may not completely remove the software from the system. If you suspect components may still be install the company has a removal tool that can be used to clean up the system.
Note
This tool can be used on a fully installed McAfee to
complete its removal even if the Windows installer does not function.
- Please this this page: https://www.mcafee.com/support/?articleId=TS101331&page=shell&shell=article-view
- Locate the download link for the MCPR (McAfee Consumer Product
Removal tool.
- After downloading run the tool and follow the
instructions, at times it may appear to be making very slow or no progress at
all. Please be patient and the tool
should eventually complete removal of the software.
- Then restart the system afterwards, this should re-enable the
build in Windows Defender anti-virus.
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