How to Disable McAfee GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Antivirus

How to Disable McAfee

Tired of McAfee popping up or blocking apps? Turn it off for a bit

By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 18, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Antivirus Online Scams Social Media Scams Email Scams Phone & Texting Scams

What to Know

In Windows, select Open McAfee Total Protection > PC Security > Real-Time Scanning > Turn Off > Turn Off.In macOS, select Total Protection Console > Mac Security > Real-Time Scanning > Lock > password > toggle off Real-Time Scanning. This article explains how to temporarily disable McAfee on most versions of Microsoft Windows and macOS. McAfee is a popular antivirus application used for protecting devices from malware, unwanted programs, and attacks—however, it can be overprotective at times and block programs you trust from performing their functions.

How to Disable McAfee Total Protection in Windows

Disabling your antivirus protection or firewall could leave your computer vulnerable to outside attacks or infections. Re-enable these protections after you complete the task McAfee blocked. Follow the instructions below to disable McAfee Total Protection temporarily on a Windows PC. Select the McAfee icon located in the Notifications section of the Windows taskbar in the lower-right corner of the screen. It looks like a red shield. When the pop-out menu appears, select Open McAfee Total Protection. Alternatively, open the program from a desktop icon, if there is one, or search for it using the Windows search bar. Go to the PC Security tab. Choose Real-Time Scanning, found in the left menu pane. To disable McAfee Firewall, choose Firewall. The Real-Time Scanning dialog window appears, overlaying the McAfee Total Protection dashboard. Select Turn Off to disable active scanning. A confirmation message appears asking if you're sure you want to turn off real-time scanning. Select Turn Off to continue. To re-enable scanning automatically at a later time, select the When do you want to resume Real-Time Scanning drop-down menu and choose a time interval.

How to Disable McAfee Total Protection in macOS

Take these steps to disable McAfee Total Protection temporarily on your Mac: Click the McAfee Total Protection logo, represented by a red shield, located in the upper-right corner of the screen next to the battery indicator and Wi-Fi icon. If you don't see this icon, open McAfee by selecting the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner, typing McAfee, then selecting Internet Security. Select Total Protection Console from the drop-down menu. In the McAfee Total Protection console, go to the Mac Security tab. Select Real-Time Scanning, located in the left menu pane. To disable McAfee Firewall, select Firewall. The Real-Time Scanning settings options should appear, overlaying the Total Protection console window. Click the Lock icon, located in the lower-left corner. Enter your macOS password when prompted and click OK to continue. Click the On/Off toggle, located in the upper-right corner of the Real-Time Scanning dialog, so that it turns from blue (On) to gray (Off). Click the X in the upper-left corner to close the Real-Time Scanning dialog box. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Disable Norton Antivirus How to Turn Off Windows Defender How to Use Night Light in Windows 10 How to Use Skype's Split View Mode in Windows 10 How to Use ActiveX Filtering in Internet Explorer 11 How to Use the Pop-Up Blocker in Internet Explorer 11 The 9 Best Free Antivirus Software of 2022 How to Disable the Windows Firewall in Windows How to Activate Full-Screen Mode in Google Chrome How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10 How to Disable Extensions and Plug-ins in Google Chrome How to Use Google Docs Dark Mode McAfee Review How to Remove a Video From YouTube How to Recover Missing Emails in Gmail How to Disable JavaScript in Internet Explorer 11 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies