Avast not Updating – What to do Now?

Overview

Avast Antivirus is a powerful antivirus software that protects your PC from viruses, spyware and other malicious programs. With 6 layers of security, Avast Antivirus offers the most complete protection against all types of threats on the Internet. Powerful virus scanner checks for and removes even the latest malware.

The best thing about Avast Antivirus is its performance. It doesn’t slow down your computer or interrupt you with constant notifications. It’s easy to install, use and update so you can focus on more important things in life than worrying about viruses!

However, it is possible that you may encounter a problem that the Avast antivirus not updating virus definitions because of weird reasons you don’t know. The end result being your software unable to protect yourself from new online threats like malware and viruses and could lead you exposed to harmful cyberattacks

If you have been looking for a solution to the “Avast not updating” problem, we’re here to help. There are many different reasons why the Avast antivirus not updating properly. Today, I want to talk about the topic regarding the most common reason and how to fix Avast virus definitions issue.

Why is Avast Antivirus not Updating?

A little while back, my Avast Antivirus stopped to update virus definitions. I thought it might be a problem with the internet connection or something on my end (which is always possible) but after reading up about this issue online and talking to friends who also use Avast, it turns out that there are some things we can do if our antivirus isn’t working as well as it should!

Possible Reasons why Avast is not Updating Virus Definitions

If Avast Antivirus is not updating the virus definitions, it might be due to many different reasons. However, the solution can vary depending on what’s causing this issue with updates. Here are some possible causes and solution to this problem.

Issue 1: Bugs/Glitches in the Software

Software and computer applications may have unforeseen problems that can arise from a variety of different scenarios. The Avast antivirus software is no exception, as it has been known to have some issues where the antivirus is not updating due to an unexpected occurrence in the system.

No matter how extensive quality control measures are taken, there will always be something that slips through the cracks and could be the reason why Avast antivirus is not updating the virus definition

Issue 2: Improper Installation

The installation process is not always flawless and there are many instances when some important files were incorrectly installed, or the installer just grinds to a halt with no explanation at all. I have also come across this myself, resulting in a program that doesn’t behave as expected or certain features not working properly at all times because of it.

It’s very possible for your Avast antivirus to be one of these programs affected by an improperly done installation which could be the reason why it can’t update virus definitions

Issue 3: Improper Network Settings or Firewall

It is also possible that the reason your Avast Antivirus is not updating its virus signature could be because you either have an incorrect DNS setting or some other firewall running on your PC.

The firewall is a computer system that prevents unauthorized access to or from a private network. Many people are not aware of the possibility for their antivirus being blocked by something as simple and common as an incorrect DNS settings, so one of the solutions is to make sure to look into your devices’ security before troubleshooting the “Avast Antivirus not updating” problem

Methods to Fix Avast Problem

Whether you are using the Avast free antivirus or the paid products of Avast, check out the methods below and see if these could solve the issue of Avast antivirus not updating

Method 01. Check if you are using the Correct Version

As a consumer, you should know that there are different versions of Avast for Windows, MacOS, and Android. If you have one operating system or the other, make sure to use the version of the program made specifically for it.

Avast software is a great antivirus program and it’s important that you download the correct version. If your computer runs on Windows, make sure to use Avast for Windows; similarly if you are using MacOS, be sure to get Avast for MacOS

Method 02: Update the Software to Latest Version

The bugs and glitches that are present during the initial release, as well as other possible issues can be identified by consumers or product users only once the software is released. Making a point to update Avast to the latest version whenever there’s an available upgrade could save you from any future headaches of having something inoperable on your device when it comes time for use

This method can be one of the possible solutions to fix the error on virus definition update issue and make sure that your Avast antivirus software is running the way it should be

There are two ways to update the Avast software to the latest version and I will show them both here, so just follow the steps you can see below

1st Method: Updating from the Avast Application Dashboard

Step 1: Open the Avast antivirus client software dashboard and click on the Menu icon found on the upper right corner of the main dashboard.

Step 2: Choose Settings menu from the list of options.

Step 3: Once you are on Settings menu, select the General tab then choose Update sub tab.

Step 4: There are two update button on the sub tab  when you select the General tab. One for the virus definition updates and another for the application updates. Click on the lower most Check for Updates button

Step 5: Wait for the update to be completed and restart your system to see if the error is fixed

2nd Method: Using Programs and Features

Step 1: Go to Control Panel then select Program

Step 2: Choose Programs and Features from the list.

Step 3: Browse the list of the installed software and choose Avast

Step 4: Select on  Change.

Step 5: A dialog box will pop up. Select “Yes”

Step 6: Select the Update button once the setup window shows up.

Step 7: Wait for the update to be completed and reboot your PC

Method 03: Repair the Program

You can repair Avast error by following the steps below

Step1: Open the Avast antivirus client software dashboard and click on the Menu icon found on the upper right corner of the main dashboard.

Step 2: Choose Settings menu from the list of options in the context menu.

Step 3: Once you are on Settings menu, select the General tab then choose Troubleshooting tab.

Step 5: In the Troubleshooting menu, scroll down to the “Still having a problem?” then click Repair App

Step 6: A dialog box will appear, just press Yes to continue.

Step 7: Wait until the repair of the installation files are completed and reboot your system

Method 04: Rectify DNS Settings

Follow the help procedures below to see if it can fix Avast update error

Step 1: Launch the windows command prompt by typing “cmd” in Cortana beside the Start menu.

Step 2: in the command box, enter ncpa.cpl then press enter to launch the Network Connection Settings

Step 3: Double click your Network Adapter, go to Properties then select General tab

Step 4: Make the DNS server 8.8.8.8, and also set the Alt DNS server to 8.8.4.4.

Step5: Select OK and see if you can now update the Avast antivirus.

If the issue is still there, follow the additional steps below

Step 6: Open the Internet Explorer and select the settings menu which is found on the upper right corner of the browser

Step 7: Select Internet options, then choose the Reset Internet Explorer option which can be found under the Advanced tab

Step 8: Select the Reset button. After the process is completed, try again to update Avast.

Also, try to check if you are using a proxy server to connect to the Internet and ensure that your configurations are correct to allow application updates. You can do this by checking rhe box beside the “Use Specific Proxy Server Option” in the Update tab of your Avast dashboard.

Conclusion

We’ve done our best to provide you with some ideas on how to fix the Avast not updating problem, but we know that every situation is different. If none of these methods work for you or if your computer needs more help than just a quick antivirus update, please feel free to share what happened in the comments section below. The rest of us will be happy to offer feedback and troubleshooting tips as needed.