Buzz
This article provides a detailed guide on temporarily deactivating McAfee Security Center on either Windows or Mac computers. Disabling McAfee does not remove the program from your system. However, it’s important to note that if McAfee is the only antivirus software installed, turning it off may leave your computer vulnerable to malware.
Steps
On Windows
⊞ Win
Type mcafee into Start to search for the McAfee program on your computer.
Click on McAfee® TotalProtection at the top of the Start window, with the subtitle "Desktop app" below it to open McAfee.
Click on the PC Security tab at the top-left corner of the McAfee window.
Click on the Real-Time Scanning tab on the left side of the McAfee window.
Click on Turn Off at the top-right corner of the Real-Time Scanning page.
Select a time frame, then click on Turn Off. You can set a restart time for Real-Time Scanning under the line "When do you want to resume Real-Time Scanning?" The default time is 15 minutes.
- If you want to disable McAfee until you manually turn it back on, select Never for the time limit.
- You can close this window after turning off Real-Time Scanning.
Click on the Firewall tab below the Real-Time Scanning tab on the left side of the window.
Click on Turn Off at the top-right corner of the page.
- If the Firewall page has no information, McAfee's Firewall is already off; you can skip the next two steps.
Choose a time frame, then select Turn Off to disable McAfee's Firewall until the selected time expires.
Close the Firewall window. Click on the X at the top-right corner of the Firewall window.
Click on Automatic updates below Firewall on the left side of the page.
Click on Turn Off at the top-right corner of the Automatic Updates page.
Exit the Automatic Updates page, then select Scheduled scans below Automatic updates.
Click on Turn Off at the top-right corner to disable all McAfee services.
On Mac
Click on McAfee with the white "M" logo on a red shield located at the top-right corner of the Mac menu bar.
- If you don’t see this icon, click on the magnifying glass at the top-right corner, type "McAfee," and select Internet Security.
Click on Total Protection Console… near the bottom of the McAfee options list.
Click on the Home tab at the top-left corner of the window.
Click on the gear icon at the top-right corner of the Home tab.
Click on Real-Time Scanning near the top of the gear icon options to open the Real-Time Scanning window.
Disable Real-Time Scanning as follows:
- Click on the lock icon.
- Enter the administrator password and click OK.
- Click on the Real-Time Scanning slider at the top-right corner.
- Close the Real-Time Scanning window.
Click on the gear icon once more, then select the Firewall tab below the Real-Time Scanning option.
Turn off McAfee's Firewall using the same method you used to disable Real-Time Scanning.
Click on the gear icon again, then choose Automatic Updates below the Firewall option.
Disable automatic updates using the same method you used to turn off Real-Time Scanning and Firewall.
Click on the gear icon once more, then select Scheduled scans under the "Mac Security" options group.
Unlock the Full Scan and Custom Scan settings page. Click on the gear icon, enter the administrator password, and select OK.
Click on the Weekly option on the far left of the "Scheduled scans" page.
- If this option is not visible, click on the Scheduled scans tab near the top of the page.
Click on Never to prevent McAfee from automatically initiating scans on your computer.
Click on the gear icon again, then choose McAfee SiteAdvisor near the bottom of the options list.
- SiteAdvisor is responsible for McAfee's presence on your Mac's browser.
Disable SiteAdvisor. Click on the slider at the top-right corner of the Site Advisor page to do this.
- You may need to click on the lock icon and enter the administrator password to access the slider.
Close the settings window to completely disable the McAfee program on your Mac.
Uninstall McAfee on your Mac.
FinderTips
- It is highly recommended to avoid using the internet after disabling your antivirus program.
Warning
- Your computer may become vulnerable to various online threats once the antivirus program is turned off.
