How To Disable McAfee Antivirus: A Comprehensive Guide for You

Hey there! As our work and personal lives become more digitally connected, ensuring our devices are protected against the latest cyberthreats grows increasingly important. That‘s why most of us rely on antivirus software like McAfee to keep our data safe.

However, there may be times when you need to temporarily disable your McAfee antivirus for troubleshooting performance problems, installing new software, or other reasons.

In this guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through how to fully disable McAfee antivirus on both Windows and Mac operating systems. I‘ll also cover more advanced steps like disabling specific components like the firewall or web advisor browser extension.

Finally, we‘ll talk about fully uninstalling McAfee and a few alternative antivirus products I recommend if you decide to make a switch. Let‘s get started!

Why You May Need to Disable Your McAfee Antivirus

Before jumping into the how-to steps, let‘s look at some of the most common reasons you would need to temporarily disable your McAfee antivirus software:

• Installing new apps or software – Legitimate software installers can sometimes be mistaken for malware by overzealous antivirus programs like McAfee. Turning off protection prevents conflicts and allows clean installs.

• Troubleshooting performance problems – If your computer is running slowly or acting glitchy, disabling McAfee can help you test if it’s the culprit. You can always turn protection back on after testing.

• Upgrading hardware components or OS – Major upgrades like installing new RAM or moving to Windows 11 often go more smoothly with antivirus disabled.

• Using advanced diagnostic tools – Some system admin tools need full access to work properly, which can be blocked by antivirus. Temporarily disabling McAfee gives you access.

• Testing network configurations – IT professionals may need to turn off McAfee on test machines to accurately evaluate performance impacts or catch conflicts.

• Resolving software conflicts – In rare cases, antivirus can conflict with vital system software. Turning off McAfee as troubleshooting can help identify and resolve the issue.

As you can see, there are many good reasons you may need to disable your McAfee antivirus for a short time. The key is to remember to re-enable protection as soon as you‘re finished so your devices stay secure.

How Widely Used is Antivirus Software?

Before we dig into disabling McAfee, let‘s look at some interesting stats around antivirus software adoption:

• As of 2022, over 75% of personal computers run antivirus software according to Avast.

• Among organizations, 90% or more use endpoint antivirus solutions to protect networks.

• Windows Defender holds over 50% market share for consumer antivirus products.

• Outside of Windows Defender, the top solutions are Norton, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro.

• Top paid antivirus products like McAfee can cost $40-60 per year for a single device license.

So antivirus is definitely the norm for both individuals and businesses today. And McAfee remains a popular choice to protect Windows and Apple devices thanks to its robust malware detection and additional features like a firewall, web advisor, and more.

Now let‘s look at how to disable McAfee when needed on both Mac and Windows machines.

Step-By-Step: How to Fully Disable McAfee Antivirus on Mac

If you use McAfee Total Protection, LiveSafe, or another Mac security suite, follow these steps to completely disable real-time protection:

1. Click the McAfee menu bar icon in the top right (white "M" in red shield).

2. In the menu, click to open the Total Protection Console. This is the main interface for managing McAfee on Mac.

3. In the console, click the Home tab located at the top.

4. Next click the gear icon to open Settings. This is located on the right.

5. Now select Real-Time Scanning from the left column.

6. On the Real-Time Scanning screen, toggle the switch Off to disable scanning.

7. When prompted, enter your admin account password to confirm the change.

8. Repeat steps 3-7 to also disable the Firewall, Automatic Updates, and On-Access Scanning by toggling them Off.

9. Next go to Scheduled Scans from Settings (may need to click Show All first).

10. Change the scan frequency to Never to prevent McAfee from turning itself back on later.

Once you‘ve disabled Real-Time Scanning, Automatic Updates, Firewall, and Scheduled Scans, McAfee antivirus is fully disabled on your Mac. Remember to turn protection back on when you are finished troubleshooting or installing new software.

Pro Tip: Check Activity Monitor for any McAfee processes still running and quit them, then restart your Mac to fully clear out memory.

Step-By-Step: Disabling McAfee Antivirus on Windows

On Windows, the steps to disable McAfee depend on which specific product you have installed. Here are the detailed instructions to disable the most common McAfee consumer and enterprise editions:

Disable McAfee Security Center:

1. Locate the McAfee icon in your system tray on the bottom right.

2. Right-click the red M icon and select Change Settings.

3. Click Real-time Scanning from the left menu.

4. In the Real-time Scanning window, click the Turn off button.

5. Next use the drop-down menu to select Never to prevent automatic re-enabling.

6. Click Turn off again in the confirmation prompt.

7. Repeat steps 2-6 for the Firewall module to disable that component.

Disable McAfee Total Protection:

1. Open the McAfee Total Protection program from your start menu or desktop shortcut.

2. Click on PC Security from the left menu.

3. Select Real-Time Scanning.

4. In the pop-up window, click the Turn Off button.

5. Set the re-enable time to Never to keep disabled.

6. Confirm by clicking Turn off.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 for Firewall, Automatic Updates, and Scheduled Scans.

Disable McAfee LiveSafe:

1. Launch the McAfee LiveSafe console from your start menu.

2. Click on My Protection from the left menu.

3. Choose Real-Time Scanning.

4. Click the Turn Off button and set resume time.

5. Repeat process for Firewall and other modules.

Disable McAfee VirusScan Enterprise:

1. Right click the McAfee tray icon and open VirusScan Console.

2. Right-click on Access Protection and select Disable.

3. Repeat for On-Delivery Email Scanner, On-Access Scanner, and any other active modules.

Once you‘ve disabled all the major active antivirus components, McAfee protection is fully disabled on your Windows PC.

Disabling McAfee WebAdvisor Browser Extension

The McAfee WebAdvisor browser extension provides an extra layer of protection against malicious sites and phishing attempts when browsing the web.

Here are the steps to fully disable the WebAdvisor extension across popular browsers:

Chrome

1. Click the 3-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
2. Go to More Tools > Extensions.
3. Find McAfee WebAdvisor and toggle Off.

Firefox

1. Click the 3-line hamburger menu.
2. Select Add-ons.
3. Under Extensions, locate McAfee WebAdvisor and toggle Off.

Edge

1. Click the 3-dot menu icon.
2. Go to Extensions.
3. Find McAfee WebAdvisor and toggle Off.

Safari

1. Click Safari > Preferences from the toolbar.
2. Select the Extensions tab.
3. Uncheck the box for McAfee WebAdvisor to disable it.

With WebAdvisor disabled in your browser, you can browse without extra security warnings. But other McAfee antivirus components will still be active.

Gotchas and Warnings About Disabling McAfee

Here are some important warnings to keep in mind before you disable your McAfee antivirus:

• Your computer will be unprotected against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and other threats anytime McAfee is fully disabled.

• Some McAfee suites re-enable automatically after a set period of time, like 6 hours. Double check settings.

• Without the firewall active, your computer will be exposed to network intrusions.

• Mac users may need to disable additional services like True Key identity protection for full deactivation.

• Don‘t browse any suspicious sites or open unknown email attachments with protection disabled.

• Cybercriminals aggressively scan for vulnerable targets not running antivirus.

The bottom line is your computer will be significantly more vulnerable anytime McAfee is disabled. Work quickly and re-enable all protection modules as soon as you‘re finished troubleshooting or installing new software.

Uninstalling McAfee Antivirus Completely

If you decide you want to remove McAfee from your computer entirely, you‘ll need to fully uninstall the software from your system. Here are the detailed steps to completely uninstall McAfee on both Mac and Windows machines:

Completely Uninstall McAfee on Mac

App Uninstall Method

1. First quit any open McAfee software or processes still running. Check Activity Monitor.

2. Next open McAfee Preferences and disable the firewall under General.

3. Restart your Mac to clear memory and end all McAfee processes.

4. Now drag the McAfee app from Applications to Trash to fully uninstall.

5. Use a cleanup utility like CleanMyMac X to scan for and remove any leftover McAfee files and registry keys.

Terminal Uninstall Method

1. Open the Terminal app (found in Applications > Utilities).

2. Enter this command depending on your McAfee version:

For McAfee v4.8: 
sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/uninstall.sh

For McAfee v5.x:
sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh 

3. Press Enter and let the uninstall script run to completion.

4. Restart your Mac when finished and use a cleanup tool to remove any leftovers.

Completely Uninstall McAfee on Windows

Control Panel Uninstall

1. Open the Control Panel and select Programs > Programs and Features.

2. Find and select your McAfee security product.

3. Click Uninstall/Change from the toolbar.

4. Follow the prompts to fully uninstall McAfee.

Settings App Uninstall

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.

2. Scroll down and select your McAfee product.

3. Choose Uninstall from the menu.

4. Confirm you want to fully uninstall when prompted.

McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool

1. Download the MCPR utility from mcafee.com.

2. Run the MCPR tool and click Next to start.

3. Accept the EULA terms and click Next.

4. Let the automated uninstall process complete.

5. Restart your PC when prompted to finish uninstalling.

With McAfee fully uninstalled from your Mac or PC, it‘s a good idea to install a replacement antivirus solution so you remain protected. Keep reading for my top recommended alternatives.

Top 3 McAfee Antivirus Replacement Options

If you decide to switch from McAfee to a new antivirus provider, here are the top three alternatives I recommend checking out:

1. Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 is probably the best-known antivirus software besides McAfee. Key features include:

• Very accurate malware detection with low false positives
• Helps optimize system performance when running sluggish
• Advanced identity protection services

Prices start at $99.99 per year covering 5 devices. Excellent protection and value make Norton 360 a top choice.

2. Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender is the current leader in independent antivirus testing results. It offers:

• A near-perfect malware detection rate
• Multi-layer ransomware protection
• Minimized system slowdowns during scans

Pricing is competitive at $89.99 per year for 5 device licenses. Bitdefender is expertly tuned for peak performance.

3. Kaspersky Internet Security

Trusted around the world, Kaspersky provides robust security:

• Real-time protection against ransomware and spyware
• Intelligent malware scanning won‘t slow you down
• Advanced firewall blocks network intrusion attempts

At $99.99 per year for 5 devices, Kaspersky delivers excellent bang-for-the-buck.

All three providers are leaders in the antivirus space and offer tight integration, simple management, and outstanding protection across device platforms including PC, Mac, iOS and Android.

I recommend taking advantage of the free trials available to decide which solution best fits your needs if you‘re moving on from McAfee.

FAQ: Common McAfee Disable & Uninstall Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about disabling and removing McAfee:

How do I temporarily disable McAfee on my Windows 10 PC?

Right-click the McAfee system tray icon, select Change Settings > Real-time Scanning > Turn Off and select Never from the drop-down menu. Repeat for other modules.

Where can I check McAfee Firewall settings and status?

Right-click the McAfee tray icon, choose Change Settings > Firewall. Review your current firewall configuration here.

How do I disable the McAfee firewall on my Mac?

Open the McAfee console, go to Mac Security > Click Settings Icon > Firewall > Toggle OFF and enter admin password to disable.

What is the phone number for McAfee customer support?

McAfee consumer antivirus support can be reached at 1-866-622-3911.

Is fully uninstalling antivirus software dangerous?

Yes, it‘s risky to browse without any antivirus installed. After uninstalling McAfee, immediately replace it with another antivirus provider so your devices stay protected.

The Bottom Line

I hope this detailed guide helped explain exactly how to temporarily disable your McAfee antivirus, firewall, web advisor and other components when needed for troubleshooting on both Windows and Mac.

Just be sure to turn your protection back on promptly once you’re finished, so you avoid remaining vulnerable to the latest malware and cyber attacks.

If you decide it’s time to fully replace McAfee, I highly recommend considering the top-rated alternatives like Norton, Bitdefender or Kaspersky that I covered as great options for staying protected across your devices.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help you stay safe while achieving peak computer performance.