McAfee has a habit of outstaying its welcome. It’s possible that it came preinstalled on your laptop, or maybe you took advantage of a free trial. Either way, it tends to linger in the background, firing off renewal warnings and system alerts long after you’ve decided you’re done with it.
Both Windows and MacOS offer built-in uninstall options, and if those don’t quite finish the job, McAfee’s own removal tool can clean up the leftovers. This guide walks you through how to completely remove McAfee.
How to uninstall McAfee the easy way
The quickest way to remove McAfee from your PC is through your system's built-in uninstall options. This method works for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and doesn't require any extra tools. (Want to uninstall McAfee on a Mac? We cover that below.)
Option 1: Use Windows settings
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps > Installed Apps (or Apps & Features, depending on your version).
3. Scroll down until you see McAfee Total Protection. Click the three dots next to it and click Uninstall.
4. Follow the prompts. If it gives you the option to remove all related files, go ahead and check those boxes.
5. Do the same for WebAdvisor by McAfee if it's listed.
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