AVG Antivirus is a powerful tool that helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, and other online threats. However, like any antivirus program, it can sometimes slow down your system, especially when running full scans. Luckily, there are several ways you can boost AVG’s performance and speed up scans without compromising on security.
In this post, we’ll walk you through some simple tips to help you optimize AVG Antivirus and make it run faster. By following these tips, you can enjoy faster scans, smoother system performance, and more efficient protection.

1. Use Quick Scan Instead of Full Scan
By default, AVG runs a full scan of your entire system, which can take a considerable amount of time, especially if you have a lot of files. However, if you need to speed things up, consider using the Quick Scan option.
Why Quick Scan Works:
-
A Quick Scan checks only the most vulnerable areas of your system, such as running processes, system memory, and files that are likely to be infected.
-
It takes much less time than a Full Scan but still provides a solid level of protection.
To use Quick Scan:
-
Open AVG.
-
Click on the Scan Computer button.
-
Choose Quick Scan.
Quick Scan is perfect for routine checks, while Full Scan should be reserved for more thorough scans.
2. Schedule Scans for Off-Peak Hours
If you don’t need to run scans immediately, schedule them for times when you’re not using your computer. This way, AVG can perform the scan in the background without interrupting your work or slowing down your system.
How to Schedule Scans:
-
Open AVG and click on Menu (three horizontal lines in the top-right corner).
-
Select Settings.
-
Go to the Scan Schedule tab.
-
Choose a time that works best for you, such as during the night or while you’re away from your computer.
This allows AVG to run scans automatically, ensuring your computer stays secure without affecting your productivity.
3. Exclude Certain Files and Folders from Scans
If you’re confident that certain files or folders are safe, you can exclude them from AVG scans. This can help reduce scan time by focusing on the more critical areas of your system.
How to Exclude Files or Folders:
-
Open AVG and click on Menu.
-
Go to Settings and select Exceptions.
-
Click on Add Exception and choose the files or folders you want to exclude from scanning.
-
Confirm the changes.
Be careful when excluding files or folders to ensure that you’re not leaving any important areas unprotected. Only exclude trusted files to avoid missing potential threats.
4. Use AVG’s Performance Optimizer
AVG includes a built-in Performance Optimizer that helps improve your system’s speed by cleaning up unnecessary files and processes that may slow down your computer. This can also help AVG run more efficiently during scans.
How to Use Performance Optimizer:
-
Open AVG and go to the Performance tab.
-
Click on Optimize.
-
Follow the on-screen instructions to clean up your computer, remove unnecessary programs, and boost your system’s speed.
The Performance Optimizer can help AVG scan more efficiently by freeing up system resources, ensuring your computer runs at its best.
5. Keep AVG and Your System Updated
One of the simplest ways to boost AVG performance is to ensure that both the antivirus software and your operating system are up-to-date. Software updates often include bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements that can make AVG run faster and more smoothly.
How to Update AVG:
-
Open AVG.
-
Click on the Menu button and select Settings.
-
Go to the Update tab.
-
Click on Update Now to make sure AVG has the latest definitions and improvements.
Additionally, ensure your operating system is up-to-date by checking for updates in the Windows Update settings.
6. Disable Unnecessary Features
AVG includes several additional features, such as Web Shield, Email Shield, and Real-Time Protection, which provide comprehensive security. However, if you need to speed up your scans, you can disable some of these features temporarily.
How to Disable Features Temporarily:
-
Open AVG.
-
Click on Menu and go to Settings.
-
Under the Protection tab, you can toggle off features like Web Shield or Email Shield during scans if you don’t need them.
-
Remember to turn them back on after the scan is complete for continued protection.
Be careful when disabling features, as it may reduce your protection. Only disable them for quick scans when you know you’re safe.
7. Add More RAM to Your System
Although this is not a direct change within AVG itself, adding more RAM to your computer can help improve overall performance, including speeding up AVG scans. If your system is low on memory, it can cause AVG to run slower during scans.
Why More RAM Helps:
-
With more RAM, your computer can handle more processes simultaneously, making it faster overall.
-
Your antivirus software, including AVG, will run more efficiently with more memory, allowing for faster scans and better system performance.
Consider upgrading your computer’s RAM if you notice that your system is often slow during scans or other resource-heavy tasks.
8. Turn Off Background Apps and Processes
Another way to speed up AVG scans is to close unnecessary programs running in the background. These programs consume system resources, leaving less available power for AVG to perform scans quickly.
How to Close Background Apps:
-
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
-
Review the apps running under the Processes tab.
-
End tasks that are not needed during the scan by selecting the app and clicking End Task.
Be mindful of closing critical applications, but turning off unused programs can free up valuable resources and improve AVG scan times.
Conclusion
Boosting AVG performance and speeding up scans can make your computer more efficient without sacrificing protection. By using Quick Scans, scheduling scans for off-peak hours, and utilizing features like Performance Optimizer, you can enjoy faster scans and smoother performance. Additionally, keeping AVG and your system updated, excluding trusted files from scans, and closing background applications can all contribute to better overall system efficiency.
With these simple tips, you can maximize AVG’s performance and enjoy a faster, safer computing experience.