AVG Antivirus is one of the most popular antivirus solutions available today, offering robust protection against viruses, malware, and other online threats. However, like any security software, AVG can sometimes slow down your PC, especially when performing full system scans or running real-time protection. But don’t worry! You can enhance AVG’s performance without compromising your computer’s speed. In this article, we will walk you through simple steps to optimize AVG Antivirus for better performance while ensuring your PC stays fast and secure.
1. Adjust Scan Settings to Optimize Performance
By default, AVG runs automatic scans in the background, which may cause your PC to slow down, especially during full system scans. You can adjust these settings to reduce the impact on your system performance.
How to Adjust Scan Settings:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to the Menu in the top-right corner and select Settings.
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Navigate to Scan > Scan Scheduling.
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Set your scans to run during periods when you’re not actively using your computer, such as at night or when you’re away from the PC.
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Consider enabling Smart Scan, which performs quick, targeted scans instead of complete system checks.
By scheduling scans at convenient times, you can improve AVG performance and avoid slowdowns during your active hours.
2. Enable the “Low Priority” Option During Scans
When AVG is scanning your system, it can consume a lot of CPU and memory, slowing down other applications. However, AVG allows you to set scans to run in “Low Priority,” ensuring that the antivirus software uses fewer system resources while scanning.
How to Set Scan Priority:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > General.
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Under Performance, check the option for Low Priority Scanning.
This simple adjustment ensures that AVG performs scans with minimal impact on your computer’s speed, making it easier to work while protecting your system.
3. Disable Unnecessary Features
AVG Antivirus includes various features such as Web Shield, Email Protection, and Real-Time Protection, all of which are useful but can be resource-intensive. If you are looking to improve performance, consider temporarily disabling non-essential features.
How to Disable Features:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > Protection.
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Toggle off features that you don’t use regularly, such as Email Protection or File Shield (for specific file types).
Remember, while disabling features can improve performance, it’s important not to turn off vital protections like Real-Time Protection or Web Shield. These are key to keeping your PC safe.
4. Turn Off Automatic Updates
AVG Antivirus automatically checks for and installs updates in the background, but this can sometimes cause performance issues, especially if the updates are large. You can disable automatic updates and manually check for updates at a time that’s more convenient.
How to Turn Off Automatic Updates:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > Update.
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Disable the option for Automatic Updates.
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Manually check for updates at a time when you’re not actively using the computer.
By controlling when AVG updates, you can avoid unexpected slowdowns caused by background updates.
5. Exclude Trusted Files and Folders From Scans
If you have certain files or folders on your PC that you trust and know are safe, you can exclude them from AVG’s scans. This prevents AVG from wasting resources scanning these files repeatedly, which can help improve system performance.
How to Exclude Files:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > Scan.
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Select Exclusions and add the files or folders you want to exclude from scanning.
Excluding trusted files from scans can help speed up AVG while ensuring you don’t waste time and resources on files you know are safe.
6. Use AVG’s Gaming Mode
If you enjoy playing games or running other resource-heavy applications, AVG’s Gaming Mode is a perfect feature to optimize performance. Gaming Mode temporarily disables non-essential notifications and limits background activity while you’re using your computer for gaming or other demanding tasks.
How to Enable Gaming Mode:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > General.
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Under Notifications, enable Gaming Mode.
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You can also manually turn on Gaming Mode whenever you start a resource-heavy task.
This mode ensures that AVG won’t interfere with your gaming experience, giving you uninterrupted performance.
7. Keep Your System Clean and Free of Clutter
A cluttered computer with too many unnecessary files can impact the performance of both AVG and your entire system. Regularly cleaning up your PC can free up system resources and help AVG run more efficiently.
How to Clean Your System:
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Use Disk Cleanup or a third-party tool like CCleaner to remove temporary files, caches, and system junk.
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Defragment your hard drive if you’re using a traditional HDD (not necessary for SSDs).
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Keep your desktop clean by removing unused files and folders.
By maintaining a clean system, you ensure that AVG doesn’t have to scan excessive files and that your computer runs as smoothly as possible.
8. Upgrade Your Hardware (If Needed)
While optimizing AVG settings can improve performance, hardware limitations can also play a role in how well AVG runs. If you’re still experiencing slowdowns after following the steps above, it might be time to consider upgrading your computer’s hardware.
Hardware Upgrades to Consider:
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RAM Upgrade: Adding more memory can help AVG run faster, especially when performing resource-heavy tasks like full scans.
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Switch to an SSD: If you’re using an HDD, switching to a Solid State Drive (SSD) can drastically improve overall system performance and reduce AVG scan times.
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Upgrade CPU: If your processor is outdated, upgrading it can improve overall system speed, including AVG performance.
Improving your hardware can help AVG run more efficiently and provide better protection without slowing down your PC.
9. Schedule Regular Scans
Instead of running frequent full system scans that can slow down your computer, you can schedule AVG to run scans during off-peak hours when you’re not using the computer. This can prevent interruptions during your work or playtime.
How to Schedule Scans:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Menu > Settings > Scan Scheduling.
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Choose a time when your system is idle, like late at night or during work hours.
By scheduling scans during convenient times, AVG will not interrupt your activities, and your system will remain fast.
10. Keep AVG and Your PC Updated
Finally, ensure that both AVG Antivirus and your operating system are always up to date. AVG regularly releases performance improvements and security updates, and keeping your system updated helps ensure that everything works optimally.
How to Keep Your System Updated:
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Regularly check for AVG updates under Menu > Settings > Update.
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Ensure that Windows Update or your system’s update feature is active to receive the latest patches and performance fixes.
With both AVG and your PC up to date, you’re ensuring the best possible protection and performance for your system.
Conclusion
Enhancing AVG performance without slowing down your PC is possible with just a few simple adjustments. By optimizing scan settings, enabling Gaming Mode, excluding trusted files, and keeping your system clean, you can enjoy fast and efficient antivirus protection. If necessary, consider upgrading your hardware to further improve AVG’s performance. With these tips, AVG Antivirus will continue to provide top-notch protection while allowing you to use your PC smoothly and efficiently.
