AVG Antivirus is a powerful tool for protecting your computer from viruses, malware, and other online threats. However, running an antivirus program can sometimes slow down your system, especially if your device has limited resources. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to speed up AVG Antivirus and keep your computer running smoothly without compromising on security. In this article, we’ll explore tips to improve AVG’s performance.
1. Adjust the Scan Settings
AVG’s scanning process can consume a significant amount of system resources, especially during a full system scan. To make AVG run more efficiently, consider adjusting the scan settings.
How to Adjust Scan Settings:
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Change Scan Frequency: Instead of running full scans every day, consider scheduling them less frequently, such as once a week or biweekly.
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Use Quick Scan: Quick scans are faster and focus on areas that are most likely to be infected. Use quick scans for regular checks and reserve full scans for deeper investigations.
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Customize Scan Areas: In the settings, you can choose which files and folders to scan. You don’t always need to scan every part of your system. Customizing your scan to focus on critical areas will save time.
Benefits:
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Reduces the load on your system during scans.
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Frees up system resources for other tasks.
2. Enable Game Mode
If you use your computer for gaming, or if you need to focus on tasks without interruptions, you can enable Game Mode in AVG. Game Mode temporarily disables non-essential notifications and limits the background processes that use system resources.
How to Enable Game Mode:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Settings.
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Select General and then choose Game Mode.
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Enable Game Mode and set it to automatically activate when you start playing games or use resource-intensive apps.
Benefits:
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Helps maintain performance while gaming or using demanding applications.
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Reduces interruptions caused by AVG’s alerts and background processes.
3. Update AVG Regularly
AVG releases regular updates to improve its performance, fix bugs, and enhance virus detection. Keeping your software up to date is crucial to ensure the program runs efficiently.
How to Update AVG:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Click on Menu in the top right corner.
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Select Check for updates.
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Install any available updates.
Benefits:
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Ensures that you’re using the latest features and optimizations.
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Fixes known bugs that could slow down AVG’s performance.
4. Exclude Certain Files or Programs from Scanning
Some files or programs might not need to be scanned every time, especially if you’re certain they’re safe. Excluding these files from AVG’s scans can help speed up its performance.
How to Exclude Files from Scanning:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Settings.
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Select Exceptions.
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Add the files or programs you want to exclude from scanning.
Benefits:
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Reduces the number of files AVG scans, speeding up the process.
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Helps focus resources on areas that need protection.
5. Use AVG’s “Power Save Mode”
AVG includes a Power Save Mode feature, which reduces the program’s impact on system performance by limiting resource usage when your computer is running on battery power. Enabling Power Save Mode can help keep your system running faster while still providing protection.
How to Enable Power Save Mode:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Settings.
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Select General, then Power Save Mode.
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Enable the feature, and AVG will automatically optimize its performance when your computer is running on battery.
Benefits:
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Limits resource usage when running on battery.
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Helps extend your device’s battery life without sacrificing security.
6. Clean Up Your Computer
AVG Antivirus has a built-in PC Cleaner feature that can help remove unnecessary files and improve overall system performance. These junk files can take up valuable space and slow down your computer.
How to Use the PC Cleaner:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Performance in the menu.
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Select PC Cleaner and run it to remove temporary files, cache, and other unnecessary data.
Benefits:
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Frees up storage space, which can help your system run faster.
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Clears out files that may be affecting AVG’s performance.
7. Disable Unnecessary AVG Features
AVG comes with several features that, while useful, can consume system resources. If you don’t need certain features, such as the Email Scanner or Link Scanner, you can disable them to improve performance.
How to Disable Unnecessary Features:
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Open AVG Antivirus.
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Go to Settings.
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Select General or Components.
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Disable any features that you don’t actively use, such as the Email Scanner, Link Scanner, or File Shredder.
Benefits:
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Frees up system resources by turning off unnecessary features.
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Improves overall speed without affecting core virus protection.
8. Close Unnecessary Background Processes
AVG runs in the background to provide real-time protection, but other programs may also be using up resources. By closing unnecessary background processes, you can improve AVG’s performance and keep your computer running smoothly.
How to Close Background Processes:
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
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Review the list of processes running on your system.
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Right-click on any processes you don’t need and choose End Task.
Benefits:
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Clears up system resources that could slow down AVG.
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Improves overall computer performance.
9. Upgrade Your Hardware
If your system is still slow after optimizing AVG, you might need to consider upgrading your hardware. Adding more RAM, upgrading your hard drive to an SSD, or using a faster processor can significantly improve AVG’s performance.
Benefits:
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Increases overall system performance, making AVG run faster.
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Helps AVG scan and protect your system more efficiently.
10. Reinstall AVG Antivirus
If AVG is still running slowly after applying these tips, you may need to reinstall the software. A fresh installation can remove any corrupted files or settings that might be affecting performance.
How to Reinstall AVG:
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Uninstall AVG from your computer through Control Panel or Settings.
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Restart your computer.
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Download and install the latest version of AVG Antivirus from the official website.
Benefits:
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Provides a clean installation with the latest updates.
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Fixes performance issues caused by corrupted files or settings.
Conclusion
Speeding up AVG Antivirus is possible with a few simple tweaks. By adjusting scan settings, enabling Game Mode, excluding files, using Power Save Mode, and cleaning up your computer, you can make AVG run more efficiently without compromising on protection. If needed, consider upgrading your hardware or reinstalling AVG for a fresh start. With these tips, you’ll enjoy enhanced security and faster system performance.
