While AVG Antivirus is great for protecting your PC from viruses, malware, and ransomware, some users have noticed their computer performance dropping after installing it. If you’ve asked yourself, “Why is AVG slowing down my PC?”, you’re not alone. The good news? This is usually a fixable issue.
Let’s explore the most common reasons AVG might be affecting your system speed—and how to optimize your settings to get your computer running smoothly again.
How AVG Can Slow Down Your PC
Although AVG is designed to run in the background efficiently, it can cause performance issues under certain circumstances:
1. Real-Time Scanning Overload
AVG constantly scans files, programs, and processes in real time. On older systems or those with low RAM, this can noticeably slow things down—especially during multitasking.
2. Scheduled Scans During Active Hours
If a deep scan is running while you’re working or gaming, your CPU and disk usage can spike, causing serious lag.
3. Too Many Background Processes
AVG may be running multiple processes like antivirus, firewall, software updater, and performance tools simultaneously.
4. Conflicts with Other Software
If you have multiple antivirus or system utility tools installed, they might be conflicting with AVG, causing both to consume more resources.
5. Outdated Software or Definitions
Older versions of AVG or outdated virus definitions can cause unexpected bugs or slowdowns.
How to Fix AVG Slowing Down Your Computer
Follow these expert-approved steps to troubleshoot and improve your system performance while keeping AVG protection active.
1. Adjust Real-Time Protection Settings
You can reduce the intensity of real-time scanning without compromising safety.
Steps:
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Open AVG Antivirus
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Go to Menu > Settings > Basic Protection > File Shield
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Under Advanced settings, disable scanning of all files or exclude file types you don’t need scanned (like media files)
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Also, go to Web Shield and turn off unnecessary scanning for known safe sites
This will lighten the resource load on your system.
2. Reschedule Deep Scans
Make sure AVG isn’t scanning when you’re using the PC heavily.
Steps:
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Go to Settings > Scheduled Scans
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Change the scan schedule to early morning or late at night
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Choose “Scan when idle” to ensure it only runs when your computer is not being used
3. Turn Off Unused AVG Features
Some tools in AVG’s suite, such as the Software Updater, Driver Updater, or Do Not Disturb Mode, can run in the background even if you’re not using them.
How to disable:
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Navigate to Menu > Settings > Full Protection
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Turn off modules you don’t use often
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Go to Performance Tools and disable automatic cleanup features if you’re already using another system optimizer
4. Exclude Trusted Files and Folders
If you notice certain apps (like games, video editors, or work software) are running slower after installing AVG, exclude them from scanning.
Steps:
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Go to Settings > Exceptions
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Click Add Exception
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Browse and add folders for programs you trust
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AVG will stop scanning them in real-time
This is especially useful for large file programs like Adobe, AutoCAD, and games.
5. Use AVG Smart Scan Instead of Full Scan
Full system scans can be taxing. Smart Scan checks key areas without burdening your system.
How to switch:
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Go to AVG Home Screen > Scan Computer
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Choose Smart Scan
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Schedule Smart Scan weekly instead of daily full scans
You’ll maintain strong security without slowing performance.
6. Clean Up Temporary Files
AVG sometimes retains temp files or logs from past scans. Use AVG’s built-in Disk Cleaner or a third-party cleanup tool to free up space.
Steps:
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Open AVG
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Go to Performance > Disk Cleaner
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Run a full cleanup
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Restart your PC
This helps with both speed and responsiveness.
7. Upgrade System Resources
If you’ve tried all of the above and AVG still slows down your system, it might be time to check your hardware:
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Upgrade RAM (at least 8 GB for smooth multitasking)
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Use an SSD instead of HDD for faster startup and app launch
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Close unused startup programs from Task Manager > Startup tab
AVG works better on modern systems, and hardware upgrades improve performance across all apps—not just antivirus software.
8. Repair or Reinstall AVG
Corrupt files or an incomplete update can also cause slowdown.
To repair:
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Go to Control Panel > Programs > AVG > Uninstall/Change > Repair
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Follow the on-screen instructions
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Restart your PC
If that doesn’t help, consider uninstalling AVG using the AVG Clear Tool and reinstalling the latest version from avg.com.
Conclusion
AVG Antivirus shouldn’t significantly slow down your PC—but when it does, it’s usually because of scanning intensity, unnecessary background processes, or hardware limitations. By tweaking your AVG settings, disabling unused features, and scheduling scans smartly, you can reclaim your system speed without sacrificing protection. If performance issues continue, updating your hardware or considering a lighter security solution may be your next step. A secure and smooth-running PC is absolutely achievable with the right setup.
