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How to Remove McAfee Completely from My Pc? Complete Guide

Author: Nichas Pooran
by Nichas Pooran
Posted: Sep 30, 2025

McAfee is one of the most well-known antivirus providers, offering robust protection against malware, viruses, spyware, and other cyber threats on Windows PCs.

For Remove McAfee Completely from My Pc Click on This Link

However, there are scenarios where users want to completely uninstall McAfee from their computers — whether switching to another antivirus, troubleshooting issues, or wanting to reclaim system resources. Simply uninstalling McAfee through the usual Windows Apps settings may not fully remove all files, services, and registry entries. Knowing how to remove McAfee completely from my PC ensures your system is clean, optimized, and ready for a new security setup.

This comprehensive guide offers a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on how to uninstall McAfee completely and safely from your PC. It covers the standard uninstall procedure, explains how to use the official McAfee Consumer Product Removal (MCPR) tool for total cleanup, manual steps to delete leftovers, and useful troubleshooting tips. The article also includes frequently searched keywords and queries related to McAfee uninstallation, addressing common user concerns.

Why Completely Remove McAfee from Your PC?

There are several reasons why a complete McAfee removal might be necessary:

  • Switching to a different antivirus or security solution

  • Removing trial versions or expired subscriptions

  • Resolving system conflicts caused by McAfee services

  • Improving computer performance and startup time

  • Fixing corrupted or incomplete McAfee installations

  • Preparing your PC for sale or handing over to another user

Ensuring McAfee is fully removed prevents leftover files or running services from interfering with other software or slowing down your PC.

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Step 1: Standard Uninstall Using Windows Settings

The first and easiest step is to uninstall McAfee through built-in Windows tools:

  • Open Settings via Start menu or press Windows + I.

  • Click Apps then open Apps & Features.

  • In the search box, type "McAfee" to locate installed McAfee products such as McAfee Total Protection, LiveSafe, or WebAdvisor.

  • Select each McAfee item and click Uninstall, then confirm to start the removal process.

  • Follow any on-screen prompts from the McAfee uninstaller.

  • Restart your PC after uninstalling.

This removes the main McAfee programs but might not delete all underlying files or services.

Step 2: Use the Official McAfee Consumer Product Removal (MCPR) Tool

If the regular uninstall left residual files or if McAfee refuses to uninstall completely, use the official MCPR tool:

  • Download the latest version of the MCPR tool from McAfee’s official website.

  • Save the MCPR.exe file to your PC, ideally your Desktop or Downloads folder.

  • Right-click MCPR.exe and select Run as administrator.

  • At the User Account Control prompt, click Yes to permit running.

  • Accept the license agreement and enter the on-screen CAPTCHA for security verification.

  • The tool will scan for any McAfee files, drivers, services, and registry entries and remove them completely.

  • Upon completion, the tool will prompt you to restart your computer. Reboot to finalize the cleanup.

MCPR is crucial for full uninstall as it targets stubborn files and entries standard uninstallers miss.

Step 3: Manually Remove McAfee Leftovers

If you prefer or need further cleanup:

  • Open File Explorer.

  • Enable Hidden items view from the View menu.

  • Navigate to and delete McAfee-related folders from locations including:

    • C:\Program Files\

    • C:\Program Files (x86)\

    • C:\ProgramData\ (hidden folder)

    • %AppData% in your user folder

  • Open Task Manager, end any McAfee processes still running.

  • Open Services (services.msc), disable McAfee services to prevent auto-start.

  • Use caution editing the Windows Registry, only removing McAfee-specific keys if experienced (backup first).

  • Empty the Recycle Bin and reboot your PC.

This manual cleanup reduces clutter and potential conflicts.

Step 4: Check for Removed Status and Install New Protection
  • Confirm McAfee no longer appears in Settings> Apps.

  • Verify task manager and services show no McAfee-related activity.

  • Run Windows Defender or another antivirus to scan for issues.

  • Install replacement security software if desired and update definitions immediately.

Troubleshooting McAfee Removal Issues
  • Uninstaller crashes or exits prematurely: Try uninstalling in Safe Mode.

  • MCPR tool stuck or incomplete: Redownload MCPR tool and run again with admin rights.

  • Error messages involving access permissions: Temporarily disable other security software during uninstall.

  • Remaining McAfee notifications or popups: Clear notifications, restart, and check startup items.

  • Registry errors after uninstall: Use system cleaning tools cautiously or restore point to fix.

Contact McAfee support if persistent problems affect uninstall success.

Conclusion

Knowing how to remove McAfee completely from my PC ensures a cleaner, faster, and more secure system when switching antivirus or optimizing your Windows experience. By following the stepwise guide—from using Windows’s uninstall tools, deploying the MCPR removal utility, to manually removing leftover data—you can confidently purge all McAfee elements without leaving behind unwanted files or services.

About the Author

I am Nichas Pooran, I am 23 Year old, I am from New York,

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Author: Nichas Pooran
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Nichas Pooran

Member since: Aug 23, 2025
Published articles: 307

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