Avira AntiVir: Switch off automatic updates
If you are interrupting the automatic updates of Avira Free Antivirus, you can switch off this function. We show you how to do this in this guide.
Switch off AntiVir updates: extend the update interval
Unfortunately, there is no way in Avira Free Antivirus (formerly AntiVir) settings to switch off the automatic updates completely. You can only increase the update interval to a good 22 days.
- Open the Avira Free Antivirus program interface by double-clicking the program icon in the notification area next to the system clock.
- Select the Configuration item in the menu bar or press F8.
- Go to the Update menu item. Here you can increase the interval for the automatic updates. However, a maximum value of 22 days, 18 hours and 7 minutes is only possible.
Alternative 1: Enter faulty proxy
However, there is a simple trick that you can use to permanently prevent automatic updates. You only have to enter a faulty proxy server in the options so that the software can no longer connect to the update servers.
- Open the Avira Free Antivirus program interface by double-clicking the program icon in the notification area next to the system clock.
- Select the Configuration menu item in the Tools menu bar or alternatively press the F8 key.
- Switch to the Update tab. Open the sub-item "Web server". In the "Proxy Server" area, select "Connection via this proxy server" and enter any (invalid) information in the fields.
Alternative 2: edit updjob.av
Another way to disable automatic updates is to edit the updjob.av file so that automatic updates are no longer carried out.
- Right-click the program icon in the notification area. Uncheck "Activate real-time scanner".
- Open the file "C: \ ProgramData \ Avira \ AntiVir Desktop \ JOBS \ updjob.avj" in any text editor.
- Look for the line "JobEnabled = 1" and change it to "JobEnabled = 0". Then save the file.
- Right-click the program icon in the notification area. Place a checkmark next to "Activate real-time scanner".
