How to Uninstall McAfee Total Protection

This wikiHow teaches you how to remove the McAfee Total Protection app from your Windows or Mac computer.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

  1. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 1
    1
    Open Start
    Windows Start
    .     Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 2
    2
    Open Settings
    Windows Settings
    .     Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
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  3. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 3
    3
    Click Apps. It's in the Settings window. Doing so opens a list of your currently installed apps.
    • If you don't see a list of your currently installed apps, make sure that you're on the right tab by clicking Apps & features in the upper-left side of the window.
  4. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 4
    4
    Scroll down to the McAfee option. You'll find the "McAfee® Total Protection" heading in the "M" section of the menu.
  5. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 5
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    Click McAfee® Total Protection. Doing so expands the heading.
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    Click Uninstall. It's below the "McAfee® Total Protection" heading.
  7. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 7
    7
    Click Uninstall when prompted. You'll see this option above the first Uninstall option.
  8. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 8
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    Click Yes when prompted. This will take you to the McAfee uninstall wizard.
  9. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 9
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    Complete the uninstallation form. Once McAfee's uninstall wizard opens, complete it by doing the following:
    • Check the "McAfee® Total Protection" box.
    • Check the "Remove all files for this program" box.
    • Click the blue Uninstall button.
    • Click Uninstall again when prompted.
  10. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 10
    10
    Click Restart now. Once McAfee finishes uninstalling, you'll be prompted to restart your computer. This will complete the uninstallation process and remove McAfee from your computer.
    • You can click Restart later to restart your computer manually at a different time, but keep in mind that the uninstallation process won't be complete until you restart the computer.
  11. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 11
    11
    Re-enable Windows Defender if necessary. If you haven't restarted your computer, Windows Defender (the default Windows antivirus protection) may still be turned off. While it will eventually turn itself back on, you can speed up the process by doing the following:
    • Open Start
    • Type in windows defender
    • Click Windows Defender Security Center
    • Click Turn on if possible. If you instead see green checkmarks (not red Xs) next to the different security icons on the dashboard, Windows Defender is enabled.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

  1. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 12
    1
    Open Spotlight
    Mac Spotlight
    .     Click the magnifying glass-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the screen to do so. A search bar will open in the middle of the screen.
  2. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 13
    2
    Search for Terminal. Type terminal into the search bar in the middle of the screen.
  3. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 14
    3
    Open
    Mac Terminal
    Terminal.     Once it appears, double-click the Terminal result. This will open the Terminal window.
  4. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 15
    4
    Enter the uninstall command. Type in sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh and press ⏎ Return.
  5. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 16
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    Enter your administrator password if prompted. If you see a "Password" line appear, type in the password that you use to log into your Mac's administrator account, then press ⏎ Return.
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    6
    Follow any on-screen prompts. While the uninstall command should prompt McAfee to begin uninstalling automatically, you may have to confirm the uninstallation by navigating through a pop-up window.
  7. Image titled Uninstall McAfee Security Center Step 18
    7
    Restart your computer. Once McAfee indicates that is has been uninstalled successfully, you'll want to restart your computer to complete the process:
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    McAfee doesn't show up on my uninstall program page, but I can see that I have it installed because the icon is on my task bar. What do I do now if I want to uninstall it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you go to the directory where the program is installed, there should be something labeled, "uninstall.exe," or likewise. Running that should do the trick.
  • Question
    How do I get McAfee off my Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile phone?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Go into your apps, hold on the app and drag it to the trash can. It will un-install and be gone. You can also go to your folders and manualy delete it from there.
  • Question
    On my MacBook I went into Finder, Applications, and McAfee (which I am trying to uninstall) is not there, yet the icon is still there in the upper-right corner of my screen and it keeps complaining! What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You deleted the application, but other installed files are still present. To uninstall completely, follow the instructions in this listing by entering the following commands at the command prompt: sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh .
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Warnings

  • Macs don't have built-in antivirus protection. If you remove McAfee from a Mac, be sure to install a different antivirus program as soon as possible.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 1,725,735 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 52
Updated: June 4, 2020
Views: 1,725,735
Categories: Internet Security
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