How to cancel AVG before your renewal date

You can cancel AVG through your account settings on AVG's website, by contacting their support team, or by requesting a chargeback from your credit card company if the subscription renewed without your consent. The fastest route is logging into your AVG account, finding the subscription section, and clicking the cancellation option — this usually takes under five minutes. If you bought AVG through a retailer like Amazon or Best Buy, you may need to cancel through that retailer instead of directly with AVG.

Timing matters. AVG typically charges on the same date each month or year, depending on your plan. If you cancel after that date has passed, you have already paid for the next billing period and will not get a refund — you will straightforward lose access when that period ends. Check your confirmation email or account dashboard to see when your next charge is scheduled, then cancel before that date if you want to avoid the charge.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your AVG account at avg.com, go to Subscriptions or Account Settings, and look for a Cancel or Manage Subscription button to stop future charges.
  • AVG charges on a set date each billing cycle, so cancelling after that date means you have already paid for the next period and will not receive a refund.
  • If you bought AVG through Amazon, Best Buy, or another retailer, you must cancel through that retailer's account page, not through AVG directly.
  • If AVG charged your card after you cancelled or without your consent, contact your credit card company to dispute the charge or request a chargeback.
  • Keep your cancellation confirmation email as proof in case AVG continues to charge you after you have cancelled.

Cancelling directly through your AVG account

Go to avg.com and sign in with the email and password you used when you bought the subscription. Once you are logged in, look for a menu option called "Subscriptions," "My Account," "Account Settings," or "Billing" — the exact name varies depending on whether you are on a computer or phone. Click that option and you should see your active subscription listed with details about your plan name and next billing date.

Find the button or link that says "Cancel," "Cancel Subscription," "Manage," or "Edit." Click it and AVG will usually ask you why you are leaving — you can skip this or answer it, it does not affect the cancellation. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. AVG will send you a confirmation email to the address on your account. Save this email. If AVG charges you again after this point, you have proof that you cancelled.

Cancelling a subscription bought through a retailer

If you purchased AVG through Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, or another retailer, you cannot cancel it through AVG's website. Instead, you must cancel through that retailer's account page. The retailer handles the billing, not AVG, so AVG has no way to stop the charges.

For Amazon: Log into your Amazon account, go to "Your Account" and then "Memberships and Subscriptions." Find AVG in the list and click "Manage Subscription" or "Cancel Subscription." For Best Buy: Log in, go to "Account," then "Subscriptions," find AVG, and click "Cancel." For Costco: Log into your Costco account online, go to "My Account," find your AVG subscription under "Digital Memberships," and select the cancellation option. Each retailer's process is slightly different, but all of them let you cancel without contacting AVG directly.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel, AVG will stop charging your card on the next billing date. You will keep access to AVG antivirus software until the end of your current billing period — if your subscription was set to renew on March 15, you can use AVG until March 14, then it stops working. After that date, you will see a message telling you the software is no longer active, and you will not receive updates or protection.

If you want to use antivirus software after your AVG subscription ends, you will need to install a different program. Windows 10 and 11 come with Windows Defender built in, which offers basic protection at no cost. Other free options include Avast, Bitdefender Free, or Kaspersky Free, though they come with their own trade-offs between protection level and how much data they collect. If you decide to switch, uninstall AVG completely before installing a new antivirus program — running two antivirus programs at the same time can slow your computer and cause conflicts.

If AVG keeps charging you after cancellation

If your credit card or bank account shows a charge from AVG after you cancelled, contact your credit card company or bank first, not AVG. Tell them you cancelled the subscription and did not authorize the charge. Your card issuer can dispute the charge on your behalf, which is faster and more reliable than asking AVG to refund you. Keep your cancellation confirmation email handy when you call — the card company will ask for proof that you cancelled.

You can also contact AVG's support team directly if you want to give them a chance to fix it before involving your bank. Go to avg.com/support, select your product, and choose "Contact Support." You can reach them by phone, email, or live chat depending on your region. Have your account email, the date you cancelled, and the date of the unwanted charge ready when you contact them. If AVG refuses to refund the charge, your credit card company can still dispute it on your behalf.

Uninstalling AVG from your computer

Cancelling your subscription stops the charges, but it does not remove the software from your computer. After your subscription ends, the program will still be installed but will no longer work. You can leave it there and install a different antivirus program, or you can uninstall it completely.

On Windows: Go to Settings, select "Apps," then "Apps and Features." Scroll down and find "AVG" in the list. Click it and select "Uninstall." Windows will ask you to confirm — click "Uninstall" again. On Mac: Open Applications, find AVG, and drag it to the Trash. Then empty the Trash. On either system, restart your computer after uninstalling to make sure all AVG files are removed. If you install a new antivirus program, do this uninstall step first so the two programs do not conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of my billing period?

Most of the time, no. Once AVG charges your card, that billing period is paid for and you keep access until it ends. If you cancel on day 5 of a 30-day period, you lose access on day 30 but do not get a refund for the remaining 25 days. Some retailers like Amazon have different refund policies, so check your original receipt to see who you bought from.

What if I forgot my AVG password?

Go to avg.com and click "Sign In," then click "Forgot Password?" on the login page. AVG will send a password reset link to the email address on your account. Click the link, create a new password, and log in. If you do not have access to that email address anymore, contact AVG support and they can help you regain access to your account.

Do I need to uninstall AVG before installing a different antivirus?

Yes. Running two antivirus programs at the same time will slow your computer and can cause them to interfere with each other. Uninstall AVG completely through Settings or Applications before you install a new program. Restart your computer after uninstalling, then install the new antivirus.

Will cancelling AVG affect my computer's security?

Once your subscription ends and AVG stops working, your computer will no longer receive antivirus protection from AVG. Windows Defender, which comes built into Windows 10 and 11, will set up automatically and provide basic protection. If you want stronger protection, install a different antivirus program before your AVG subscription ends so there is no gap in coverage.

Can I cancel AVG by phone?

You can contact AVG support by phone and ask them to cancel for you, but it is faster to cancel through your account online. If you prefer to call, go to avg.com/support, select your product, and choose the phone option for your region. Have your account email and subscription details ready.