How to Get Rid of McAfee and Norton Pop-Ups on Your Windows Computer: A Complete Guide

Need help? Call 1-833-800-3030 for expert assistance.

Are you constantly bombarded with annoying McAfee or Norton pop-ups every time you turn on your Windows computer? You're not alone. These persistent alerts can be frustrating and disruptive—especially if you’ve already uninstalled the antivirus software or never signed up in the first place.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the methods to stop McAfee and Norton pop-ups on a Windows computer—whether they’re legitimate notifications or sneaky adware imitations. By the end of this article, you'll learn how to permanently block these interruptions and enjoy a smoother, pop-up-free computing experience.

If you need expert help at any point, you can call 1-833-800-3030 to speak with a Windows PC support specialist.

Why You’re Seeing McAfee or Norton Pop-Ups

Before removing the pop-ups, it's essential to understand where they’re coming from. McAfee and Norton notifications can appear for several reasons:

1. Pre-installed Trial Software: Many new Windows laptops come with trial versions of McAfee or Norton, which start popping up after the trial ends.

2. Expired Subscriptions: If you previously used McAfee or Norton, expired licenses can trigger repeated renewal reminders.

3. Third-Party Adware: Fake pop-ups may appear via malicious browser extensions or adware pretending to be McAfee or Norton.

4. Unfinished Uninstall: Uninstalling the antivirus software without cleaning leftover files or registry entries may cause lingering alerts.

Step-by-Step: How to Stop McAfee Pop-Ups

1. Uninstall McAfee from Your PC

If you no longer want to use McAfee, the best solution is to remove it entirely:

Steps:

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.

• Locate McAfee Security or McAfee LiveSafe.

• Right-click and select Uninstall.

• Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

Tip: McAfee also provides a tool called MCPR (McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool) to fully erase leftover components. You can download it from the McAfee website.

2. Disable Notifications from McAfee

If you want to keep McAfee installed but disable notifications:

Steps:

• Open McAfee Security Center.

• Click the Settings (gear icon).

• Go to General Settings and Alerts > Informational Alerts.

• Uncheck boxes for pop-up types you don’t want to see.

• Click Apply.

Step-by-Step: How to Stop Norton Pop-Ups

1. Uninstall Norton from Your PC

To remove Norton completely:

Steps:

• Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.

• Find Norton Security, Norton 360, or related entries.

• Right-click and choose Uninstall.

• Complete the wizard and restart your computer.

Tip: Norton also offers a Norton Removal Tool (NRnR) to eliminate all traces of its software.

2. Disable Norton Alerts

If you still want Norton running quietly:

Steps:

• Open Norton.

• Go to Settings > Administrative Settings.

• Scroll to Special Offer Notification, and turn it Off.

• You can also adjust Silent Mode and Performance Alerts under the same menu.

How to Remove Fake Norton or McAfee Pop-Ups from Browsers

Many users are fooled by pop-ups that look like they’re from Norton or McAfee but are actually malicious ads or scams.

Warning Signs of Fake Pop-Ups:

• Messages claim “Your computer is infected” or “McAfee has detected viruses!”

• URLs contain random letters or suspicious domains.

• A countdown timer urging you to act “immediately.”

• You didn’t install Norton or McAfee, yet you’re seeing alerts.

Steps to Remove These Browser-Based Pop-Ups:

1. Clear Your Browser Extensions

• Open your browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).

• Go to Settings > Extensions.

• Remove any unfamiliar or shady extensions (especially those not installed by you).

2. Reset Your Browser Settings

In Chrome:

• Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their original defaults

In Edge:

• Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to default values

3. Run Windows Defender Scan

• Open Windows Security.

• Go to Virus & threat protection > Quick Scan.

• For thorough checking, choose Full Scan or Offline Scan.

How to Block McAfee or Norton Pop-Ups from Task Scheduler

Sometimes, even after uninstalling the software, Windows Task Scheduler may continue launching alerts.

Steps:

• Press Windows + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.

• Go to Task Scheduler Library.

• Look for tasks named McAfee, Norton, or Symantec.

• Right-click on suspicious tasks and click Disable or Delete.

Additional Steps for Pop-Up Prevention

1. Disable Notifications from Windows Security Center

• Go to Settings > System > Notifications.

• Scroll to Security and Maintenance or McAfee/Norton, and turn notifications Off.

2. Use a Pop-Up Blocker

• Make sure pop-ups are disabled in browser settings.

• Common Issues After Removing McAfee or Norton

• No Antivirus Protection: After removal, your PC may lack protection. Ensure that Windows Defender is turned on or install an alternative antivirus.

• Firewall Disabled: Check that the Windows Firewall is active after uninstalling third-party security software.

• Leftover Files: Use tools like CCleaner or Revo Uninstaller to remove residual files and registry entries.

When to Call a Technician

• If you're unsure about whether the pop-ups are legitimate or you’re facing system slowdowns, browser redirects, or recurring alerts, it’s best to get expert help.

• You can reach out to a certified Windows technician by calling 1-833-800-3030. 

Final Thoughts

Whether it's real software notifications or deceptive pop-up scams, McAfee and Norton alerts can become overwhelming. Fortunately, removing them is possible through proper uninstallation, browser cleanup, and scheduled task management.

For those who aren’t tech-savvy or don’t want to risk deleting the wrong file, help is just a phone call away. Contact the support line at 1-833-800-3030 for personalized assistance with removing pop-ups and securing your Windows PC.

FAQs

• How do I stop annoying McAfee pop-ups?

To stop McAfee pop-ups, open the McAfee app, go to Settings > General Settings and Alerts > Informational Alerts, and uncheck the boxes for unnecessary notifications. If you no longer use McAfee, uninstall it from Control Panel > Programs and Features, and use the MCPR tool to remove leftover files.

• Why am I suddenly getting McAfee pop-ups?

You may be seeing McAfee pop-ups because of a pre-installed trial version, an expired subscription, or leftover files from a previous installation. In some cases, pop-ups could also be triggered by adware or fake alerts from your browser.

• How to make fake McAfee pop-ups go away?

To remove fake McAfee pop-ups, clear your browser’s cache and remove suspicious extensions. Then reset your browser settings and run a full scan using Windows Defender. Installing a trusted ad blocker can also help block future fake alerts.

• How do I get rid of fake virus pop-ups?

To get rid of fake virus pop-ups, close the browser tab showing the alert, clear your browser history and cache, and remove any unknown extensions. Reset your browser settings and run a full malware scan using Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus.

• How do I get rid of annoying Norton pop-ups?

To stop Norton pop-ups, open Norton, go to Settings > Administrative Settings, and turn off options like Special Offer Notification and Performance Alerts. If you no longer use Norton, uninstall it through Control Panel, then use the Norton Removal Tool (NRnR) to clean up leftover files.

• How to remove fake Norton pop-ups?

To remove fake Norton pop-ups, clear your browser’s cache and history, uninstall suspicious extensions, and reset browser settings. Then run a full malware scan with Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus.

• How do I stop Norton and McAfee pop-ups?

To stop Norton and McAfee pop-ups, adjust notification settings within each app or uninstall them if you no longer use the software. Remove leftover files using their official removal tools (MCPR for McAfee, NRnR for Norton). Also, check your browser for fake pop-ups and remove any suspicious extensions.