Why is Avast Update Stuck at Initializing? Complete Fix Guide

In case you find your Avast update stuck at initializing, we have just the help you need.

In this tutorial, we will be walking you through the comprehensive steps of fixing it!

To fix your Avast update that’s stuck at initializing, perform a repair of your Avast program. If the update still won’t push through, uninstall the Avast program completely and reinstall it to your system.

To further understand the fix of this dilemma, it is important that we’re aware of what’s causing it in the first place.

Why is Avast Antivirus Update Stuck at Initializing?

This problem doesn’t just come from a single root cause. In fact, it can be one of many of the most common causes of why it is not updating.

Based on the information we’ve gathered; the following are the most common reasons why your Avast Antivirus program is stuck at the initialization stage.

• Installation problem (interrupted installation)
• Broken registry items
• Corrupted program files

Now that we’re aware of this, it will be easier for us to come up with a resolution that would be able to address the problem as a whole.

Avast Update Stuck at Initializing? – Complete Fix Steps 

In this guide, we’ll cover the entire process of how you can get over your problem of the Avast update being stuck at initializing.

So, whether you’re using a Windows computer/laptop or a macOS device, this guide is perfect for you!

Step #1: Perform a Repair of Your Avast Program

What you want to do first is to perform a repair of your Avast antivirus software.

To proceed and push through with a repair, initiate an uninstallation of the antivirus program.

Before you do it, though, you want to make sure that no other antivirus program or software is running in the background of your system.

So, to do the repair successfully follow these steps religiously:

1. Open Apps & Features or Applications on your device.
2. Then, locate the Avast Antivirus Software.
3. Select Uninstall.
4. In the Avast prompt, choose Repair.
5. Wait for the repair to finish.
6. Reboot or restart your system.

Note: If you are a Mac user, though, you’d have to initiate the uninstallation via the Avast Security User Interface. Choose Uninstall > Repair and wait for it to finish.

Step #2: Use the Avast Cleanup Premium Tool

Once that’s done and your device has finished booting up, the next thing you want to do is perform a clean of your Avast program.

To confirm that your program is performing cleaning, here’s how it should look like:

Using the Avast Cleanup Premium tool helps you identify system junk, broken registry items, and other programs that are slowing your PC down.

These, in turn, could be the culprits of why you’re experiencing a lot of problems with your system.

Here is what they look like:

When the scanning is done, select Resolve All at the bottom part of the prompt and wait for the fix or the cleanup to finish.

This may take anywhere from three (3) to five (5) minutes, so make sure that you don’t turn your system off.

Note: For the Avast Cleanup Premium tool to work, you need to be subscribed to Avast Premium.

If you’re not, then, clicking on Resolve All will ask you to be on Premium for the functionality to work.

Step #3: Uninstall and Reinstall the Avast Program

For the last step, what you need to do is to perform an uninstall/reinstall of the Avast program.

This clears out the entirety of the Avast program, which can be the solution you’ve always been looking for.

You can perform the uninstallation and reinstallation in two (2) ways: via the computer or laptop’s system or via the dedicated Avast Uninstall tool.

Uninstalling via the Computer/Laptop

The first method you can do is uninstall the Avast antivirus software from your device via your computer or laptop’s settings.

Here’s how you can do this:

1. On your computer, go to Apps & Feature/Applications.
2. From there, select and navigate to Avast Antivirus Software.
3. Tap More > Uninstall.
4. When the prompt opens, choose Uninstall.

Note: If you’re using Windows 7 and lower, you can uninstall it by pressing the Start button, then Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program.

Uninstalling via the Avast Uninstall Tool (AvastClear)

Another method of uninstalling the Avast program, which is actually what I suggest, would be to utilize the Avast Uninstall Tool.

By using AvastClear or the Uninstall Utility of Avast, all files, items, and other contents of the Avast program will be removed completely from the system.

So, if you’re running more than one (1) Avast antivirus program, they will be removed, too.

Here’s the process of how you can use AvastClear to remove or uninstall your Avast program:

1. Download the AvastClear installerin your system.
2. Target and save it to a folder you’ll easily locate.
3. Once done, reboot and restart your system in Safe Mode.
4. Then, open the AvastClear or the Uninstall Utility from where you downloaded it.
5. Make sure that you know exactly where you installed it.
6. From there, select REMOVE.
7. Wait for the uninstallation to finish, and restart/reboot your system.

Note: The folder you’ll choose will indefinitely be deleted or removed from the system.

When you’ve accomplished these steps, what you want to do next is to launch or open the Avast program and initiate the update of the version.

By now, you should freely be able to update it without any problems!

If the updating of your Avast software is stuck and is not pushing through, perform a repair of your Avast software, then use the cleanup tool to get rid of broken registry items. If that doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall the antivirus software to your system.

Read Next: Why Does Avast Says I Have Broken Registry Items? (Fixed)

Final Verdict

Is your Avast update stuck at initializing and you can’t get past it? Fret not, because our guide will be all you need!

With this tutorial handy, you won’t ever feel the need to look for another tutorial.

Go back to this guide every time you need help when it comes to updating your Avast version.