“Avast prevents me from accessing certain websites. It’s so annoying!”
Avast is a great tool to keep your PC safe and secured.
But it can sometimes falsely detect websites as “unsafe,”
Causing your browsing experience to become difficult (and annoying!).
But hey! There are several ways you can stop Avast from blocking “safe” websites.
Read on to learn:
- 7 ways to stop Avast from blocking websites.
- How to exclude websites from Avast protection.
- How to disable web shield and HTTPS scanning.
- Steps on factory resetting Avast Antivirus software.
- And much much more…
Why is Avast blocking websites?
Avast is blocking websites because its software and installation program are outdated and need immediate repairing. Causing its web shield and HTTPS scanner to falsely detect legitimate websites as unprotected ones. System glitches and errors can sometimes cause Avast to “malfunction,” too.
How to stop Avast from blocking websites? 7 ways
#1: By updating Avast Antivirus
Avast helps keep your computer safe by blocking malicious websites and viruses.
It uses software to run and detect unprotected sites. Making it Avast’s important component.
Developers often update software to enhance its protection features and security functions.
And that includes updating its virus definition database.
Given that, you should always keep your Avast application up-to-date. That way, it can detect unprotected sites correctly and without errors.
Decreasing the chances of Avast Antivirus blocking safe and legitimate websites and files.
To update Avast Antivirus application:
Note: This instruction only applies to Avast Free and Premium Antivirus for Windows.
- Right-click the Avast icon on the computer’s notification bar.
- Click “Update.”
- Select “Program.”
- Wait for the settings page to pop up.
- If it doesn’t update automatically, click “Check for Updates.”
- Wait for Avast to update.
- If prompted, tap “Restart now” to complete the update process.
Clicking the “Restart now” button will restart your computer. And reboot your device alongside the Avast Antivirus application.
There are four application update options you can choose from:
- Manual update.
- Automatic update.
- Enable streaming update.
- Ask when an update is available.
Suppose you want to change your application update settings. Here’s how to do it:
- Launch the Avast Antivirus application.
- Tap the three-horizontal-lines icon on the top-right corner.
- Select “General.”
- Click “Update.”
- Under the application settings, click “More options.”
- Then, select your preferred application update option.
#2: By repairing the Avast installation program
Sometimes Avast blocks websites because some of its components are faulty. Or some of its features are not working properly.
This can happen if certain program files become corrupted, missing, or outdated.
Sounds too technical, right?
Fortunately, fixing such errors is as easy as updating the Avast application software.
To resolve the problem, you just have to keep its installation program up-to-date.
Note: The process below is applicable for both Avast Free and Premium Antivirus.
To update the Avast installation program on Windows 10:
- Close any running background apps and programs on your PC.
- Right-click the Windows “Start” button.
- Select “Apps and Features.”
- Click your Avast Antivirus version.
- Tap “Uninstall.”
- If the “User Account Control” dialog pops up, click “Yes.”
- Once the Avast Setup wizard appears, select “Repair.”
- Tap “Yes” to confirm the action.
- Click “Done.”
- If prompted, click “Restart computer.”
After this, your computer will restart to reboot the Avast installation program.
To update the Avast installation program on Windows 8 and 7, visit Avast support.
Warning: Repairing Avast may cause some of its settings to return to default.
#3: By adding URL exceptions
“Updating and repairing Avast Antivirus didn’t resolve my problem!”
If that’s the case, you may try adding the blocked websites to Avast’s whitelist.
Adding a website to the whitelist prevents Avast from blocking that specific website.
Avast will stop scanning that website whenever you’re accessing it. Giving you an uninterrupted browsing experience.
Note: Make sure to only add trusted and legitimate URLs to the Avast whitelist. That way, your computer will stay protected at all times.
To add URL exception on Avast:
- Launch the Avast Antivirus application.
- Tap the three-horizontal-lines icon at the top-right corner.
- Go to “Settings.”
- Select “General.”
- Click “Exceptions.”
- Tap “Add exception.”
- Type the URL you want to exclude.
- Then, click “Add exception” to confirm the action.
Once done, you should be able to visit the blocked website without problems.
Tip: To speed up Avast scanning, also exclude “safe” files and folders by following the same process.
#4: By assigning your browser as an “Allowed” app
Is Avast blocking selected websites?
Or does it completely block your browser?
Then perhaps your browser is in Avast’s “list of blocked apps.” This can happen if you’ve mistakenly clicked the “block” pop-up Avast notification.
For you to access the blocked websites or browsers, always “allow” it on Avast’s list of “Blocked & Allowed apps.”
That way, Avast will stop falsely blocking certain websites you often visit.
To “allow” your browser app on Avast:
- Launch the Avast Antivirus application.
- Tap the three-horizontal-lines icon at the top-right corner.
- Go to “Settings.”
- Select “General.”
- Click “Blocked & Allowed apps.”
- Tap “+Allow App.”
- Locate your browser app.
- Tap the “Add app” next to it.
- Tick all the Avast features you want to use.
- Then, click “Add” to complete the action.
After this, launch your browser app. And see if the process has worked.
If not, try the other troubleshooting steps instructed below.
#5: By turning off the web shield
Avast “web shield” is the one responsible for blocking web attacks.
It also protects your computer from unsafe downloads. Preventing such from running in your computer and further stealing or configuring data.
While it’s an important feature, it can falsely detect safe websites as untrusted ones. Causing certain websites to get blocked.
One way you can access blocked websites is by turning off Avast’s web shield.
Doing this is basically preventing Avast from blocking unsafe sites and downloads.
Warning: Turning off Avast’s web shield may harm your PC from web attacks. So, make sure to do this only if necessary.
To turn off Avast web shield:
- Launch the Avast Antivirus application.
- Tap the three-horizontal-lines icon at the top-right corner.
- Click “Protection” located on the right bar.
- Select “Core Shields.”
- Toggle off the “Web Shield” switch.
- Choose preferred duration.
- Then, click “Ok” to confirm the action.
Note: This process is applicable on Avast version 19.8.2393.
#6: By disabling HTTPS scanning
Avast has another protection feature called “HTTPS scanning.”
What it does is protect your PC from malicious malware coming from unsafe websites. Or websites that don’t have an SSL certificate.
SSL certificate, in simple words, certifies the site’s owner and authenticity. Avast uses it as a basis of the site’s “protectedness.”
If the site you’re visiting has no SSL certificate, Avast will automatically block it.
That said, if you want to access a “safe” blocked site, you may disable Avast’s HTTPS scanning for a while.
Warning: Disable HTTPS scanning only for a short time. As malicious sites without SSL certificates may easily infect your PC.
To disable Avast HTTPS scanning:
- Launch the Avast Antivirus application.
- Tap the three-horizontal-lines icon at the top-right corner.
- Click “Protection” located on the right bar.
- Select “Core Shields.”
- Scroll down and locate the “Configure shield settings” section.
- Tap the “Web Shield” tab.
- Then, untick the box next to “HTTPS scanning.”
#7: By turning off Avast protection temporarily
“I’ve disabled web shield and HTTPS scanning already. But nothing has changed!”
Did nothing above work? And you badly need to access the blocked website?
Well, you may try turning off Avast Antivirus temporarily.
Doing this will disable Avast protection completely for a short amount of time. Letting you browse any sites without problems.
Warning: Web attacks happen anytime. So, if you’re temporarily turning off Avast protection, make sure to do it shortly.
To turn off Avast protection temporarily:
- Right-click the Avast icon on the Windows taskbar.
- Select “Avast shield control.”
- Choose your preferred disabled time.
- Then, click “Yes” when the Avast security suite pops up.
Note: Avoid visiting other sites aside to avoid web attacks and viruses entering your PC.
You can also temporarily disable Avast Antivirus by disabling all its Core Shields.
Watch this short instructional video to know how:
Bonus: By reinstalling Avast Antivirus
Are other internet-dependent apps don’t work as well? Then Avast must have blocked your internet access.
This can happen if you’ve accidentally changed something in its settings.
To resolve the problem, you have to reset your Avast to its default settings. And you can do that by reinstalling the app.
When you reinstallAvast, you may lose the following:
- Whitelist.
- Custom settings.
- Core shield settings.
- Application update settings.
- List of blocked and allowed apps.
It can be a hassle to customize your Avast settings again.
But reinstalling is the best way to restart your Avast application. Especially if you’re a non-techie person.
To uninstall and reinstall Avast Antivirus on Windows PC:
- Download the aswClear uninstall utility.
- Remove all DVDs and CDs from the PC.
- Restart the computer.
- Hold the “F8” key right before the Windows logo appears.
- Select “Safe Mode.”
- Press “Enter.”
- Log into the Windows admin account.
- Run the aswClear.exe file by double-clicking it.
- Click “Remove.”
- Restart the computer again.
- Exit “Safe Mode.”
- Double-click the Avast setup file.
- Then, follow the on-screen instruction to reinstall Avast.
After this, you should be able to visit previously blocked websites without issues.