How to Uninstall TotalAV When Its Folder Cannot Be Found in Windows
Question details
The user wants to completely remove TotalAV antivirus software while keeping Microsoft Defender installed but is unable to locate the TotalAV installation folder in Windows.
- Product
- TotalAV
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to uninstall an application without being able to find its root directory or uninstaller file.
- Observed behavior
- The TotalAV installation folder is missing or hidden, preventing the user from manually deleting the program files.
Ensure you are logged in to Windows with an administrator account to allow for software removal and system modifications.
Uninstall TotalAV via Windows Search and Settings
Use the built-in Windows search function to locate the uninstaller and safely remove TotalAV from your system without needing its installation folder.
Antivirus software often protects its installation folders or hides them to prevent malicious tampering. Instead of manually deleting the folder, you should trigger the official uninstallation process via Windows system settings.
Click the Windows Start menu or the Search icon on your taskbar, type 'TotalAV' into the search bar, and locate the application in the search results.
Right-click the TotalAV application icon in the search results and select 'Uninstall'. This action will open the Windows Programs and Features window.
Locate TotalAV in the list of currently installed programs, right-click it, select 'Uninstall', and follow the on-screen prompts provided by the uninstaller wizard to remove the software.
Once the uninstallation process is complete, immediately restart your PC. This ensures all temporary files are cleared and Windows registers the removal.
After restarting, open File Explorer and navigate to 'C:\Program Files' and 'C:\Program Files (x86)'. If you see a remaining 'TotalAV' folder, right-click and delete it to remove any leftover configuration files.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find the TotalAV folder on my computer?
Antivirus software often installs in hidden or system-protected directories to prevent malicious software from tampering with its core files. Using the built-in Windows uninstaller bypasses the need to manually find the folder.
Will Microsoft Defender turn on automatically after I uninstall TotalAV?
Yes, Windows is designed to automatically reactivate Microsoft Defender once it detects that third-party antivirus software like TotalAV has been completely uninstalled and the PC has been restarted.
What if TotalAV does not appear in the Windows search results?
If TotalAV doesn't show up in your Windows search, press 'Windows Key + R', type 'appwiz.cpl', and press Enter. This will open the 'Programs and Features' menu directly, where you can find TotalAV in the software list and uninstall it.
