This article explains how to temporarily disable McAfee on most versions of Microsoft Windows and macOS. McAfee is a popular antivirus application used to protect devices from malware, unwanted programs, and attacks. However, it can sometimes be overprotective and block programs you trust from performing their functions.

To temporarily disable McAfee Total Protection on a Windows PC, follow the instructions below.

Select the McAfee icon in the Notifications section of the Windows taskbar in the lower-right corner of your screen. It looks like a red shield.

When the pop-out menu appears, select Open McAfee Total Protection.