Look no further if you are like me and have been stuck with leftover McAfee processes after running the uninstallers. There are plenty of guides with canned answers from Microsoft that have done nothing but frustrate you; this is what you need to do. This is a known solution for Windows 11 Pro 22H2 (Build 22621.1194). This should work on most supported Windows versions since Windows 7 with minor tweaks. Disclaimer: My professional experience as a SysAdmin dates back to 2010, and my hobbyist experience dates back to 1998. I can only say that the solution below worked for me, and I will not be held liable if you mess up your computer. If you don't have a supplemental subscription Antivirus, I would not recommend removing the extra security. Things You'll Need Bitlocker Key - https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey - Get this before Step 2 MCPR tool (direct link) - Download this BEFORE attempting Step 2 or download it from McAfee's support page if you do not trust me: McAfee KB - How to remove McAfee products from a Windows PC (TS101331) ) A way to read Step 2 without Internet access About 30 minutes Step 1 - Remove McAfee products from your computer using Windows Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps Search the list for McAfee Next to each result, click the Elipsis ( ... ) and click Uninstall You can reboot as prompted or reboot after all of them are done. If you run into problems, reboot, then try again. Feel free to run the MCPR tool ; if it succeeds, you are finished; if not, continue to Step 2 Step 2 - Reboot and Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection Open Settings > System > Recovery Next to Advanced Startup , click Restart Now Wait for reboot and select Troubleshoot at the Choose an option page At some point, you may be prompted to enter your BitLocker recovery key, be sure to have this on hand Select Startup Settings Select Restart (Yeah, this is redundant) You may be prompted to enter your BitLocker recovery key again because of the reboot Select the option that states Disable early launch anti-malware protection . If this option is not available, reboot into Safe Mode instead. Windows will start in the selected mode but will start normally when the computer is restarted again. It would be best if you didn't run any browsers while you have early launch anti-malware protection disabled. Navigating the wrong site could easily hijack your real antivirus and create more significant problems. Step 3 - Run the MCPR Tool Pretty straightforward; just run the MCPR tool . It will disable and remove any found McAfee services, prompting a reboot at the end. Reboot Step 4 - Remove Dangling Services/Files (If Needed/Optional) Open Services and check for any McAfee references If found, open CMD/PowerShell/Windows Terminal as an admin (Right click > run as Admin or Ctrl +Shift + Enter/Click) Get the service name from Services, Right click and choose Properties and grab the short name. (McAfee Access Protection is mcapexe ) In the terminal window, type sc delete <short_name> (e.g, sc delete mcapexe) If you run into errors, the product wasn't entirely removed, and you may try Step 2 again. I can offer assistance if this doesn't work but don't expect a quick or accurate response for your situation. You may have a faster and more accurate response from McAfee Support. 🍻

The 4 or xx digit passcode for a device is a Pin code ->"A PIN is a user-defined set of numbers, or a combination of numbers and letters, that allows you to sign in to your Windows device instead of a password". Change or reset your PIN - Microsoft Support Microsoft Password is your password into your personal or business Microsoft Account, your device is connected to.

I had a similar problem with Mcafee. Solution I adopted (for Windows 10) was to enter in the 'type here to search' field leftmost on task bar the command MSCONFIG. This will come up with Normal Start Up or Diagnostic Start Up. Select Diagnostic and enter. This will restart your PC with minimum resources but will enable you to uninstall Mcafee. You will than need to go back and enter Normal Start-up. Beware your four digit Microsoft password will be deleted and you will have to go back to your original password. Worked for me. Peter Waller

Awesome! You should write up a post for it so it doesn't get lost in the comments on this guide. But please make a note that if a user has set up a pin, they will not be able to log into their computer because the diagnostic configuration does not load the biometric or Windows Hello drivers needed to login. Also make sure you help them out when they are stuck at a login screen with no way to get back to the desktop except using the Advanced Startup Options. Just noting this out of practical experience during my initial troubleshooting of this issue because while it's definitely a shortcut, it will cause more headache than it is worth.

If you are familiar with PowerShell you can use the following command to get the name of a service. Get-Service -DisplayName “*McAfee*” | Filter-Table -AutoSize It will give you a list of all services with McAfee in the display name and provide the service name that you need in the name column. You can run this command in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. It does not require elevated permissions.

I didn't ask for it, it came with the computer I was gifted. I tried to uninstall it and just use Windows Defender and after the uninstall nothing involving Windows Store would work, and after various other networking difficulties I wiped my computer and started over, thinking I'd get a choice about McAfee being installed. Nope. Now it's back on my computer and I'm afraid I'll be stuck with this POS.

Guide for completely removing McAfee

Anonymous

Look no further if you are like me and have been stuck with leftover McAfee processes after running the uninstallers.

There are plenty of guides with canned answers from Microsoft that have done nothing but frustrate you; this is what you need to do.

This is a known solution for Windows 11 Pro 22H2 (Build 22621.1194). This should work on most supported Windows versions since Windows 7 with minor tweaks.

Disclaimer: My professional experience as a SysAdmin dates back to 2010, and my hobbyist experience dates back to 1998. I can only say that the solution below worked for me, and I will not be held liable if you mess up your computer. If you don't have a supplemental subscription Antivirus, I would not recommend removing the extra security.

Things You'll Need

Bitlocker Key - https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey - Get this before Step 2
MCPR tool (direct link) - Download this BEFORE attempting Step 2
- or download it from McAfee's support page if you do not trust me: McAfee KB - How to remove McAfee products from a Windows PC (TS101331))
A way to read Step 2 without Internet access
About 30 minutes

Step 1 - Remove McAfee products from your computer using Windows

Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
Search the list for McAfee
Next to each result, click the Elipsis (...) and click Uninstall You can reboot as prompted or reboot after all of them are done. If you run into problems, reboot, then try again.
Feel free to run the MCPR tool; if it succeeds, you are finished; if not, continue to Step 2

Step 2 - Reboot and Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

Open Settings > System > Recovery
Next to Advanced Startup, click Restart Now
Wait for reboot and select Troubleshoot at the Choose an option page
At some point, you may be prompted to enter your BitLocker recovery key, be sure to have this on hand
Select Startup Settings
Select Restart (Yeah, this is redundant)
You may be prompted to enter your BitLocker recovery key again because of the reboot
Select the option that states Disable early launch anti-malware protection. If this option is not available, reboot into Safe Mode instead.
Windows will start in the selected mode but will start normally when the computer is restarted again.

It would be best if you didn't run any browsers while you have early launch anti-malware protection disabled. Navigating the wrong site could easily hijack your real antivirus and create more significant problems.

Step 3 - Run the MCPR Tool

Pretty straightforward; just run the MCPR tool. It will disable and remove any found McAfee services, prompting a reboot at the end.
Reboot

Step 4 - Remove Dangling Services/Files (If Needed/Optional)

Open Services and check for any McAfee references
If found, open CMD/PowerShell/Windows Terminal as an admin (Right click > run as Admin or Ctrl +Shift + Enter/Click)
Get the service name from Services, Right click and choose Properties and grab the short name. (McAfee Access Protection is mcapexe)
In the terminal window, type sc delete <short_name> (e.g, sc delete mcapexe)
If you run into errors, the product wasn't entirely removed, and you may try Step 2 again.

I can offer assistance if this doesn't work but don't expect a quick or accurate response for your situation. You may have a faster and more accurate response from McAfee Support. 🍻

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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50 answers

Anonymous

2024-10-10T15:07:10+00:00

The 4 or xx digit passcode for a device is a Pin code ->"A PIN is a user-defined set of numbers, or a combination of numbers and letters, that allows you to sign in to your Windows device instead of a password".

Change or reset your PIN - Microsoft Support

Microsoft Password is your password into your personal or business Microsoft Account, your device is connected to.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2024-10-09T05:06:24+00:00

I had a similar problem with Mcafee.

Solution I adopted (for Windows 10) was to enter in the 'type here to search' field leftmost on task bar the command

MSCONFIG.

This will come up with Normal Start Up or Diagnostic Start Up.

Select Diagnostic and enter. This will restart your PC with minimum resources but will enable you to uninstall Mcafee.

You will than need to go back and enter Normal Start-up.

Beware your four digit Microsoft password will be deleted and you will have to go back to your original password.

Worked for me.

Peter Waller
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2024-08-31T15:56:55+00:00

Awesome! You should write up a post for it so it doesn't get lost in the comments on this guide.

But please make a note that if a user has set up a pin, they will not be able to log into their computer because the diagnostic configuration does not load the biometric or Windows Hello drivers needed to login.

Also make sure you help them out when they are stuck at a login screen with no way to get back to the desktop except using the Advanced Startup Options.

Just noting this out of practical experience during my initial troubleshooting of this issue because while it's definitely a shortcut, it will cause more headache than it is worth.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2024-08-06T15:25:45+00:00
If you are familiar with PowerShell you can use the following command to get the name of a service.
```
Get-Service -DisplayName “*McAfee*” | Filter-Table -AutoSize
```
It will give you a list of all services with McAfee in the display name and provide the service name that you need in the name column.

You can run this command in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. It does not require elevated permissions.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2024-07-03T18:13:44+00:00

I didn't ask for it, it came with the computer I was gifted. I tried to uninstall it and just use Windows Defender and after the uninstall nothing involving Windows Store would work, and after various other networking difficulties I wiped my computer and started over, thinking I'd get a choice about McAfee being installed.

Nope.

Now it's back on my computer and I'm afraid I'll be stuck with this POS.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

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