How to Disable Avast VPN From Running in the Background

If you use Avast VPN to keep your computer secure while doing online shopping or even just browsing the internet, you might be wondering how to stop it from running in the background when you close your laptop or desktop computer. You might also want to know how to prevent the program from automatically starting up when your computer restarts.

Even if you never use the program and would prefer that it not be part of your daily routine, you might find that it is hard to hide its presence in your computer. After all, the name “Avast VPN” appears in the address bar of your web browser every time you visit a secure website, and there is also the icon of a penguin (named after the company) in the top-right corner of your screen. In this article, we will discuss how to prevent Avast VPN from starting up automatically when your computer restarts, as well as how to stop it from running in the background when you use your computer.

How to Stop Avast VPN From Running in the Background

The first step in taking control of your computer’s connection to the internet is to stop Avast VPN from running in the background when you restart your laptop or desktop. To do this, follow these instructions:

1. Click on the Windows icon in the corner of your screen.
2. Once the Windows menu drops down, choose Settings from the menu.
3. In the settings window that opens, you will see two sections named System and Network & Internet. Choose System from the top menu.
4. Under System, you will see three options:
   • Disable Automatic Restart – Disabling this option will prevent your computer from automatically restarting after a system shutdown (or vice versa).
   • Disable Start Up – Disabling this option will prevent your computer from automatically starting up after a system startup (or vice versa).
   • Show Startup Applications – Enabling this option will show all startup applications in a list. You can remove any unwanted applications from this list (including Avast VPN).
5. Under Network & Internet choose Change settings from the drop-down menu.
6. In the resulting box, you will see a list of connections. Choose Properties for the connection you want to change and click on Properties in the drop-down menu.
7. In the resulting dialog box, you will see the IP address listed. This is the IP address that your computer uses to connect to the internet when you use the VPN. You can either choose Keep this IP address or Change it to Use a fixed IP address (which will prevent your computer from changing its IP address whenever it connects to a new network).
8. Choose Use a fixed IP address if you want your computer to always use the same IP address whenever it connects to a new network (it can be hard to keep track of multiple IP addresses if you are doing complex tasks like web browsing, file sharing, or online shopping).
9. Click on the Apply button to save your changes and close the Properties window.
10. Repeat these steps for any other VPN you want to disable on your system (be sure to read the documentation or contact the vendor for help if you are having trouble).

How to Prevent Avast VPN From Auto-Starting When Your Computer Restarts

If you use Avast VPN and want it to only start up when you specifically tell it to (for example, when you restart your computer), you can follow these instructions:

1. Choose Windows from the menu at the top of your screen.
2. Once the Windows menu drops down, choose Settings from the menu.
3. In the settings window that opens, you will see two sections named System and Network & Internet. Choose System from the top menu.
4. Under System, you will see three options:
   • Disable Automatic Restart – Disabling this option will prevent your computer from automatically restarting after a system shutdown (or vice versa).
   • Prevent Fast Boot – Enabling this option will prevent your computer from booting (starting up) quickly (if it is set to quick boot).
   • Show Startup Applications – Enabling this option will show all startup applications in a list. You can remove any unwanted applications from this list (including Avast VPN).
5. Under Network & Internet choose Change settings from the drop-down menu.
6. In the resulting box, you will see a list of connections. Choose Properties for the connection you want to change and click on Properties in the drop-down menu.
7. In the resulting dialog box, you will see the IP address listed. This is the IP address that your computer uses to connect to the internet when you use the VPN. You can either choose Keep this IP address or Change it to Use a fixed IP address (which will prevent your computer from changing its IP address whenever it connects to a new network).
8. Choose Use a fixed IP address if you want your computer to always use the same IP address whenever it connects to a new network (it can be hard to keep track of multiple IP addresses if you are doing complex tasks like web browsing, file sharing, or online shopping).
9. Click on the Apply button to save your changes and close the Properties window.
10. Repeat these steps for any other VPN you want to disable on your system (be sure to read the documentation or contact the vendor for help if you are having trouble).

How to Prevent Avast VPN from Running in the Background When You Use Your Computer

If you use Avast VPN and want it to not run in the background when you use your computer, you can follow these instructions: