How to Fix Avast Not Scanning the Files Error?

While looking for an antivirus product for your computer and browser security, you must have come across Avast Antivirus. It’s an internet security application developed by Avast itself for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can either have the freeware or the paid version of it depending on your requirements. 

No doubt, Avast is an excellent software for keeping your device secure, but the thing with it that bothers everyone at some point in time is its glitches. Well, no software is glitch-free, this is why there’s a solution to each of their glitches. Avast firewall won’t start is one thing but the main problem with Avast software is that sometimes it is unable to scan some files. Once this happens, no matter how much you look for and how many times you try, you are still stuck with the question of why can’t you scan some files?  The reason behind this is not knowing the right steps to fix this issue, but this is why we are here. So let’s have a look at how you can fix avast not scanning files but first let’s the reasons behind this. 

Why Avast Cannot Scan Files Sometimes?

There can be several reasons for Avast not being able to scan files, let’s have a look at some of them:

• The very first and the most common reason for Avast not scanning the files is using its outdated version. The thing with such antivirus software is that using them for too long and not updating them gives rise to some errors like this one. 
• The recent downloads of some files and folders may be incomplete, which causes some basic errors in the operations of the software. So make sure that the application or the file is downloaded properly. 
• Sometimes, we also use Avast through a web browser and that browser can be outdated too which can create some errors too. So while using Avast through a web browser, make sure it’s fully updated. 
• An unstable internet connection can also be the reason for Avast not being able to scan files and other documents. So while scanning any file on Avast, make sure that you have a proper internet connection. 

So these were the main reasons for Avast not being able to scan your files, keeping all these in mind, you can easily fix this issue, let’s learn how. 

Methods of How to Fix Avast Unable To Scan Files

Here are the methods you can use to fix this issue of Avast not scanning the files and any other documents:

Method 1: Enable the Antivirus Software 

The very first thing one should do while facing any such issue with their Avast software is to enable the antivirus software. Most of the time the issue is resolved by this only.

Here are the steps to enable the antivirus software:

• Hit the start button and select the service option to continue. 
• Then, related to your Avast services, you will be required to tick the boxes appearing on your screen. 
• Once done with that, either select the Avast premier or the Avast internet services as the Avast Firewall. 
• After that, continue by switching to the general option. 
• Then tap on the selective Startup option and click on OK.
• And finally, restart your system and then see if it works. 

This whole process was to make sure if your entire Avast system is enabled or not. But if this method doesn’t work out for you, here are some more methods to help you. 

Method 2: Update Your Avast Software 

As said before, updating the software to its latest version, solves half of the glitches. There may be some bug that is interrupting the flow of your Antivirus software. So, to get rid of this bug that might be causing the error, it is important to update the software, here’s how you can do it:

• Launch the Avast Antivirus system and click on the setting icon. 

• There, click on the “Update” option.

• Once clicked on it, you’ll see a list of programs, check if the update process is already going on or if it requires any permission. 
• If it does, click on OK to continue.
• Wait for the update to finish and then restart your system. 
• After that, now navigate the settings to default and you are done.

Once the software is updated, check if it’s working properly or not. 

Method 3: Uninstall the Avast Antivirus and Reinstall It

Whenever anything happens to a website or an application, the easiest way from which we try to sort it is to uninstall that application and then reinstall it. Similarly, try uninstalling the Avast Antivirus and then simply reinstall it. Here are the steps to do the same:

• Open the Run tab by pressing the Windows + R key. 

• There, type “control panel”.
• Then tap on the program option and navigate to the program and features. 

• Tap on “Uninstall”, once you click on it, a list of programs will appear, lock the Avast Antivirus software from there and click on it. 

• An option will pop on your screen for the final permission to uninstall the software.
• Click on it to confirm and click on “Uninstall the software”. 

After the software is uninstalled, follow the above same procedure to reinstall it. Once all of this is done, check if it’s working now or not. 

Method 4: Transfer the Files to the Excluded Folder

People often think that setting an exclusion list to help you open files and folders easily might be a threat to your Avast Antivirus Software, but in reality, it might not be true. So here are the steps you can follow to set up an exclusion list:

• Go to the user interface of Avast on your system. 
• There, click on the settings icon. 
• Then, select the exclusion according to your needs.
• Once done with that, the selected changes will appear in the exclusion list. 

After this, all of your selected files and folders will be on the exclusion list. 

Now that you know all the possible reasons for Avast Antivirus not being able to scan files along with their possible fixes, you can have this issue resolved on your own. But if nine of these work out for you, you can always call the customer support services or any technical professional.