McAfee pop-ups on Windows 11 come from one of two places. If McAfee software is installed (often preinstalled as a trial), open it and turn off promotional alerts in its settings, or uninstall it in Settings > Apps > Installed apps if you don’t use it. If McAfee isn’t installed, the pop-ups are usually browser notifications from a scam website pretending to be McAfee. Block them in your browser’s notification settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications and remove the suspicious site.
Below is how to tell which kind you have and fix each one, plus how to stay protected after removing McAfee.
Which kind of pop-up is it?
| Clue | Likely source |
|---|---|
| McAfee appears in Settings > Apps > Installed apps | Installed McAfee software (trial or subscription) |
| Pop-ups say “Your PC is infected” or “Your subscription expired” and show a website address or your browser’s name | Scam browser notifications |
| Pop-ups appear in the bottom-right corner even with the browser closed, with the browser’s icon | Browser notifications that are allowed to run in the background |
Fix 1: Block scam browser notifications
Chrome
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications (or type chrome://settings/content/notifications).
- Under Allowed to send notifications, click the three-dot menu next to any site you don’t recognize and choose Remove or Block.
Microsoft Edge
Go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications, and remove or block unknown sites under Allow.
Never click links or call numbers in these pop-ups. Real McAfee alerts don’t ask you to pay through a pop-up website.
Fix 2: Turn off McAfee’s promotional alerts
- Open the McAfee app.
- Go to its settings (often the gear icon or My Info > Settings) and look for Notifications, Alerts, or Informational alerts.
- Turn off special offers and informational alerts. Leave security alerts on if you keep using McAfee.
Menu names vary by McAfee version.
Fix 3: Uninstall McAfee
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find McAfee products, click the three-dot menu, and choose Uninstall. Remove McAfee WebAdvisor too if you don’t want it.
- Restart your PC.
If uninstalling fails, McAfee offers an official removal tool (MCPR). See how to remove McAfee from Windows for details.
Stay protected after removing McAfee
Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which turns on automatically when no other antivirus is installed. Check it in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Frequently asked questions
Are McAfee pop-ups a virus?
Scam notifications aren’t viruses, but they try to trick you into paying or installing something harmful. Block them and run a Microsoft Defender scan to be safe.
Why does McAfee keep popping up after my trial ended?
The trial software stays installed and reminds you to subscribe. Uninstall it if you don’t plan to pay.
Can I turn off all Windows notifications from an app?
Yes. Go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn off the app.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.