According to AV-Test, Avast is the second-best antivirus for Windows. And, that’s why it is one of the most popular & widely used antivirus software. You can guess Avast’s dominance knowing the fact that it acquired AVG Antivirus in 2016.
As good as Avast is, it is not perfect and not easy to operate for beginners. Like most antivirus, it too can sometimes detect certain files as false positives. It basically means that the file isn’t actually a virus but antivirus software still flags it as such. This results in Avast deleting your file from the location without asking.
If you too are experiencing a similar problem & now wondering if Avast has deleted your infected file permanently then this guide is for you.
Quick Navigation To The Various Parts Of The Article
- Does Avast Antivirus Automatically Delete Infected Files?
- Recover Deleted Infected Files From Avast Antivirus Quarantine Folder
- How To Restore Files Deleted By Avast Antivirus
- FAQs
Does Avast Antivirus Automatically Delete Infected Files?
The answer to this question is a Yes & a No. To know why the answer to the question is so diplomatic we need to know how Avast works.
Whenever Avast detects a potential malware or virus it tries to disinfect the file. If it is unsuccessful then Avast moves the file to the quarantine folder. However, sometime Avast is unable to disinfect the file or move it to the quarantine folder. In that case, Avast will delete your file permanently to protect your computer.
By design, this protects the user from worse-case scenarios which could be malware or ransomware hijacking your computer.
However, permanent deletion of files happens on rarest of the occasions. Most of the time files can be recovered from the quarantine folder.
Recover Deleted Infected Files From Avast Antivirus Quarantine Folder
Instead of second-guessing, I would recommend checking whether or not Avast has deleted your file permanently. Follow the steps below to recover your file deleted by Avast.
- Launch Avast on your Windows computer. By default, the app would open the home screen which shows whether your computer is protected or not. Click on the Protection option given on the left side.
- On the next screen, multiple menus under the Protection settings will Pop up. Click on the Quarantine option.
- On the next screen, Avast will show you files that have been automatically deleted by it.
- Click on the check box next to the file name. A delete along with a three-dot menu button will pop up below. Click on the three-dot button and it will bring four options.
- To retrieve your file, you can either select, the “Restore” or the “Restore and add an exception” option. Selecting the Restore option will restore your file to the same location from where it was deleted. However, the file can be once again moved by the Avast to the quarantine folder. So if you are 100% sure it’s not a virus then click on Restore and add exception option. This will prevent Avast from quarantining the same file ever again. Go back to the location of the file it should be restored there now.
How To Restore Files Deleted By Avast Antivirus
If you can’t find your file in the Quarantine option of the Avast then I would recommend using the Stellar Data Recovery Software. This is a data recovery software that allows users to recover their permanently deleted data.
There is plenty of data recovery software available but I found this one to work consistently well. I was even able to restore deleted files on SSDs. You can check my in-depth Stellar data recovery review if you want to know more about all the features of the software.
Besides consistent reliable performance, another reason I recommend using Stellar Data Recovery is that it also offers free file recovery of up to 1 GB. So unless you have lost videos or a bulk of high-quality images, you won’t need to spend a single penny.
Let’s start with Data Recovery Process.
- First, download & install Stellar Data Recovery software on your computer.
- Next, launch the application Stellar Data Recovery. On the home screen, the data recovery software will ask you to select which kind of file you want to recover. Depending on the format of the file deleted by Avast select the relevant file type. For example: if the file deleted is an image then uncheck all the other options & select Photos. If you’re ascertain about the file type or it’s not mentioned then select the All Data option & click on Next.
- On the next screen, the app will ask you to select the location where your file was stored. Select the particular drive or location where the file was stored then press Scan.
- On the next screen, a dialog box will pop up after the scan telling you that the scan was successful. Click on “OK” to dismiss the dialog box.
- Once the scan is completed, look for the file manually or use the search box given above. Select the file you want to recover and click on Recover.
- On the next screen, the app will ask you where do you want to save the recovered file. Don’t select the same drive you are recovering the file from as you run the risk of overwriting the file. After selecting the location click on Start Saving.
You will get a congratulatory message that your file has been recovered.
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FAQs
Does Avast Automatically Delete Infected File?
When an infected file is deleted Avast puts it into the quarantine folder. If Avast is unable to quarantine the file then it deletes the file permanently.
Where Does Avast Put Infected Files?
Avast moves the infected files into the quarantine where the infected file isn’t able to interact with the operating system.
How Do I Restore File From Avast Quarantine?
Open the Avast antivirus suite on your system, go to the Protection section & look for Quarantine & click on it. Here, you will find all the files quarantined by Avast. Select the file you want to restore by clicking on the check box given next to it.
Which Folder Does Avast Quarantine Files?
Avast puts the quarantined files away from the system and is only accessible through the Avast app. If you want to restore your Avast file you can do it through the Avast software itself.
