Avscanner.ini In C — Drive
The avscanner.ini file is a plain-text configuration file used by specific antivirus and security software. The .ini extension stands for "initialization." These files store settings, preferences, and operational parameters for software applications.
If you need to customize your Avast Antivirus settings, it is recommended to use the Avast Antivirus user interface, which provides a more user-friendly way to configure the scanner. To access the settings, follow these steps:
: Some users have linked it to controversial background software, such as the HP Touchpoint Analytics Client
If Windows displays an error stating that the file cannot be deleted because it is , it means the background service associated with the scanner is currently active. You can restart your computer in Safe Mode to delete it, or leave it alone if your antivirus scan confirms it is clean. Best Practices for System Clutter and Security
Ensure the file is truly an .ini document and not an executable masquerading with a double extension (e.g., avscanner.ini.exe ). Open File Explorer. avscanner.ini in c drive
Yes, you can safely delete AVScanner.ini. The file serves no essential purpose for Windows operation. If it reappears after deletion, that suggests an active process—potentially malware—is recreating it, which requires further investigation.
Understanding avscanner.ini in C Drive: What Is It and Is It Safe?
[Settings] ScanMode=Full ActionOnVirus=Quarantine LogFile=C:\AVLogs\scan.log ExcludePaths=D:\Downloads [Scanner] EngineVersion=5.2 Heuristics=High
Several issues can occur with the Avscanner.ini file, including: The avscanner
| If you see… | Recommended action | |-------------|--------------------| | A legitimate AV product you installed | Keep it. Use the AV’s own settings panel to modify it; do not edit manually unless instructed. | | An old/unused AV scanner | Uninstall that AV via Control Panel → the .ini file will often be removed automatically. If left behind, delete it. | | Unknown or suspicious content (e.g., references to fake processes) | Run a full scan with or Malwarebytes . Then delete the file. | | It’s missing (you expected it to be there) | Not a problem. Many scanners no longer use a root .ini file; they store settings in the registry or JSON configs instead. |
Have you ever been cleaning up your computer, perhaps hunting for large files to delete, and stumbled upon a mysterious resident in the root of your ? It’s small, it’s unassuming, and its name sounds official: AVScanner.ini .
A previous security program was removed but failed to clean up its temporary configuration files. Active Third-Party Scanner:
When the prompt appears, click to grant administrator privileges. To access the settings, follow these steps: :
Avscanner.ini is a plain text file that stores configuration settings for the Avast Antivirus scanner. It contains a series of key-value pairs that define how the scanner operates, including which files to scan, what types of threats to detect, and how to handle infected files. The file is used by Avast Antivirus to initialize the scanner and determine its behavior.
The appearance of in your C: drive is typically a red flag, as this file is frequently associated with specific types of malware, particularly info-stealers and trojans .
The file keeps reappearing immediately after you delete it 1.2.2 . Your antivirus flags it as malicious.
Rename the file to avscanner.ini.bak . If your computer continues to work normally, you can safely delete the .bak file later [1].
Open that specific software's settings menu and look for options regarding log locations or root directory permissions to change the path. Summary Checklist