Since the free version doesn’t really expire, you’ll still receive program updates.
There hasn’t been an official program update for quite a while.
Some of us are currently beta testing what will eventually wind up as the next program update.
Marketing stuff. 
I would be in your place, I would perform the uninstall procedure a second time with the tool in safe mode.
I would also make sure to download the offline avast free version again (and not the one you have already downloaded).
That avast free requires you to upgrade to a paid version is one fact, but that it doesn’t reset the counter to 365 days for free after a clean installation is another.
This can be explained by the fact that instead of downloading the free avast installation file, you downloaded the installation file for the paid product.
Edit:
My connection will not stay up long enough at any one time to download the whole [b]360 MB[/b] Avast applicationHowever, you seem to have downloaded the free version of the software. :-\
chris said,
However, you seem to have downloaded the free version of the software.
I just take Avast at its word when I download from a link that is labeled as “Avast Free”.
I would be surprised if there is any difference in the downloaded contents of the “Free” or “Premium” version. I have the impression that the free version contains all or most of the features of Premium, the difference being that the Premium features are unavailable without a paid key.
In the near future, I’ll be installing Avast Free on a new Windows installation. I’m betting that I’ll see the same problems with licensing that I had on this computer. If so, I’m lucky that the Activation Code I was given for Premium is good for more than one computer.
Grant
Even if you seem to have downloaded the free version, you are wrong saying that there is no difference between the downloaded contents of the “Free” and “Premium” versionb[/b] and that the free version contains all or the features of the Premium versionb[/b].
b[/b]The weight is 360Mo for one and 371Mo for the other.
b[/b]Just have a look on Compare starting with the missing firewall on the free version, is that a detail for you? :-
Add to that, shields:Real site,Sandbox,Anti Spam,Ransomware,Webcam,Data shredder,Auto SU…Details for you but probably not for everyone.
the difference being that the Premium features are unavailable without a paid key.This is why I reacted by wondering if you have downloaded the free version file because if you had downloaded the premium version, you must enter a paid key, ..., to activate a free key, you must uninstall premium and install free.
In the near future, I’ll be installing Avast Free on a new Windows installation. I’m betting that I’ll see the same problems with licensing that I had on this computer. If so, I’m lucky that the Activation Code I was given for Premium is good for more than one computer.In this case, it's like betting that the millions of avast users can't activate the free version on their computer. ;) Until proven otherwise, that's not the case and you seem to be isolated with this problem. I'm thinking more of a procedural error or an isolated problem on your computer.
Chris said:
Even if you seem to have downloaded the free version, you are wrong saying that there is no difference between the downloaded contents of the "Free" and "Premium" version(1) and that the free version contains all or the features of the Premium version(2).
This is probably why there was some minutes gap between my insertion of the Premium activation code and when Avast wanted me to restart the computer. The installed free version had to download some missing premium pieces. If it just had to activate already existing features, the process would have only taken a few seconds.
In this case, it's like betting that the millions of avast users can't activate the free version on their computer. Until proven otherwise, that's not the case and you seem to be isolated with this problem. I'm thinking more of a procedural error or an isolated problem on your computer.
I wasn’t entirely clear when making the statement referenced here. I didn’t mean that I was installing Avast on someone else’s computer, to be activated on their connection. This is a notebook computer of mine to be activated on my dial-up connection just like the other computers I’m having activation troubles with. This is why I said that I would probably see the same problems.
Interestingly enough, I ended up taking that notebook to a local library a few days ago where I could use their wifi and ran Avast on it there and I got the free license without difficulty. At first, I couldn’t get any license, just like at home, but then I noticed that a new program version had been released. Once I updated the program I then received the license.
Back home later, I updated another desktop (not the one onto which I earlier installed Premium) with the new Avast and cannot get a license. Now, instead of getting a pop-up notification every day, the “Your Subscription Has Expired” is permanently on display on the “Status” page of the new Avast. It gives me the same follow-up windows as the previous version when I try to get the yearly license but the process stops working when it comes time to actually download a license, exactly as before. I still have the green pop-up notification in my system tray telling me that “You Are Protected,” so I guess I still have real-time protection.
Jiri, the engineer, told me that he figures my problem is with communication with the Avast servers which are responsible for generating new licenses from scratch. Why just those servers? He doesn’t know. But that notebook I got licensed was using different everything to get online, which makes some link in the chain of my home internet access look guiltier than ever.
Grant
Freshly installed free Avast does not need to ask you for a license number of any kind, if it asks you for one, it is either that you have clicked on “upgrade” (you shouldn’t have to :-\ ) or that you have installed the premium program.
Jiri, the engineer, told me that he figures my problem is with communication with the Avast servers which are responsible for generating new licenses from scratch. Why just those servers? He doesn’t know. .... which makes some link in the chain of my home internet access look guiltier than ever.I don't think it's a server problem, I think it's a problem because you're still using a phone dial-up connection with a 56k modem. Let's wait for an answer from Jiri, but I'm not sure that avast is fully compatible with this type of connection.(At least for activation) e.g. Windows services such as remote desktop service must be enabled.
Hey, I’m having the same problem. Any fixes yet?
What same problem? Are you also on 56K dial up?
No, I can’t activate the damn thing after an update I just did. Avast makes me choose which protection I want to use, I select Free, close that window with some special software and nothing is reactivated. There is some key on avast website, but that doesn’t work either.
What operating system? What version of Avast?
Windows 10. Latest version. Would be stupid if it would update itself to any other.
Have you looked under Menu> My Subscriptions? What does it say?
“Add new subscriptions…” “Login or enter activation code” and “Buy now” below.
See if this helps you, https://youtu.be/Gdf-U45nrQc
It doesn’t.
It doesn’t doesn’t give me any clue. You seem to forget we ren’t sitting in front of your computer.
Well, I see those messages from the video, but closing them, doing exactly like in that video dozen of times and in other ways doesn’t do anything, I still have that Subscription expired message. Even tried to reboot. Twice!
What’s “and in different ways” It’s either done as shown in the video or it isn’t. I don’t know what you mean by in different ways.
You can also simply wait and eventually it auto-renews or, you can do a clean install.
Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf
If you need additional help with the Clean Install, watch this:
https://youtu.be/p-h3myRD51A
Other ways: From try - RMB → Registration info (or whatever its called in english); Clicking “Choose your protection” (or whatever its called in english); doing the same from notifications; checking my subscriptions; entering the free key posted on avast site. I think thats pretty much it.