I thought avast home was free but it gives me a date for when the program runs out! i dont get it
You have 3 months within which to register for FREE use. You get the virus lists updated indefinitely and have to reregister after 14 months to get additional program updates, but it is all FREE.
TimN is right, you need only to register and you can use it for free. Registration form can be found here:
http://www.avast.com/index.php?scr=register&kat=207
After registration you will receive your activation key…
So i upgraded and paid for extras some time back. Wonderful but now i am broke and licence expired. How do i get the free version again?
If i go to renew there is no option to go back to free. :-\
You can download it here: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=182468.0
Similar situation here but it was my choice to request a refund on Avast Pro version after having had, used and relied on the Free version for almost two years. According to the system tray icon (red circle with a white x in it), my system is currently unprotected. I have downloaded a new Free setup exe file but as yet have not installed it. The reason for my hesitation is that I’m unsure of whether or not I should uninstall the program entirely (using an uninstaller program to remove all remaining vestiges from the registry), or uninstall but opt to keep Avast registry entries. Won’t some of the briefly used Pro version registry additions be there as well, or would you suggest a for-real uninstall followed by a system restart and then a clean install of the just-downloaded setup file? It shouldn’t take me too long to tweak the settings as they were prior to to Pro install/refund.
Perform a clean installation.
Copy that. Thanks for the succinct, prompt reply, Eddy!
You’re welcome.
Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf
First off, thanks again for your suggestion, Eddy.
At the risk of being perceived as unappreciative, as I was about to uninstall Avast Pro using Geek Uninstaller (the free version, IMO a superior utility) I right-clicked the Avast Pro entry on the list so as to reveal the uninstall option. To my surprise I noticed a “Modify” option listed. Clicking it revealed a further alternative to revert back to my previous Avast Free. Sorta-kinda like a restore point. This was what I chose. After a bunch of Avast system file changes were completed came the recommendation to reboot, which I did. One of the first things done after logging on as administrator was to verify my Free install status according to Avast. It disclosed that all previous account data was still intact, which included the results of the last full system virus scan, with the same four files stored in the virus chest.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that the reverting to the prior program will remain and persist, but I can say with certainty that this unforeseen option with Geek uninstaller surely saved an enormous amount of time in recreating a mirror image of my settings prior to upgrading (and then changing my mind) on Avast Pro.
Sounds like you’re using an older version of Avast. The current paid version unfortunately has no return to free.
Current version is 11.1.2253
According to Avast’s settings, that’s the version that’s currently installed.
If that’s the case, Avast has made another change.
Getting increasingly difficult to know ‘what is’ and ‘what is not’ with Avast versions lately. :-\
You had an older version. Uninstalling gave you the choice to revert to the free version.
That installed the latest free version.
I just tried an uninstall of the current paid version which does not have the option to revert to free.
I personally like the option to “Revert Back” to Free version included in the Paid version for user friendliness. 
I personally like the option to “Revert Back” to Free version included in the Paid version for user friendliness.
The only one that seemed not to like it was Avast… 
From my perspective, push push push to buy from within the program (Upgrade popups)…and no easy way to Revert Back within the program (Simple Link)
Not a good formula. :
I have avast free and I get this warning in the Event viewer and it saids Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards.
DETAIL -
1 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-3576144554-1218276841-3395113912-1000:
Process 1300 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3576144554-1218276841-3395113912-1000