I am looking for a free antivirus for my grandmother’s cell phone. I’ve heard that Avast is a great option, but I wanted to confirm if the free version for Android updates its virus definitions automatically. Please help me!
Yes.
Do you know how long the automatic update process takes? When my grandma’s phone connects to the Internet, I tap on the three lines, then on “Options”, “Updates”, and I see that the date of the virus definitions are still from the previous day or from two days ago. I have waited up to one hour to see if the virus definitions will update automatically, but the only way to update the virus definitions seems to be tapping on the “Search for updates” green text. I have tried with another Android phone and a tablet, and the virus definitions don’t seem to update automatically.
Hi,
Virus definitions on mobile are not regular. If you go to “Settings” > “Activity log” it should show the version and time of the last update.
I had noticed the same thing. The virus definitions sometimes don’t seem to be up-to-date. So that means that even if the date of the virus definitions is not the current date (because the virus definitions on mobile are not regular), my device will be protected? Is it because of Avast’s “real time protection” or something like that? Will the virus definitions date eventually update to the current date? Can you please let me know??
Hi,
Even if the virus definitions are a day old, the shields are still running, keeping malware away. The virus definitions will also automatically update once the new virus definitions are available.
I’d like to ask one more thing: Now I understand that the virus definitions are not regular on mobile, and that even if the virus definitions are a day old, my phone is still protected by Avast… Then why does the virus definitions date change to the current date if I update the virus definitions manually (by tapping on “Check for updates”)? I’d like to know because I feel like the current/new virus definitions are always available to be downloaded/installed, but the Avast Android app just doesn’t update them automatically. Please let me know when you have a minute.
Hi,
The app checks for new updates in cycles (every few hours), and if you are not connected to the internet all the time, it might seem that way. The best thing would be to keep the phone connected to the internet for a few days and then look at the “Activity log” in Settings in Avast Mobile Security. You should see if there were any attempts to check for updates.
Hi, so frequently it seems as though someone is turning off my VPN on my phone. I will notice the icon is not on so I will go into my app then suddenly it is reconnecting. Is someone hacking in and shuting it down ? Or does this mean something else?
This really should be its own new topic as it isn’t really related to this topic (hijacking).
There is a sub-forum for mobile products, since you don’t mention your phone or its operating system, what version of avast you have or even if it is the Avast VPN. Information really is the key to being able to help.
hi,
it is old posting here but finally I found other users with that problem.
For many months till now I noticed that the virus definitions of the Avast Mobile never update automatically. And this starts happening last year August-September, maybe little earlier. Till that moment the virus definitions got automatically updated immediately after starting my tablet/or other mobile device or after reconnecting to internet. And it was not depending on how long the device was offline/turned off. I have that in my activity log. After that moment the auto update of the virus definitions got broken. New virus definitions are available not the Avast mobile app dosent want the check fot them online. I have that problem on many mobile devices, one is with the newest Android and hardware, other with older Android versions. I have also tryed older Avast versions but still the same.
Please check this in your Settings->Activity log and give feedback.
Hi,
Please make sure that nothing on your device is preventing the app from running.
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/264/
as i wrote is virus definitions were updated regular till last year, after that nothing was changed on the devices but suddenly the auto update of the virus definitions stopped. All permissions are given.
Could some other users just check their activity log if the virus definitons are auto updated permanently!!!
When I check my activity log, I do see (approximately) daily virus updates logged in it. (version 6.46.2.)
-dwh
is that happening also before upgrading to Avast v6.46 ?
I can only say I didn’t notice anything suspicious. I have no way of looking back.
-dwh
ok, thanks.
I will be great if other users look in their activity log to check if the virus definitions are updated automatically, pease! I can not figure it out on 3 mobile devices with 3 different Android versions and all of the permissions/services of Avast are enabled and batttey optimisations of Avast are off. It is frustrating :-\
It can not be true, that no one of the Avast users would like to check its activity log 
No one from Avast has asked for one and you haven’t posted it.
My virus defs only update automatically maybe once every 24-36 hours. I go into settings >updates and force an update myself many times a day. And I have the Paid, Avast Mobile Security Premium app. This has been going on for at least 8 months.
Just spent 45 min writing up a bunch here, picked up phone and lost the damn page. I read the activity log all the time. Mostly to check when Avast updated my virus defs. But at this point I’m used to just checking & running it myself… Because I’ve got to open the app home screen a zillion times a day due to… See below
Meanwhile I’ve got WARNING alerts from this app going off every few minutes.
There is never anything suspicious, wrong or detected.
Unless I’m being punished for not having some kind of screen lock, VPN or Anti-theft enabled. The device is secured in my house except for maybe 2 hrs a month. Then it’s vpn’d and locked.
Samsung Galaxy Note10+, Android 12 One UI 4.0 (for past 2 weeks), Avast security ver. 6.46.2
(plus 2 other paid Avast apps.)
So if anyone has an answer to the updating of virus defs or the crazy constant alerts… Do tell.