New version 26.2

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hello,

Please welcome the version 26.2 of Avast AV released on March 3rd 2026.

Major public announcement:

  • SMS Guard & Call Blocking - we are now protecting you from mobile scams by helping detect and block fraudulent SMS & Calls

  • Bugfixes - fixes to increase product stability and product performance in various components

How to install:

  • Update from your existing Avast version via Settings → Update → Update program

  • Or you can download and install files:

Online installers (recommended):

Offline installers:

3 Likes
2

Finally! Thanks for the new release and changelogs :slight_smile:

Though, the changelog looks like Mobile Security products… is it really for Windows?

2 Likes
3

Agree with @NON on both counts.

4

I also welcome the release notes - better late than never - I generally sit on Manual Update and wait for the release notes indicating changes and fixes, etc. before installing.

5

This option doesn’t belong to a desktop or laptop platform, how can this work? Otherwise, I’m totally confused.

6

I think this release was wrong because it seems like it was for mobile phones.

7

I find that hard to believe given you are installing it on Windows and Not Android. It just wouldn’t be compatible, not to mention the size of the actual download, if you did an off-line download and install.

8

updates for a MAC??

9

@ rtilewick
I’m not entirely sure what it is that you are asking for, but I would look in or ask in the Avast Mac Security - Avast Community sub-forum.

10

Thanks, but there’s almost nothing there, which is my concern. It’s like Mac support is moribund.

11

You’re welcome,.
Unfortunately I have never used a Mac, always Windows, so I can’t be much help in that regard.

Certainly for the Windows product, the default settings are set to Auto Update when available. Even so, in that regard I have changed my update settings to Manual Check.

12

The links are good for Windows product, but I think AI got the changelog content wrong. No reply to @NON from Avast on this.
Last year they promised improved changelog details and this is what we get.
I suppose we are just lucky to see a belated announcement of 26.2 at all.
Like @DavidR, I only choose to update manually after seeing the announcement here, then wait to see if any issues related to new version before updating.

13

Thankfully, beta topics have detailed changelogs.
Maybe we end up trying to make our own release notes from beta changelogs :roll_eyes: