New version 26.9 (16.09.2026) (UPDATED)

:sparkles: What’s New

PROTECTION AND SECURITY

:shield: Improved detection of suspicious applications, files, links, and potentially unsafe activity.

:shield: Added additional security improvements to help protect the product and its services.

ANTI-SCAM PROTECTION

:shield: Safe Web and Email protection now provide more detailed information about detected phishing, malicious, and scam content.

BROWSER PROTECTION

:globe_with_meridians: Added support for installing browser protection extensions directly from the product.

:globe_with_meridians: Improved link scanning in AI and chat responses without interrupting the conversation.

INSTALLATION AND MIGRATION

:high_voltage: Improved the installer process for browser protection extensions.

MEDIA AND VIDEO PROTECTION

:shield: Added new face-detection capabilities for supported browser video content.

:shield: Added support for new Media Scan models and improved video protection handling.

SELF-DEFENSE AND SAFE ZONE

:shield: Improved protection against unauthorized drivers and other attempts to interfere with security software.

:shield: Improved handling of protected folders accessed through alternative local paths.

SECURITY UPDATES

:shield: Included multiple security improvements to strengthen protection, stability, and resistance to newly identified threats.

:wrench: What Was Fixed

GENERAL

:bug: Fixed cases where product files were removed incorrectly after a failed update.

:bug: Fixed problems during simultaneous installation and update operations.

:bug: Fixed issues that could leave the product in an incomplete state after a restart.

:bug: Improved cleanup of temporary installation files.

VPN

:bug: Fixed VPN reconnection problems after changing the IP address.

:bug: Fixed OpenVPN connection timeouts.

:bug: Fixed cases where the VPN troubleshooter reported an error even when the internet connection was working.

:bug: Fixed issues with VPN protocol switching and connection cleanup.

:bug: Fixed several VPN activation and subscription-related problems.

LICENSING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

:bug: Fixed incorrect product activation after uninstalling individual modules.

:bug: Fixed incorrect product states shown after sign-in or purchase.

:bug: Fixed license transfer problems after account migration and account merging.

:bug: Fixed incorrect handling of base and add-on subscriptions.

:bug: Fixed cases where a paid product could incorrectly change to a free product.

:bug: Fixed several subscription, renewal, refund, and purchase-flow issues.

FIREWALL AND NETWORK PROTECTION

:bug: Fixed false network-attack warnings during Network Inspector scans.

:bug: Improved firewall handling during network configuration changes.

:bug: Fixed cases where firewall protection interrupted supported network communication.

:bug: Improved network protection stability during startup and configuration changes.

CLEANUP AND UTILITIES

:bug: Fixed Cleanup settings not being applied during product startup.

:bug: Fixed problems changing Cleanup settings in some product builds.

:bug: Fixed several Cleanup and Driver Updater interface issues.

:bug: Improved cleanup handling after failed or interrupted operations.

USER INTERFACE AND LOCALIZATION

:bug: Fixed incorrect or incomplete text in several languages.

:bug: Fixed layout, alignment, tooltip, and menu display problems.

:bug: Fixed incorrect purchase and subscription messages.

:bug: Improved keyboard navigation and accessibility behavior in selected screens.

:bug: Fixed several issues with buttons, banners, tabs, and status messages.

SCANNING, QUARANTINE, AND STATISTICS

:bug: Fixed problems restoring objects from quarantine.

:bug: Fixed incorrect scan statistics.

:bug: Improved scan history and result display.

:bug: Fixed several protection-driver and file-scanning problems.

:bug: Improved product stability during scanning, updates, and restarts.

GENERAL SECURITY AND STABILITY

:bug: Included numerous security fixes covering protection, isolation, system services, and product stability.

:bug: Improved handling of unusual files, folders, network paths, and protected system resources.

:warning: Known Issues

GENERAL

:warning: No known issues at the time of this release.

:inbox_tray: How to Install

UPDATE FROM WITHIN THE APP

Open Avast → Settings → Update → Update program

ONLINE INSTALLERS (RECOMMENDED)

:globe_with_meridians: Free Antivirus: https://honzik.avcdn.net/setup/avast-av/beta/avast_free_antivirus_online_setup.exe

:globe_with_meridians: Premium Security: https://honzik.avcdn.net/setup/avast-av/beta/avast_premium_security_online_setup.exe

OFFLINE INSTALLERS

:floppy_disk: Free Antivirus: https://bits.avcdn.net/productfamily_ANTIVIRUS/insttype_FREE/platform_WIN/installertype_FULL/build_RELEASE

:floppy_disk: Premium Security: https://bits.avcdn.net/productfamily_ANTIVIRUS/insttype_APR/platform_WIN/installertype_FULL/build_RELEASE

2 Likes

Thanks for the new release :slight_smile:

1 Like

Thanks for the update notification.

A little late, but very welcome, especially the bug fixes, etc.

No info on new update what so ever? Just blank, a release with no changes?

1 Like

strange I though there was an active link at the What was fixed, weird.

Nothing fixed and no new features or known issues, nothing fixed.
Ah the version number changed :slight_smile:

Yeah. If there truly are no changes, why insist on a release that month at all? This smells fishy.

Strange, there were changes listed in 26.9 BETA, unless they were rolled back for some reason.

https://community.avast.com/t/new-beta-version-build-26-9-11140/919267

Free version just upgraded itself into Premioum through sequence of stupid deceptive dialogues. Why you people keep doing this bs? Seriously? First you remove the Custom install so I need to reboot twice and do manual removal of components I don’t need or want and now you just go ahead and pre-emptively activate premium even though I didn’t want it. Come on guys. This is stupid. Now I have to uninstall it again, do the whole thing all over again and uncheck the stupid premium features that got enabled by looking like it was just animation, but were apparently actual buttons that were enabling all this premium crap I don’t want or need.

2 Likes

For some time Avast Free has been showing Avast Premium installed (from the UI, Menu Option), but very recently it is correctly reporting I have Avast Free installed.

They have to release a new version each month even if there are no changes. Those AI SLOP changelogs are so bad and generic, a human should write them instead.

I’m not so sure about that.
I can recall the beta releases postings in the past reporting something new/fixed. That should at the very least have been in the new release information.

So after a rummage around this is one of the three beta release topics relating to 26.9 (xx.xx.xxxx).

Update of the software has created problem and now my internet connection does not work . It starts working only when I diable Avast. Repairing and re-installing has not corrected the problem This is horrible and I will never go ahead with Avast as there is no proper support for this problem

Hi @6virjay6 sorry to hear that. Let’s see if we can narrow it down.

Could you try disabling Web Guard, Real Site, and Firewall one at a time, and check which one restores your connection?

Also, what error message do you see in your browser when a website fails to load? Does the same thing happen in other browsers such as Edge or Firefox?

Thanks!

Hi @RejZoR,

Sorry about this! Do you happen to remember which upgrade prompt you clicked on? Was it one of the post update screens that’s shown after update and reboot?

Any additional details would be appreciated. Thanks!

I don’t remember exactly, I installed Avast Free, then I went to Programs and Features to remove components I don’t want or need because custom installer isn’t an option anymore and after I did the changes and rebooted new kind of popup appeared with animated buttons which I thought were just animations but were apparently real buttons activating all the premium features and converting Free version to Premium trial without clearly asking or telling me what’s happening. I really don’t like such behavior. And Avast has been doing this a lot, doing sleazy and deceptive dialogs and activating things you don’t want.

2 Likes

Apologies for the missing release notes in the previous version. Due to an automation error, they weren’t published as intended. We’ve resolved the issue and are committed to keeping you informed with every release going forward.

1 Like

“Improved detection of suspicious applications, files, links, and potentially unsafe activity.”

What is this affecting specifically? File heuristics, the Behavior Shield, DeepScreen? All of the listed? Just curious because we haven’t seen any changelog address just raw detection capabilities in a long while and that’s kind of the prime functionality of antivirus.

I’m unable to finished download the off line premium version 26.9 for backup only, the download stopped 90% and completely crash halt after 5 tries again.

Please check your service end from your server.

Thank you.

Hi, no issue on our side, download works correctly.
Karel

Same for me since 26.8…