Smart Scan Not Working

Hello everyone,

I currently use the free version of Avast and have updated to the latest version today. However I am running into a consistent problem with the Smart Scan that I hope someone can help me with.

I’m currently running Windows 10 version 1809 and Avast version 19.8.2393 (build 19.8.4793.544)

When I click on Smart Scan Avast begins the scan but is getting stuck at 0% scanning random files every time. Sometimes it is windows dll files, sometimes it is desktop files, there is no consistent file triggering this that I caa see.

The advanced issues part of the scan is completing (and showing a red !) but the scan itself is getting nowhere.

The only way to stop it is to close avast itself with the X in the top right corner, and then reopen, which instantly gives me the reuslts screen.

I have repaired the installation, and it did not fix it. I then uninstalled avast, reinstalled a clean version and it actually completed a scan to 100%. However, after a restart it is again not finishing the scans and remains stuck at 0%.

Does anyone else have experience with similar issues or any idea how to fix them? I’ve been using avast for a very long time and never run into this problem before.

Thank you for any help in advance.

I'm currently running Windows 10 version 1809................
1909 is released

Hi are you able to update virus definitions?

Is it stuck on 0% indefinitely or does it eventually move forward after few minutes?

MartinZ - As far as I can tell I am able to update virus definitions and am up to date. The current definitions are 191127-0 in the update settings.

benko - It is stuck indefinitely at 0%. I can see in Task manager that as soon as the scan gets stuck the CPU and Disk activity for Avast immediately drop too. The program is not crashing as I can still interact with it, but the scan is not moving beyond 0%. Once I close avast and reopen it, it instantly says the scan has completed (even though it did not) and gives me the results breakdown.

The only smart scan I have been able to complete is after a clean install. After a computer reset or shut down, any further smart scans get stuck at 0% again. I can custom/full scan as far as I can tell - it is just the smart scan that is being affected.

I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled again since I posted yesterday and still have the same problem. Every other part of the program seems to be working fine apart from the Smart Scan and i have no idea why!

Thank you, that’s interesting. Could you please send us logs with this tool? https://support.avast.com/en-us/article/33/ Then please let me know the ID of the submission. Thank you

And without warning it’s started working again - I don’t want to mess around with the program too much now but at least it’s back to normal it seems!