How to Cancel McAfee and Turn Off Auto-Renewal

Updated 2026-05-03 · 4 min read

McAfee auto-renews annually and often bundles with new PCs. Turn off auto-renewal at account.mcafee.com or call 1-866-622-3911. 30-day money-back for online purchases.

Quick answer

Sign in to account.mcafee.com, go to My Account or Subscriptions, find the Auto-Renewal setting, and turn it off. For a refund on a recent charge, call 1-866-622-3911 within 30 days. The software stays active through the end of the current period.

Overview

McAfee gets on a lot of computers by being pre-installed on new Windows PCs. After a trial period, the subscription auto-renews and users get charged who did not realize they signed up for anything. Whether you are canceling a PC bundle or a direct subscription, the process is the same: account.mcafee.com or the phone.

TL;DR

  • Cancel = turn off auto-renewal at account.mcafee.com
  • Path: My Account or Subscriptions > Auto-Renewal > Turn off
  • 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans from mcafee.com
  • Phone: 1-866-622-3911
  • McAfee+ (identity plan) and antivirus may be separate subscriptions
  • Pre-installed PC trials: confirm actual billing before assuming a charge exists

How to cancel McAfee

Turn off auto-renewal at account.mcafee.com

Best for: All McAfee subscribers. Fastest method.

Estimated time: ~5 min

  1. Go to account.mcafee.com and sign in. Your subscriptions are listed on the dashboard.
  2. Click My Account or Subscriptions in the navigation. Your active McAfee plans appear.
  3. Find Auto-Renewal and toggle it off, or select Manage Subscription > Cancel. A confirmation screen appears.
  4. Confirm the cancellation. Your subscription shows an end date. McAfee sends a confirmation email.

Tip: If you have McAfee Total Protection and McAfee+ as separate subscriptions, each one has its own auto-renewal setting. Check for multiple active subscriptions on the dashboard.

Cancel by phone

Best for: Requesting a refund or if online cancel is unavailable

Estimated time: ~15-20 min

  1. Call McAfee customer support at 1-866-622-3911. An automated menu. Select billing or subscription.
  2. Tell the agent you want to cancel your auto-renewal and, if within 30 days of a charge, request a refund. Agent verifies your identity with account email and billing info.
  3. Decline any retention offers and ask to proceed with cancellation. Agents may offer discounts of 40-60%. You can decline and ask them to continue.
  4. Ask for a confirmation number and a follow-up email. Reference the confirmation number if there are any post-cancellation billing issues.

Cancel via live chat

Best for: Avoiding hold times

Estimated time: ~15-20 min

  1. Go to mcafee.com/consumer/en-us/support.html and start a chat session. An agent joins the chat.
  2. Request cancellation and refund if applicable. Chat agents can process cancellations. Same retention offers apply.
  3. Save the transcript before closing the chat window. Use the save or email transcript option.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cancel McAfee that came with my PC?

Go to account.mcafee.com and sign in (or create an account with the email you registered during setup). Find Subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal. If you were charged and want a refund, call 1-866-622-3911.

Does canceling McAfee remove it from my computer?

No. Turning off auto-renewal stops future billing. The software continues running until your paid period ends. You can uninstall it separately at any time via Add/Remove Programs on Windows or the Applications folder on Mac.

What is the McAfee refund policy?

McAfee offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual subscriptions purchased directly from mcafee.com. This does not apply to subscriptions bundled with PC hardware.

I have McAfee Total Protection and McAfee+. Are those the same?

No. McAfee Total Protection is the antivirus product. McAfee+ is a separate identity and privacy protection service. Both auto-renew independently. Cancel each one separately at account.mcafee.com.

McAfee keeps charging me even after I thought I canceled

Check account.mcafee.com for multiple active subscriptions. Then call 1-866-622-3911 with your cancellation confirmation. Provide the date and reference number. Post-cancellation charges can be disputed with your bank.

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