AdvancedCleaner: what it is and how to remove it
AdvancedCleaner is the tool that shows system scan results to make users believe their device has issues. It is created to promote useless applications and show advertisements, commercial content.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
An automatic scan checks installed programs, startup items and browser extensions for anything that came with AdvancedCleaner.
Do it yourself · free Remove AdvancedCleaner yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
AdvancedCleaner: summary
| Distribution | It is promoted on various sites and can be installed with the help of freeware bundles |
|---|---|
| Name | AdvancedCleaner |
| Type | System tool |
| Issues | The tool shows various claims about the machine that are not related to the machine |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 5 more facts
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
|---|---|
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| Program | AdvancedCleaner |
| First seen | 14 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is AdvancedCleaner safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
AdvancedCleaner is yet another rogue anti-spyware application that offers false features
AdvancedCleaner is the tool that shows system scan results to make users believe their device has issues.
It is created to promote useless applications and show advertisements, commercial content. The PUAs like this focus on pre-determined results and false issues, so people get tricked into paying for the version of this tool or install another app.
Its main function is to infiltrate the system using trojans and browser security flaws and generate massive amounts of fake pop-up security notifications. These messages state that your system has been infected with spyware or traces of adult content site in the history of your web browser.
AdvancedCleaner shows various lists with system performance issues and informs the user that there are places that require cleaning and other optimization. Cleaning and repairing tools like this are promoted as improving applications that can free up space and repair registries or different issues.
However, there are no confirmation that the tool even checks the machine thoroughly because this PUP is only showing results, claiming to scan the machine, but the PUP appears out of nowhere. It is believed that the program starts with the scan results without asking for permission. This should be a red flag.
There is nothing valuable about the program and other tools advertisements and redirects might promote. However, it is not correct to call it an AdvancedCleaner virus. It is useless, questionable, potentially unwanted, but not malicious or dangerous. You should remove it from the machine and clear any damage caused already, so your device can run normally.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Download and install programs that you trust only
Falling for the promotional advertisement or using torrent sites, pirating platforms of any sort of unreliable sources for programs and applications that you install can lead to serious problems with the system. Program downloads should be triggered when the source is an official page of developers or the App Store.
Unfortunately, people still rely on free download sites and fall for the tricks of deceptive advertisements all the time. If you want to build a great habit - always go for Advanced or Custom installation options, so you control what pieces get installed.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on AdvancedCleaner
- Machine gets significantly affected over time, so running a tool like can help repair various problems with performance
How to uninstall AdvancedCleaner
How to remove AdvancedCleaner
Uninstall it, then remove what keeps it starting with Windows.
Nothing it flagged needs fixing.
Step 1: Uninstall AdvancedCleaner
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find AdvancedCleaner, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever AdvancedCleaner installed usually starts with Windows. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
PUP removal tips and recommendations
You should want to remove AdvancedCleaner as soon as this program starts to show those claims and encourage you to install or pay for the program.
There is no reason to keep the program on the machine, so uninstall it if you can find the application on the machine. If not - rely on the guide below.
Since there are additional issues with intruders like this AdvancedCleaner PUP, you could use the anti-malware tool and run the proper system check. Tools like this can find other intruders and remove them without causing any issues. You then can rely on the PC repair or optimization software that repairs affected registry entries.
Questions about AdvancedCleaner
Can I safely uninstall AdvancedCleaner?
If you did not install AdvancedCleaner yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows. Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name.
Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
How do I stop programs like AdvancedCleaner from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped AdvancedCleaner before it reached the app list.
Why can't I uninstall AdvancedCleaner?
Usually because it is still running or because a helper reinstalls it. Close it from the notification area first, then end its process in Task Manager and try Settings > Apps > Installed apps again. If there is no uninstall entry, look for a folder under Program Files or AppData with the same name and an uninstaller inside.
If the program comes back after removal, the cause of advancedCleaner in the list of installed apps is a scheduled task, a startup entry or the program it was bundled with. Remove those, restart and check again. Starting Windows in Safe Mode stops most helpers and makes stubborn programs easier to remove.
Why does my antivirus call AdvancedCleaner a PUA or PUP?
These labels mean potentially unwanted application or program. They are used for software that is legal but uses deceptive distribution, aggressive ads, misleading claims or a hard removal. Microsoft's PUA categories include advertising software, bundlers, download managers, torrent clients, marketing software and miners.
A PUA detection is a warning, not proof of infection, and you decide whether to keep AdvancedCleaner. Other vendors use their own labels for the same idea, such as PUP.Optional or not-a-virus. Read more in our guide to potentially unwanted programs.
Can I use AdvancedCleaner safely?
Yes, if you installed it on purpose and control its settings. Download it only from the publisher's own site, never through a bundle or a portal. After installing, disable automatic start, offers and telemetry, and check that it did not change your search engine or add extensions.
Watch for renewals if you bought a licence, and turn on PUA blocking in Windows Security so that anything it tries to add during updates is stopped. If AdvancedCleaner keeps pushing payments or offers, it is not worth the trouble.
Is AdvancedCleaner harmful?
It is unwelcome rather than destructive, based on what has been reported: advancedCleaner in the list of installed apps. Unwanted programs like this slow Windows down, use your connection, show offers or change settings, and they make money for their publisher at your expense. The bigger concern is what arrived with them.
Bundled installers often add two or three programs at once, and some of those change the browser or install updaters that fetch more software later. Remove AdvancedCleaner, then sort Installed apps by date and remove anything else from the same day. A full scan in Windows Security afterwards confirms that nothing more serious came along.
Is my privacy at risk because of AdvancedCleaner?
A little, not dramatically. Unwanted programs tend to report what you install, which sites you visit or how you use the program back to their publisher. That data is sold or used for ads.
The sign people noticed, advancedCleaner in the list of installed apps, is consistent with such a program, and nothing reported suggests access to your files, camera or passwords.
Remove it, delete its leftovers and clear the browser data if it touched the browser. From then on, keep Potentially unwanted app blocking switched on in Windows Security, which stops many of these programs before they install.
AdvancedCleaner came back after I removed it. Why?
Something reinstalls it:
- another program from the same bundle
- a scheduled task that downloads it again
- a browser extension restored by sync
Look in Installed apps for anything from the same publisher or installed on the same date, and in Task Scheduler for tasks with the program's name or random names.
Remove extensions while signed in to the browser so sync deletes them on every device. Remove everything in one session and restart. If AdvancedCleaner still returns, a full scan and a Microsoft Defender offline scan usually find the part that brings it back.
Could AdvancedCleaner be a legitimate program?
Possibly. Some programs that cause advancedCleaner in the list of installed apps are real products from real companies that simply use aggressive distribution. Check the publisher in Installed apps and the digital signature in the file's Properties.
A known publisher and a program you actually use mean you can keep it and only adjust its settings. An unknown publisher, a program you never opened and no clear purpose mean it should go.
If it came bundled with something else, the decision is easy: you did not choose it, so remove it and keep the program you actually wanted.
Will Fortect remove AdvancedCleaner?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For AdvancedCleaner, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)