Auto PC Backup toolbar: what it is and how to remove it
Auto Pc Backup (or AutoPCBackup) might seem like a useful application to have on your browser. This impression, however, fades away quite soon, if you become familiar with the way it actually works.
Facts checked October 7, 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.
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Auto PC Backup toolbar: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Auto PC Backup toolbar |
| Type | System optimizer |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| 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 4 more facts
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Program | Auto PC Backup toolbar |
| First seen | 8 July 2015 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Auto PC Backup toolbar safe? Why it is flagged
From our report of Jul 2015 · not reviewed since
What is Auto PC Backup Toolbar?
Auto Pc Backup (or AutoPCBackup) might seem like a useful application to have on your browser.
This impression, however, fades away quite soon, if you become familiar with the way it actually works. While it is presented as a toolbar which will make backups of your main files and allow you to access them quickly and easily, the truth is that AutoPcBackup is a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
As one might assume from its category, once installed on user's computer, Auto Pc Backup toolbar will change his or hers browser homepage to home.tb.ask.com and set the default search engine to search.tb.ask.com.
At first sight, this homepage might seem as a nice option, since it features links to popular sites and social networks. However, the good qualities of this search engine do not outweigh its drawbacks. While looking at the search hits provided by this search engine, you might notice that some of them are sponsored.
At this point you should remember that the sole purpose of this potentially unwanted application is to generate income for its developers. It employs pay-per-click (PPC) principle and every time you click on a sponsored link, the said developers will receive revenue.
However, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will end up on a reliable and safe page. The experience shows that usually the exact opposite is the case.
If jeopardising your safety is not bad enough, this PUP might record all sorts of browsing-related information which might be shared with third parties. For this reason, we would highly advise you to remove this application from your computer as soon as possible using some trustworthy anti-spyware tool.
From our report of Jul 2015 · not reviewed since
How can Auto PC Backup affect my computer?
The most likely scenario involves a frequently used deceptive distribution technique of bundling.
It refers to stealth installation of third party applications. It is very likely that somewhere along the installation process of some freeware there has been an option for you to select whether you want this toolbar on your computer and changing your browser settings or not. However, they are usually provided in 'Advanced' and 'Custom' options most of the users frequently skip.
By using this loophole, distributors and developers 'bundle' some free software which is usually the only program the user intends to download with all sorts of potentially unwanted programs like adware and browser hijackers. For this reason, be aware of the fact that there might be other programs installed on your computer together with AutoPcBackup hijacker.
Another important thing to remember is that bundled software is usually distributed through third-party installers and download managers. Therefore, you should avoid them at all costs. The best option in this case is to download software from the official website.
These mentions fully fulfill each of the requirements of FTC.
How to uninstall Auto PC Backup toolbar
How to remove Auto PC Backup toolbar
Uninstall it, then remove what keeps it starting with Windows.
Nothing it flagged needs fixing.
Step 1: Uninstall Auto PC Backup toolbar
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10.
Sort the list by install date and find Auto PC Backup toolbar, 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar 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
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jul 2015 · not reviewed since
How to remove AutoPCBackup Toolbar?
Removing this program is really easy.
It will take only these steps:
1. Click Start → Control Panel → Uninstall a Program. 2. When in the Add/Remove Programs/Uninstall a Program, look for Auto PC Backup Toolbar and other programs that are unknown to you.
3. Click 'Uninstall' and then OK to save the changes.
Google Chrome: 1. Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select 'Tools' -> 'Extensions'. 2. Here, select unfamiliar plugins (Auto PC Backup Toolbar, MyWay, MyWebSearch, etc.) and select trash icon to delete these entries.
3. In order to change your homepage, click on menu icon, choose 'Settings' -> 'On startup' section -> 'set pages'. 4. Here, eliminate myway.com by clicking on the "X" and enter your preferred website.
- Uninstall programs that are related to Auto PC Backup Toolbar from your computer:
- Reset your web browser:
Questions about Auto PC Backup toolbar
Can I safely uninstall Auto PC Backup toolbar?
If you did not install Auto PC Backup toolbar 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar before it reached the app list.
Does Auto PC Backup toolbar use a lot of resources?
It depends on the program, and no measurements have been published for Auto PC Backup toolbar. The sign reported is auto PC Backup toolbar in the list of installed apps. Check for yourself: open Task Manager, find its process and watch the CPU, memory and network columns for a minute while the PC is otherwise idle.
Steady use with nothing open is a strong reason to remove it. Even if it seems light, it may run more processes under other names, so sort Installed apps by date and remove anything else from the same day. Then restart and compare.
How do I remove Auto PC Backup toolbar completely?
Work in three steps. First uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, together with anything installed on the same day. Second, remove what restarts it: unknown entries under Settings > Apps > Startup and tasks in Task Scheduler with matching names.
Third, clean the browsers: extensions you did not add and changed search settings. Restart and watch for auto PC Backup toolbar in the list of installed apps; if it does not come back within a day, the removal is complete.
If it does, run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which works before Windows starts and finds helpers that hide while the PC runs.
Can Windows block unwanted programs automatically?
Yes, with one setting. Windows Security has Potentially unwanted app blocking under App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings. Block apps stops flagged programs from installing, and Block downloads works in Microsoft Edge.
On some PCs this was not switched on, which is how programs like Auto PC Backup toolbar got through. It does not catch everything, so read installer screens, choose Custom setup and decline offers. Removing free tools you no longer use also helps, because their updates are a common route for new bundles.
Why does my antivirus call Auto PC Backup toolbar 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar. 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar keeps pushing payments or offers, it is not worth the trouble.
Can Windows Security remove Auto PC Backup toolbar?
Often yes, if Potentially unwanted app blocking is on. Microsoft Defender detects many bundled and unwanted programs as PUA, but by default it only blocks them during download in some cases. For a program already installed, uninstall it yourself from Installed apps first, then run a full scan in Windows Security to catch leftovers.
If auto PC Backup toolbar in the list of installed apps returns after that, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which works before Windows starts. Switching on the PUA setting afterwards helps keep similar programs out.
Auto PC Backup toolbar 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 Auto PC Backup toolbar still returns, a full scan and a Microsoft Defender offline scan usually find the part that brings it back.
Will Fortect remove Auto PC Backup toolbar?
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 Auto PC Backup toolbar, 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 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)