Google Chrome has an in-built file downloader module that lets you download different types of files (images, documents, zips, executables, audio files, etc.). Chrome doesn’t only download files but also performs a quick scan of the file for viruses and malware. Sometimes, the virus scan feature starts behaving weirdly and giving errors. It refuses to download even clean files that don’t contain any threats. Here are 6 methods to fix the “Failed – Virus scan failed” error in Google Chrome and Edge on Windows 10 and 11.

If Chrome or Microsoft Edge detects a potential malware or virus, it might throw a warning to keep away from a specific harmful file. You will still be able to download other files.

chrome built in virus scan

However, when the malware detector mechanism starts misbehaving, you can’t download any file whether it’s infected or not.

failed virus scan failed chrome
Failed – Virus scan failed in Chrome

I recently had this error while trying to download files using Chrome’s downloader. At first, I thought it was a temporary glitch that would resolve after restarting Chrome and the computer. I even checked the McAfee and Windows security settings but nothing helped. Below are some workarounds that you should try to fix the ‘Failed – virus scan failed‘ in Google Chrome, ‘Couldn’t download – virus scan failed‘ in Microsoft Edge, and ‘Interrupted: virus scan failed‘ in Opera browser.

The tips below will help you fix the virus scan failed error in browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Let’s check them out one by one.

Table of Content

1. Clear Browsing Data in Chrome, Edge & Opera

The virus scan failed error is not limited to Google Chrome only. You might encounter it in other popular web browsers like Microsoft Edge, and Opera as well. Clearing the browser cache and data should be the first thing you do to check if the problem is solved. Once you clear the browsing data, close the web browser and relaunch it to check if the error has gone.

Please check out my detailed tutorial on clearing browser cache and cookies in Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Firefox.

2. Try Uninstalling Browser Extensions

Sometimes we need to add extended functionality to our web browsers. Browsers like Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge have dedicated stores where you can install extensions for different purposes. While most browser extensions are good, many contain adware and malware. If you can’t download files, a malicious extension might be responsible. Therefore, maybe it’s time for you to check the extensions you’ve installed and remove the ones that seem suspicious.

  1. Open Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Opera browser.
  2. Type or paste the following URL into the browser URL bar and hit Enter.
    • Google Chrome: chrome://extensions
    • Microsoft Edge: edge://extensions
    • Opera: opera://extensions
  3. You’ll now have access to all the extensions installed in your browser.
  4. Click the Remove button next to the extension that looks suspicious.remove chrome extension

Close your web browser and relaunch it to check if the virus scan failed error has disappeared or not. In case you still can’t download any files, head to the next solution.

3. Clean Up Your Computer Using Chrome

Few people know that Chrome has a cool built-in feature that can scan your PC for viruses and malware and clean them. You can use the browser’s scanner to ensure that your PC doesn’t have harmful files that might be causing the virus scan failed issue. Follow the steps described below to run a cleaning up.

  1. Click the 3-dot menu icon on the top-right corner of the browser window and select Settings.chrome browser settings menu
  2. On the Settings page, click the Reset and clean up option.chrome reset and clean up settings
  3. Now, select Clean up computer. Alternatively, paste chrome://settings/cleanup into Chrome’s URL bar and press Enter.chrome clean up computer option
  4. On the next screen, click the Find button.chrome browser virus scan
  5. Wait for the scan to complete, close Chrome, and relaunch it.

If the Failed – Virus scan failed issue is still there in Chrome, try the following tip.

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4. Reset the Web Browser

Resetting your web browser to the default settings might help fix the virus scan failed error in Chrome, Edge, and Opera.

  1. Depending on your web browser, type or paste the following in the URL bar and hit the Enter key.
    • chrome://settings/reset
    • edge://settings/reset
    • opera://settings/reset
  2. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults and then click the Reset settings button.reset chrome settings

5. Turn off Your Antivirus Software Temporarily

Windows Defender or antivirus programs can behave very sensitively and weirdly sometimes. This proactive behavior of your antivirus software might block safe files too. Just to ensure your antivirus program is not conspiring to baffle you with the virus scan failed error in Chrome, try turning it off.

If you rely completely on Windows Defender for the security of your PC, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall and click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off. Turn it off and try downloading a file in your web browser.turn off windows defender in windows

 

In case you use an antivirus program like McAfee, right-click on the antivirus icon in the Taskbar, and select the Change Settings option. Select Real Scanning and Firewall options and turn them off.turn off mcafee antivirus on windows

6. Tweak Registry Settings

There are lots of Registry Editor tweaks and hacks to customize various things and settings on your Windows PC. The following Registry tweak is one of the most effective methods to fix false virus warnings in Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Follow the steps below but, before that, don’t forget to create a system restore point and take a backup of the Registry Editor.

  1. Open the Registry Editor. To do so, type “registry editor” in the Windows search box and click on Registry Editor to launch it.
  2. Now, navigate to the following location in Registry Editor. 
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments
  3. If you don’t find the ‘Attachments‘ key under ‘Policies‘, go to the following path. 
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
  4. Right-click on Policies and choose New > Key.create new key in registry editor policies in windows
  5. Rename this new key to Attachments.
  6. Once created, right-click Attachments and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.create new dword 32 file in registry editor in windows
  7. Rename this new DWORD file to ScanWithAntivirus.
  8. Now, right-click on ScanWithAntivirus and select Modify.modify dword in registry editor in windows
  9. By default, the Value data of this file is set to 3. Change the value to 1 and click OK.change scan with virus dword value in windows

That’s it. Close the Registry Editor window and restart your PC. The fix virus scan failed error should be gone now.

6. Install Mozilla Firefox Browser

I suppose the tips to fix the “Failed – virus scan failed” error would have solved the issue. However, if you still can’t download files via the built-in downloader in your web browser, download Mozilla Firefox. I have read in several forums that users having the virus scan failed error on Chrome, Edge, and Opera could download files in Firefox without any problem.

If none of these methods worked, you have one last solution left, and that is re-installing Windows. In case you know about some other working method not mentioned here, please share it via comments.

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