How to Cancel McAfee Total Protection in 2026

Updated February 2026 • Difficulty: Hard • ~$100/year

The Auto-Renewal Bait-and-Switch

McAfee's pricing model is designed to catch you off guard. The first year is deeply discounted ($29.99-39.99), then it auto-renews at $89.99-109.99. The renewal email is easy to miss, and by the time you notice the charge, you're fighting for a refund.

Step 1: Turn Off Auto-Renewal Online

1. Go to home.mcafee.com and sign in
2. Click My Account
3. Go to Subscriptions
4. Find "Auto-Renewal" and click Turn Off
5. They'll show you a discount offer — click "Turn Off" again
6. They'll show ANOTHER offer — click "Turn Off" one more time
7. Confirm with your password

Yes, you have to decline multiple retention offers. McAfee makes you say no 2-3 times. Keep clicking through — they're required to let you cancel eventually.

Step 2: Call for a Refund

If you were already charged for a renewal you didn't want, call 1-866-622-3911. McAfee's official policy offers refunds within 30 days of renewal. Be firm — the phone agent will try to offer you a discounted rate instead. Say: "I want a full refund, not a discount."

Step 3: Uninstall McAfee Completely

Turning off auto-renewal doesn't remove the software. McAfee will keep running pop-ups trying to get you to resubscribe. Uninstall it:

• Windows: Settings → Apps → McAfee Total Protection → Uninstall
• Mac: Open McAfee → Preferences → Uninstall
• If it won't uninstall cleanly, download the McAfee Consumer Product Removal tool (MCPR) from McAfee's support site

Step 4: Verify the Charge Stopped

Check your bank statement for the next 2-3 months. McAfee charges appear as "MCAFEE", "DRI*MCAFEE", or "DIGITAL RIVER". If you see another charge after cancelling, dispute it with your bank immediately.

Free Alternatives (You Don't Need McAfee)

• Windows Defender — built into Windows 10/11, free, excellent detection rates
• Malwarebytes Free — on-demand scanning, catches what Defender misses
• Bitwarden — free password manager (replaces McAfee's password feature)
• Built-in VPN — if you have iCloud+, it includes Private Relay

Independent testing (AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives) consistently shows Windows Defender performing as well as paid antivirus in 2026. The era of needing to pay for antivirus is over.