How to Cancel Norton Antivirus in 2026 (You Don't Need It Anymore)

Updated February 2026 • 7 min read

Norton charges $50-110+/year for antivirus that your operating system already does for free. Windows Defender scores 99.7% detection rates in independent tests — tied with Norton. macOS has built-in malware protection (XProtect + Gatekeeper). The era of paid antivirus is over.

⚠️ Norton's Dark Patterns

First year is cheap ($20-40), then auto-renews at $90-150+
Auto-renewal is ON by default and buried in settings
Norton added a crypto miner (Norton Crypto) that runs on your computer
Cancellation requires a phone call for some plans
Uninstalling is intentionally difficult — leaves behind services and registry entries

How to Cancel Norton

Turn Off Auto-Renewal (Online)

Go to my.norton.com → sign in
Click My Subscriptions
Find your plan → click Turn Off Auto-Renewal
Confirm — your subscription continues until expiry but won't renew

Cancel and Get a Refund

Call 1-800-745-6054 (Norton support)
Or use Norton Chat Support at support.norton.com
Request cancellation AND refund
Norton's refund policy: 60 days for annual subscriptions
If outside refund window, you can still turn off auto-renewal

How to Completely Uninstall Norton

Windows: Download the Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool from norton.com/nrnr — regular uninstall leaves behind files
Mac: Open Norton → Norton → Uninstall Norton Security. Then check /Library/Application Support/ for leftover files
Restart your computer after uninstalling
Windows: Verify Windows Defender is enabled (Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security)

What to Use Instead (Free)

Windows Defender (Windows) — Built-in, free, 99.7% detection rate. Real-time protection, firewall, ransomware protection. It's genuinely all you need.
XProtect + Gatekeeper (Mac) — Built-in macOS security. Automatically blocks known malware. Updated silently by Apple.
uBlock Origin (browser) — Free ad/tracker blocker. Prevents most web-based threats. More effective than antivirus for daily browsing.
Malwarebytes Free — Free on-demand scanner. Run it monthly as a second opinion. No real-time protection on free tier (that's fine — Defender handles it).

💡 The Real Security Basics

Paid antivirus is security theater in 2026. What actually protects you:

Keep your OS and apps updated (automatic updates ON)
Use a password manager (Bitwarden — free)
Enable 2FA on important accounts
Don't click suspicious links in emails
Use an ad blocker (uBlock Origin)

🔍 Find Subscriptions You Forgot About

Norton auto-renewal catches people every year. What other subscriptions are silently charging you? Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and see every recurring charge.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Norton Antivirus

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions