[2024] What to Do If Avast Deleted My .EXE Files

2023-02-20 18:26:31

0 views, 5 min read

William

Avast keeps deleting my .exe files without asking, and I just found out that all my files in the download folder have been deleted after trying Avast Premium Cleanup, including pictures and work-related documents! It is the only antimalware I have on my PC. What should I do? Can I recover a number of files?

It is so anoying that Avast deleted my .exe files without asking, while Avast customer service cannot give any help. To help you deal with this difficult situation, we provide 4 methods for you to recover deleted files from Avast antivirus software.

Fixes to Solve Avast Deleted .exe Files
Bonus: How to Stop Avast from Deleting .EXE Files?

Fixes to Solve Avast Deleted .exe Files

1. Show Hidden Files

Whenever a file is deleted on Windows 11/10/8/7/XP, it goes to the Recycle Bin folder. In common, the Recycle Bin is the first place you would check if Avast deleted your .exe files.

Make sure the files are not in the Recycle Bin. They could be on your normal File Explorer, and perhaps they are hidden. Here, you will learn how to unhide files.

Using Folder Option

In Windows Explorer, right-click the folder in which the .exe files were contained and hit Properties. Next, click View and check Show hidden files, folders, and drives from the list. Then, apply and save the changes.

Using CMD

Launch Command Prompt and finish the following commands.

Type CMD in the Windows search bar to open it.

Type the following command and press Enter after each line:

/cd

dir/ah

attrib *. -h -s /s /d

NOTE: On the second command ("E:"), replace the drive letter according to your situation.

2. Restore .exe Files Deleted by Avast from Avast Virus Chest

Avast deleted .exe files automatically is a severe issue. If this happens to you, the guide below will show you how to restore the file from Avast Virus Chest.

Step 1. Right-click the Avast icon and click Open Avast user interface.

Step 2. Switch to the Maintenance tab and click Virus Chest.

Step 3. On the right-hand side, you will find a table. Select the relevant file and right-click on it.

Step 4. Click Extract from the menu.

Step 5. A window will pop up. Click on a directory to save the file and click OK.

Step 6. With the above steps, you can close the window. Navigate to the directory you selected in step 5, and you will find the recovered file(s).

3. Recover Deleted Files with Third-Party Recovery Software

Avast Virus Chest cannot recover your files? Don't worry, here is the fix. Even if the executable file seems to be lost permanently, you can still recover it using professional data recovery programs. AnyRecover is one of the best data recovery tools in the market now. Here are some key features that may catch your eyes.

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How to Recover Deleted .exe Files with AnyRecover

Step 1. Launch AnyRecover on your PC. The options will appear on the home screen. Choose the location you want to withdraw from and hit Start.

select-location-hard-drive-1

Step 2. As a result of its all-around scanning in the specific location, AnyRecover will present you with a list of deleted files. Files will be sorted into different folders on the left, such as documents, photos, videos, etc.

AnyRecover Data Recovery Software - scan location

Step 3. Seek out the exact files you want to recover. Doube-click to preview the files, re-confirming they are what you want. Then, click Recover.

precover deleted files from recycle bin

Bonus: How to Stop Avast from Deleting .EXE Files?

Antivirus can mistake your .exe files for malware and end up deleting them. Even if you disable Avast before the installation, the antivirus will still come back to haunt it. A way around this is to whitelist your .exe file from Avast. After doing this, you will no longer have the complaint that Avast deleted my .exe files. Here, I will show you how to block folders and files from Avast.

Note

Whitelisting .exe files create an avenue for malware to get into your machine, so be cautious and do this at your own risk.

Step 1. Disable real-time protection. Install the .exe file.

Step 2. Launch Avast. Select General from Settings.

Step 3. Expand the Exclusion item. Click File Paths and then hit Browse. Browse to the location in which the .exe file is saved.

Step 4. From this point, you can either select the entire folder or the specific .exe file. Double-check your changes and re-enable real-time protection.

Conclusion

Avast automatically deletes files without permission might cause a great deal of pain to numerous users. Hopefully, the guide here is easy to read and practice. Do follow the given instructions carefully if you need a software solution to restore the files deleted by Avast. AnyRecover is the one effective and easy-to-use, which requires only 3 steps.

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