Top pick norton.com
Norton 360 Norton 360 Standard plan $39.99 / first year Why this one - Device security plus optional LifeLock identity add-ons
Switch to Norton 360
Or read our Norton 360 guide
How do I cancel McAfee?
3 min Self-serve No fee To cancel
Short answer
Cancel McAfee from My Account: sign in and turn off auto-renewal more than 30 days before the term ends so the renewal is not charged. It takes a few minutes, and you keep using the software until the paid period ends. A full refund is available within 30 days of the first purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal.
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What you are cancelling
McAfee consumer antivirus, scam, privacy and identity subscriptions sold in the United States, including Total Protection and McAfee+ individual and family plans. This guide covers every place the subscription can live - the website - plus what happens to refunds, pausing and your data afterwards.
Step-by-step instructions
McAfee charges within 30 days before the term ends. Turn off auto-renewal more than 30 days before expiry to avoid that charge.
1
Sign in to My Account
Use the McAfee account that owns the subscription. McAfee's help article titles this as turning off auto-renewal for a subscription managed in My Account.
2
Turn off automatic renewal
Follow the auto-renewal prompts shown in My Account. McAfee says to do this more than 30 days before the term expires so the payment method is not charged for the next term.
3
Keep using the paid term
If you do not qualify for a refund, McAfee says you keep using the software and services until the end of the subscription period you have paid for.
Tick a step to keep your place - nothing is stored. Tap a step to tick it off - nothing is stored.
Alternatives
Where people go after McAfee
McAfee has no fixed list price to compare against - these are the tools people move to, each with a verified cancellation guide.
Norton 360 Norton 360 Standard plan $39.99 / first year Different pricing bitdefender.com
Bitdefender Bitdefender Total Security Individual plan $59.99 / first year
Switch to Bitdefender
Or read our Bitdefender guide
No one pays for a spot here - the cheapest option simply goes first, the Switch button goes straight to the provider, and every card links to our own verified guide.
Not cancelling today? Put it in your calendar.
Tell us when McAfee renews and download a calendar reminder that lands two days before, with this guide and the direct cancellation page inside. Nothing is stored - the file is yours.
Refunds, downgrades, pausing and your data
Four questions people ask before they cancelCan I get my money back?
McAfee's US license and offer terms state you will be provided a full refund upon request by contacting Customer Support within 30 days of your initial purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal. If you forget to turn off automatic renewal you have 60 days after you are charged to request a refund and cancel. App-store and other third-party purchases are not documented as McAfee-refundable on the reviewed US pages.
Is there a cheaper way to stay?
McAfee does not document a self-serve downgrade between McAfee+ or Total Protection plans. Turning off auto-renewal ends eligibility for extra auto-renewal benefits. After auto-renewal is off, the paid software continues until the paid period ends.
Can I pause instead of cancel?
No pause option is documented on McAfee's US license, privacy, refund-offer, or auto-renewal help pages.
What happens to my account data?
Turning off auto-renewal does not close the McAfee account. McAfee's privacy notice says to close the account you visit Customer Service, click Contact Support, and select your country and language. Account data is retained while you are a registered subscriber and as reasonably necessary afterward for legal and business purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off McAfee auto-renewal end protection immediately?
No. If you do not get a refund, McAfee says you keep using the software until the end of the paid subscription period.
When does McAfee charge the renewal?
McAfee says it charges the payment method within 30 days before the subscription is due to end, and tells you to turn off auto-renewal more than 30 days before expiry to avoid that charge.
Can I get a McAfee refund?
US terms say a full refund is available on request within 30 days of the initial purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal, by contacting Customer Support.
Can I pause McAfee?
No pause option is documented on the reviewed official US pages.
Does cancelling McAfee delete my account?
No. Closing the account is a separate Customer Service or privacy-request step.
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Manually verified on 31 Aug 2026, based on official documentation. If McAfee changed something, telling us takes one click - a human re-checks every report.