Google chrome is one of the fastest browsers to surf the internet and to download stuff online, sometimes you may get an error when you try to download anything from the web that is “Failed- Virus Scan Failed” this error occurs when Google chrome becomes unable to check for the security certificate for any download from their publisher and chrome just can’t scan the program of file.
This happens due to virus or malware on your computer which may be any adware or browser virus or hijacker.
How to Fix Virus Scan Failed Error
To fix Virus Scan Failed error we need to make some changes to the Windows registry since it says chrome is unable to scan the downloaded file for the possible virus or malware we will trick registry so that it won’t try to scan the downloaded files, and we will fix the root cause after that we will revert the changes. Follow the below steps –
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >SOFTWARE >Microsoft >Windows >CurrentVersion >Policies >Attachments
Watch This Video Tutorial For More Explanation
Another Method to Fix Virus Scan Failed Error.
If the above method is difficult to perform or you are unable to locate correct registry key, then here is a simple method available, all you have to do is download this patch and run it.
Download this file and extract it, now open the file “Virus Scan Fix” and you will get a warning message, Click on Yes.
After running this Registry patch you will get a success message and click on OK.
In the most cases above 2 solutions work pretty well but by any chance, if it is not working for you then try to reset your Google Chrome.
That’s All, you are done now your download will not give any error, to make sure your computer does not have any virus, install Hitman Pro and Scan your computer once. Hitman Pro is best for the flash scan and a second opinion to your existing antivirus, but it is not that good for real time protection.
Install a good antivirus like McAfee and remove the different type of malware like virus, adware, trojan, rootkit etc, and any conflicting program Click Here to buy.
Or you can install a free antivirus but be having a full version of an antivirus give you a piece of mind.
Thanks man.
Do I have to do this every time I want to download something?
Hi Joan
You have to fix this error once after that your all download will work.
Excellent, Thanks Its Work.
After following your abovementioned instructions, I got to Step 4 and my computer did not have the “ScanWithAntivirus” registry key, so I proceeded with the next lot of instructions, however, how can you download it, if this was the initial problem … can’t download anything???
Hi Rhonda if your registry has no such value then navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >SOFTWARE >Microsoft >Windows >CurrentVersion >Policies >Attachments and right click on attachments folder > New > DWORD (32 bit) value and name it “ScanWithAntivirus” and assign value “1” to it.
sandeep singh it will work ah….
you didn’t address Rhonda’s issue. If you can’t download anything, you can’t download the
Virus Scan Fix.rar as it also fails.
My system has the registry key which is now set to 1. (it was set to 3) Restarting Chrome didn’t change anything.
One can download this Patch to another computer or their Mobile phone or Tab, and transfer it to affected computer and install it.
Hi, I got to step four and changed the .’3′ to a ‘1’ and I got a message saying ‘Cannot edit ScanWithAntiVirus: Error writing the value’s new contents.’ I also tried all of the downloads that you listed after these steps and got the anti virus scan failed message each time. Have you come across this before? I am unable to download any pdf’s or any new programmes. I’d be grateful for any other advice. Thanks
You need to Have Administrator access to the computer in order to edit registry Values.
Or just download above patch on another computer, transfer to infected one and install it.
I do not have the attachments folder under the Policies folder. what do i do?
Either you create a attachment folder and create DWORD32 bit key in registry and assign given value to it OR Download patch file on another device transfer to infected computer and run the patch file.
I changed the registry to 1 and still cannot download anything
It worked! Thank you so much!
Hii , when i have press that button windows emotion. and R it does not open. it wont open anything. (the registery box) How to solve this problem? Thankss!
Hi:
I downloaded the patch on another computer and it worked perfectly. Thanks.
I have done the above steps for the first method that you suggested but chrome still does not allow me download anything and I continue to see the ‘virus scan failed’ message.
Do you know why this is?
restart the browser and/or pc
How does one ‘download’ a download fix? It most certainly brings up the problem it is intended to fix…….
Download it to another computer and transfer it to infected computer.
I’m getting the error message Virus Scan Failed on Chrome and IE 10. I did the regedit method and was able to download the files I wanted and also Hit Man. Hit Man found 3 malware files plus junk that Malaware and CC leaner had missed. BUT, when I set the Registry Key back to the default value of 3, I could no longer download attachments. Same Virus Scan failed message. What’s happened? This occurred over night with no use of the computer..
Same has happened to me … I dont know what to do
Thank you sir
Excellent instructions – thanks!
Thnx man,,u made my day
After changing the registry entry to 1, do we need to change it back to 3?
I tried to do it, but then could not download. so have changed it back to 1 now.
Hope that is okay and does not impact my system
As a generic advice, which is a good antivirus to use on your system (and free of cost)?
OMG…..this worked! thanks so much..have tried other solutions from other website and this really worked!!! thankssssssssss
Interesting behavior, is occasionally a torrent file gets through to the torrent client if you have it set to grab .torrent files out of downloads. They seem to run the download fine, I am yet to check the SHA256SUM but I will soon.
I have been trying to fix this error for a few months. Yay!!! It worked. Thank you.
nice work Techfever
🙂
it is really works. thank dud for your great guideline .
Excellent its worked good
I really like your writing style, good info, regards for posting :
D.
I would like to thank MY JESUS for sending me to this website, in order to fix the problem with my web browser. GOD is good…always!!!
stil the problem is same
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!