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 or file.
This happens due to virus or malware into your computer which may be an adware or browser virus/hijacker.
How to Fix Virus Scan Failed Error For Windows 7, 8.1 and 10
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 most cases above 2 solutions work pretty well but, if it is not working for you then try to reset your Google Chrome.
By any chance, if the above solution does not work then you can try to scan your PC.
Antivirus Scan to Fix Chrome Download Error
There may be malware into your PC if you are getting this error, again and again, you can scan your PC with the Antivirus you may have.
But if your antivirus is unable to detect any possible malware then you can download Hitman Pro for a quick scan which comes free for the first 30 days.
Download Hitman pro and perform a quick scan
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
Delete all the found malware and restart your computer, do check all the found malware before deleting them, this antivirus may give you a false positive result like marking some dll files as a virus, make sure you uncheck them.
Registry Scan to Fix Corrupt Entries
I am sure above method will help you to fix Google chrome download error but still you are unable to fix it, then you can try to scan your registry and repair the corrupt entries, to do so you need to install registry cleaning tools like Ccleaner or iObit Advanced System Care.
Once you install it just perform the registry optimization form the several options.
Restart the PC in order to make changes effective.
There may be another error on the screen while downloading a file “search failed an error occurred while chrome was searching for harmful software”
This error occurs when chrome can’t search for malicious software into your computer. Since Google Chrome has an inbuilt malware scanner to remove software that violates Google’s unwanted software policy.
If Chrome can’t scan for malicious software automatically it will through the above error.
To fix Search Failed error you need to manually scan the PC using Chrome Virus Scanner.
- Open Google Chrome
- Go to Menu by clicking on 3 little dots at the right top corner.
- Click on Settings.
- Scroll down to the bottom and click “Advanced“
- Under “Reset and clean up” click Clean up computer.
- Now click on Find.
- If it does ask to remove unwanted software then click Remove.
- Reboot your computer.
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 a good antivirus like McAfee and remove the different type of malware like a virus, adware, trojan, rootkit, etc, and any conflicting program.
Or you can install a free antivirus but be having a full version of an antivirus gives you a peace of mind.
Also Read:-
A tech enthusiast who loves to explore new technologies and mess with software & hardware just to see what could go wrong and then try to fix it.
I didn’t even find :Microsoft” as a choice. 🙁
Thank you so much for sharing this, it worked!
the problem is not to be able to download anything. but you suggest to download hitman pro to solve the problem… when it comes to your 1 st suggestion it is on any site but doesnt work!!!!!!
You can download it using Internet Explorer.
What if Internet Explorer also says scan failed…?
IE does not employ the same virus scanner as Chrome.
Thank you so much! I can finally download files without that error!
Awesome!
are you kidding? how did you download the suggested file while your problem was not to be able to download any file as the 1st suggestion of changing 3 to 1 doesnt work either
In my policies folder it does not show attachments :/ what should i be doing???
it really works, Thank you for sharing an informative post.
This was fantastic! Thanks a bunch!
I tried this..but instead of “scan with anti virus”…it shows “new value#1”..what should i do now….plz tell me
Another really obvious cause of this error is not having a downloads folder set up ….
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stil the problem is same
me to
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!!!
I really like your writing style, good info, regards for posting :
D.
Excellent its worked good
it is really works. thank dud for your great guideline .
nice work Techfever
🙂
I have been trying to fix this error for a few months. Yay!!! It worked. Thank you.
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.
OMG…..this worked! thanks so much..have tried other solutions from other website and this really worked!!! thankssssssssss
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)?
Thnx man,,u made my day
Excellent instructions – thanks!
Thank you sir
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
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 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
Hi:
I downloaded the patch on another computer and it worked perfectly. Thanks.
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!
It worked! Thank you so much!
I changed the registry to 1 and still cannot download anything
me too
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.
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.
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.
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….
Excellent, Thanks Its Work.
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.
the is a glish
Thanks man.