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AdwCleaner

ApplicationMalwarebytes

Dem still dey call am adw cleaner, adware cleaner, malwarebytes adwcleaner

MalwarebytesSecurity

PUP and adware cleaner. You go run adwcleaner.exe, clean, and close am. No be di full Malwarebytes suite.

Wetin you need know

adwcleaner.exe na PUP cleaner. No be Malwarebytes Premium.

AdwCleaner na free Malwarebytes portable. You dey scan, clean, and quit. Di full suite na different download. HitmanPro na another second opinion. Dis tool no dey replace Defender.

Wetin e be?
PUP cleaner wey you dey run and close
Same tin as Malwarebytes suite?
No. Na different download
Resident AV?
No. Defender na im still be di engine
Feex tok say
If na only adwcleaner.exe Malwarebytes file you get, I go treat am like cleaner wey you dey run and close. No be MBAMService.exe. I go still keep Windows Security as di resident engine.

Wetin be AdwCleaner?

AdwCleaner na Malwarebytes PUP cleaner. adwcleaner.exe na di portable. Di full Malwarebytes app na different install.

If you never use am before

If you want one-shot adware cleaner, na AdwCleaner be dis, no be di full Malwarebytes suite. Download am from malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner. adwcleaner.exe na often portable wey you dey run, clean, and close. E no be resident antivirus. MBAMService.exe na di other Malwarebytes product. E no dey take di Defender slot. Two live AV no be dis tool problem unless say you install Premium join.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

One-shot PUP cleanup

Scan toolbars and leftover offers. Den close am. Dat one no be resident shield.

Pre-clean before browser reset

People dey run dis one when homepage hijack refuse to go. E no be uBlock and no be AdGuard desktop.

No be di Premium suite

If you want protection wey dey run continuously, dat one na Malwarebytes Desktop Security, no be dis portable.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey dey clean toolbar leftover
  • Users wey download dis one tink say dem install Malwarebytes Premium
  • Anybody wey no suppose leave random adwcleaner.exe inside Downloads as "di AV"

Current status

Dem dey actively offer am as free Malwarebytes tool. Dis article na about di portable cleaner.

How old e be?

AdwCleaner start for 2011 and Malwarebytes buy am later. Current builds still dey sit down as free cleaner beside di full suite. 2013 Xplode-era build no be di current Malwarebytes-signed exe.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

AdwCleaner portable
Full Malwarebytes (other product)

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Windows 10 or Windows 11, according to current Malwarebytes AdwCleaner notes
RAM Light portable. Di scan dey follow di disk

Resource profile

CPU demand
During di scan only
Disk demand
Dey waka through common PUP locations

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
adwcleaner.exe Portable cleaner. No be MBAMService.exe

Startup components

E no suppose start wit Windows. If e do so, you don add shortcut. Comot am.

File locations

Common AdwCleaner locations
Typical install Anywhere wey you save di portable, often Downloads, or Malwarebytes folder if e install

Common wahala dem

People dey leave am as dia only "AV"

E no be resident. Windows Security suppose still own realtime.

Old unsigned copies inside Downloads

Get fresh copy from malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner. 2014 exe beside other junk na di wrong file.

How to get unstuck

Download from malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner

Di full suite na malwarebytes.com/mwb-download. Dat na different buttons.

Run am, reboot if e ask, den delete or keep di portable

E no suppose stay as Startup AV. Defender na im still be di engine.

If you want resident protection, install di full Malwarebytes or stay on Windows Security

No stack Premium realtime plus Defender. Di cleaner alone no dey create dat fight.

Alternatives

Malwarebytes full suite if you want ongoing scans. HitmanPro for another on-demand pass. Windows Security as di resident engine.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner Official installer or vendor page
Help support.malwarebytes.com/ Vendor support
Official site www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner Start here, no be random exe host

Related hardware

Scan dey heavy on disk for few minutes. Den di process suppose comot.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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