# AdwCleaner

Application: Malwarebytes

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

Malwarebytes, Security

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

| 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.

| 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

| 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.

| Download      | [www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner ](https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Help          | [support.malwarebytes.com/ ](https://support.malwarebytes.com/)Vendor support                                |
| Official site | [www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner ](https://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.

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[HitmanPro: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/hitmanpro/)[Malwarebytes: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/malwarebytes/)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [AdwCleaner official site ](https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner)· Vendor product page
- [AdwCleaner help ](https://support.malwarebytes.com/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Developer**: Malwarebytes

  **Category**: On-demand PUP cleaner

  **Process**: adwcleaner.exe

  **License**: Free portable cleaner from Malwarebytes

  **First released**: 2011

  **Official site**: [malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner](https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner)

  **Feex map am**: Dem see am on top Windows PCs for Foxhole

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/adwcleaner/)

[Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)