AVG
Also called avg antivirus, avg free, avg internet security
The sister antivirus to Avast under Gen Digital. The service is AVGSvc.exe. It is not Avast and not Norton.
What you need to know
AVG is AVGSvc.exe. Avast is the sister, not a backup engine.
AVG and Avast share a parent at Gen Digital. The executables differ. Installing both is a double Gen suite. AVG should own realtime so Defender goes passive. Norton is yet another Gen brand.
- What is it?
- Sister AV to Avast under Gen
- Same as Avast?
- No. Different exe and site
- Run with Avast?
- No. One Gen suite
What is AVG?
AVG is Gen Digital's sister suite to Avast. AVGSvc.exe is the service. It is not Avast and not Norton 360.
If you have never used it
If the tray says AVG, this is the Grisoft-line suite, not Avast. Download it from avg.com. Gen Digital owns AVG, Avast, Norton, and Avira. AVGSvc.exe is this product. Do not also install AvastSvc.exe. AVG should take the antivirus slot. AVG plus live Defender is the two-engine fight. Norton is a third Gen brand with a different exe.
What is it used for?
AVG Free registers as the active engine. The process is AVGSvc.exe, not AvastSvc.exe.
Paid AVG SKUs add firewall and extras. That is still AVG, not Norton 360.
Cleanup upsells in the AVG window are AVG marketing. They are not Windows Disk Cleanup.
Who is it for?
- People who standardized on AVG years before the Avast merger
- Users who downloaded both AVG and Avast from two ads
- Anyone whose OEM leftover is AVG and who now also has Defender live
Current status
Actively developed under Gen Digital. This article is consumer AVG on Windows.
How old is it?
AVG began as Grisoft in 1992. Avast acquired AVG, then the whole group landed under Gen Digital. Current Windows builds use AVG branding, not the 1990s Grisoft box.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11, per current AVG consumer installs |
|---|---|
| RAM | A 2 GB class PC can install it. 4 GB and up is the comfortable class |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Idle shield plus scans
- Disk demand
- Full scans walk the drive
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| AVGSvc.exe | AVG service |
|---|---|
| AVGUI.exe | Desktop window on many builds |
Startup components
AVGSvc.exe starts with Windows while AVG owns protection.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\AVG\Antivirus\ |
|---|
Common problems
AVG plus Avast
Two Gen engines. Uninstall one. AVGSvc.exe is this article. AvastSvc.exe is the other.
AVG plus live Defender
After AVG owns the slot, MsMpEng.exe should sit passive. Both live is the fight.
Getting unstuck
Uninstall Avast if you meant to keep AVG
Do not keep both "for coverage." Gen does not want two of its suites resident.
Confirm the owner in Windows Security
It should name AVG. Microsoft Defender still active means the register failed.
Use avg.com, not avast.com
The orange Avast site is the sister. Norton.com is a third Gen storefront.
Alternatives
Avast if you already live in that sister. Windows Security if you want no third-party suite. Do not add Norton as a second live engine.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.avg.com/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | support.avg.com/ Vendor support |
| Official site | www.avg.com/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
Same class as other resident suites: scans follow the disk. SSD helps more than a gaming GPU.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- AVG official site · Vendor product page
- AVG help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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