How to download and install McAfee consumer products

Document ID: TS100342

Summary

The install methods for McAfee consumer software products, such as LiveSafe or Total Protection, vary depending on the device to which you are installing. Follow the steps below to download and install a McAfee consumer security product on your device.

What type of device do you want to install to?

NOTE: Click to expand the relevant section below. Each section contains the install steps and a helpful video.

Download and install to PC or Mac

First-time install to a PC or Mac

Use these steps on the PC or Mac you want to install to:

Step 2: Start the installation

  1. Select:
    • The type of device that you want to install to.
    • The McAfee software you want to install.
  2. Click Download.
  3. Read and accept the License Agreement.
  4. Make a note of the serial number shown. You might be prompted for it later.
    5. TIP: Keep the browser window open so that the serial number is always visible.
  5. Follow the instructions to install your McAfee software.

If the install to your Windows PC fails, you might need to run the Pre-Install tool. See the Related Information section for more details.

Install to a PC or Mac from a different device

Use these steps to install your McAfee product on a secondary computer, such as your child's PC or Mac, from your primary PC or Mac. For example, you can send an installation link from your main computer, and have your child click the link to complete the installation on their computer.

Step 1: On the primary computer where you want to start the process

  1. Go to home.mcafee.com.
  2. Click My Account
  3. Click Sign In.
  4. Type:
    • The email address for your McAfee account.
    • The password for your McAfee account.
  5. Click Log in.

Step 2: Send a download link to the secondary computer

  1. Hover your mouse over My Account.
  2. Click Subscriptions
  3. Click Add Device next to the product that you want to install.
  4. Select the Windows or Mac device type.
  5. Click Send Link, then:
    1. Type the email address for an email account on the PC or Mac that you want to install to.
    2. Click Send Email.

      An email with a download link is sent to the computer to where you want to install.
    • The email address for your McAfee account.
    • The password for your McAfee account.
  6. Click Log in.

Step 3: On the secondary computer

  1. Open the email application.
  2. Open the email from McAfee.
  3. Click the download link in the email.
  4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

If the install to your Windows PC fails, you might need to run the Pre-Install tool. See the Related Information section for more details.

Repeat install to a PC or Mac

After your first installation, you can install your McAfee software on another PC or Mac, as long as you have enough unused licenses. You can also reinstall your McAfee software on your PC or Mac:

Step 1: Log on to the McAfee website

  1. Go to home.mcafee.com on the computer you want to protect.
  2. Click My Account.
  3. Click Sign In.
  4. Type:
     
    • The email address for your McAfee account.
    • The password for your McAfee account.
       
  5. Click Log in.

Step 2: Start the installation

  1. Hover your mouse over My Account.
  2. Click Subscriptions.
  3. Click Add Device next to your McAfee subscription.
  4. Select the device type.
  5. Click Download.
  6. Select the McAfee product you want to install, and then click Download again.

    NOTE: If you want to reinstall to a different computer:
     
    1. Click Send Link.
    2. Type the email address of the other computer to where you want to install.
    3. Click Send Email. An email with a download link is sent to the computer you want to install to.
    4. Log on to the other computer.
    5. Open the email application.
    6. Open the email from .
    7. Click the download link in the email.
       
  • The email address for your McAfee account.
  • The password for your McAfee account.
  • Click Log in.

Step 3: Complete the installation

  1. Read and accept the McAfee License Agreement.
  2. Make a note of the serial number shown. You might be prompted for it later
    3. TIP: Keep the browser window open so the serial number is always visible.
  3. Click Download.
  4. Double-click to run the setup file.
  5. Follow the instructions to install your McAfee software.

If the install to your Windows PC fails, you might need to run the Pre-Install tool. See the Related Information section for more details.

McAfee Free

Shield your digital life

Home network defence

Network protection monitors who's on your Wi-Fi and protects your devices behind a firewall.

Social protection

Steer clear of unsafe posts, avoid spreading harmful content, block risky websites. Keep your social network safe.

Family safety

Parental controls protect what your children do and see online. Help them explore the web safely.

Work security

Shred sensitive documents, encrypt and lock files, securely store your login details. Keep your work life safe.

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Intel McAfee Activate Partner Program
McAfee Free
McAfee Free

McAfee is one of the oldest names in antivirus, and for good reason. The latest iteration of its Total Protection package may be its best yet, with almost 100 percent guaranteed protection against viruses. McAfee is among the best antivirus software you can buy, at least for the money. It's seen improvement in lab results in recent years. It's hitting or reaching toward 100 percent performance on the antivirus end and offers a password manager and secure file storage to round out the Total Protection package. McAfee Total Protection is a good value, specially if you're purchasing it for multiple machines.

McAfee Free power of two

The core of McAfee Total Protection is antivirus, scanning your files for corruption. Total Protection provides more than that, though, with web monitoring, automatic updates and a password manager. True Key is the password manager, a tool that normally runs for 10,000 entries, which might as well be unlimited. Total Protection includes five licenses of the manager for free, and has impressive performance. You also have real-time web monitoring.

Grab the McAfee function Free Connected advantage

Web monitoring also removes trackers and cookies and comes with parental control. Parental control is turned off by default, but you can switch it on in the "privacy" tab of the UI to set restricted sites. Total Protection performs automatic updates for you, as long as you allow it. Whenever you run a scan, McAfee function will check for application updates. Having a central location for updates is nice. The favorite feature is McAfee function Shredder. Like a paper shredder, this tool obliterates your sensitive digital data. You can shred any folder, but McAfee function is pointed toward your recycling bin by default.

Keep your customers safe and your business growing

Antivirus isn't what it used to be: security for a single, central computer for the house. Now, with multiple laptops, smartphones and tablets running around, antivirus needs to support multiple machines. McAfee function has caught on to this trend and priced its products accordingly. Total Protection isn't expensive for an individual user, but the best rate comes when you buy it for multiple computers. McAfee function offers free antivirus software and it comes pre-installed on your machine. You'll need to renew it. It does, however, offer a 30-day trial of Total Protection without requiring credit card information.

McAfee function Free partner ecosystem

McAfee function's interface is deceptively simple. Just poking around is easy, but finding the tools you need when the rubber meets the road is a different story. In particular, it's how McAfee function chooses to organize information in the UI. You have five tabs at the top of the window for scanning, privacy, web use and account settings. The fifth one takes you back to the homepage. In these tabs, you'll find quick links to features like application updates and the password manager. To run a scan, click on the tab labeled "PC security." At the bottom of the window, click the "run a scan" button. You can do either a quick or full scan. Quick scans look for problems in Windows processes, boot files and common exploit areas, while a full scan will run through all files on all hard drives.

             
Intel McAfee function Free Partner Program Ecosystem
Program Category Resell Technology
Partner Type

Partner Level 		Solution Provider

Platinum
Gold
Sliver
 Distribution

Broadline
Value Added
  • Global Alliance
  • McAfee function Activate Innovation Alliance
  • Embedded & OEM
  • Global System Integrator
Managed Services Specialization Yes Yes Yes    
Service Delivery Specialization* Yes Yes Yes   Yes
Support Provider Specialization** Yes        
Partnership Benefits
  • Business Enablement
  • Profitability Programs
  • Sales Support
  • Enablement Training
  • Technical Support

*Service Delivery Specialization will be available 2H 2015.

**Formerly McAfee function Authorized Support Provider Program (MASP)