NOTE: For details about how to install your retail McAfee security software, see: TS101434 – How to install and wp-signup.php a retail McAfee product
| Item | Requirement | Comments |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit) Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit) Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) fully patched (32-bit and 64-bit) |
IMPORTANT: To install the latest McAfee security software for Windows, you must have a supported operating system and browser. If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, a previous version of the security software is installed. Although installation of the previous version doesn’t affect your protection, newer features aren’t available.
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| Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit) | See this additional important Windows 10 information:
NOTE: Windows 10 S mode can only support McAfee products available at the Microsoft Store.
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| Processor | Pentium compatible processors with SSE2 support. NOTE: This requirement includes Microsoft Surface Pro through Surface Pro 4 (mobile devices with x86 processors). |
Meeting the minimum processor requirement allows the products to install, but your computer’s performance might be affected at times. If the performance of your computer is impacted, try scheduling CPU-intensive tasks for times when you aren’t actively using the computer.
See the Related Information section below for more details about SSE2 processor support. |
| System memory | Meeting the minimum memory requirement allows the products to install, but your computer’s performance might be affected at times. If you experience performance issues, consider adding extra RAM. | |
| Available hard drive space | ~ 500 MB | |
| Internet connection | High-speed internet connection recommended | |
| Web browsers (for phishing protection) | At least one of following:
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| Supported email programs | POP3, MAPI, and Web supported |
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| Supported Instant Messaging programs | Multiple products supported | Yahoo! Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Pidgin Instant Messenger, Google Talk, Microsoft Messenger, Windows Messenger, ICQ, Skype, Trillian Pro Chat Client, Paltalk Instant Messenger, Nateon, and the like. |
| Antispam toolbar |
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NOTE:
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McAfee Pre-Install tool
Sometimes, you might need to get your Windows PC ready before you can install your McAfee software. The Pre-Install tool readies your PC for you by verifying the minimum system requirements, and carrying out other checks.
- Download the Pre-Install Tool.
NOTE: Save the file to a temporary location, such as your desktop.
- Double-click the Pre-Install_Tool.exe file, and follow the prompts.
- Read the warning message, and click OK to agree to the changes.
- After the Preinstall Tool completes:
- Click OK.
- Click Close.
- Restart your computer.
| Item | Requirement | Comments |
| Operating systems | macOS 11 (Big Sur)
macOS 10.15 (Catalina) macOS 10.14 (Mojave) macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) macOS 10.12 (Sierra) Mac OS X 10.11 Mac OS X 10.10 |
IMPORTANT: Mac security software installs only on supported versions of macOS or OS X. If you’ve an older, unsupported version of the operating system you must migrate to a supported version. McAfee recommends that you update the security software for Mac to the latest version available before you upgrade macOS. Our Mac security products periodically check to see if an update is available when your Mac is connected to the internet. When an update is found, it’s automatically downloaded and installed. |
| Processor | Apple computers with Intel processor | |
| Available hard drive space | ~ 300 MB | |
| Internet connection | High-speed internet connection recommended | |
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Web Browsers
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Apple Safari |
| Item | Requirement |
| Operating systems | Ubuntu 20.4 Ubuntu 18.04 Ubuntu 16.04 (32-bit and 64-bit) |
| Processor | Atom processor |
| Available hard drive space | ~ 500 MB |
| Memory | 1-GB RAM or higher Integrated video memory |
| Internet connection | High-speed internet connection recommended |
Support for older Windows versions
McAfee security products for Windows (such as LiveSafe, and Total Protection) are fully supported on the following Windows versions:
- Microsoft Windows 10
- Microsoft Windows 8.1
- McAfee recommends that your installation of Windows is always fully patched and up to date.
- To see the latest system requirements for Windows, see TS102471 – McAfee system requirements for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
CAUTION: Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7.x, Windows XP, or Windows Vista. Your PC could be at risk from new threats if you are using any of these Windows versions. McAfee strongly recommends that you upgrade your PC’s operating system to a newer version as soon as possible.
McAfee support for McAfee products running on Windows 8.0 or 7.x is limited:
- Windows 8.0, and 7.x
- McAfee provides only “best effort” support for McAfee products installed on Windows 8.0 and 7.x.
- The current McAfee Windows security products do not support Windows 8.0 or 7.x. Version 16.0.31 is the most recent McAfee Windows security product version to support Windows 8.0 and 7.x.
- For details about Microsoft’s End of Support for Windows 7.x, see Microsoft’s advisory.
McAfee provides no support for McAfee products running on Windows XP, or Vista:
- Windows XP, and Vista
- McAfee security products are unable to get updates on Windows XP, or Vista. If you are using one of these Windows versions, and you want to run McAfee software on your PC, you must upgrade your PC’s operating system to a newer version.
- For details about Microsoft’s support for Windows XP, and Vista, see Microsoft’s advisory, and Microsoft’s Product Lifecycle page.
Processor support
The McAfee security products for Windows can only be installed on computers with a modern instruction set. Installation on computers with older processors that use older instruction sets isn’t supported.
Specifically, our security products for Windows require processors that use the Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2) supplementary instruction set or later. SSE2 includes a supplementary instruction set. This set is needed for the proper functioning of the McAfee security products for Windows. Although you can install products on a computer with an older processor that doesn’t support SSE2, it won’t function correctly. Also, McAfee can’t provide technical support for any products that are installed to computers that don’t support the SSE2 supplementary instruction set.