AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a lightweight, single-purpose scanner built to hunt down adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) rather than the full range of malware. Malwarebytes acquired the tool years ago and folded parts of its detection logic into the main product, but a standalone version remains popular precisely because it is small, fast, and focused on one job.
This page is an independent explainer, not a download source. We describe what the tool is meant to do and where its limits are so you can decide whether it fits the problem you are actually having.
What it targets
Unlike a general antivirus engine, AdwCleaner concentrates on the junk that rides in with free software installers: injected browser toolbars, search-engine hijacks, sponsored extensions, and scheduled tasks that quietly relaunch an ad-serving process. These are technically not viruses, which is why a mainstream antivirus sometimes ignores them entirely.
- Rogue browser extensions and hijacked homepage or search settings
- Registry entries and scheduled tasks tied to adware
- Bundled 'optimizer' or 'driver updater' PUPs installed alongside free software
When it's the right tool
If a browser suddenly shows extra pop-ups, redirects searches through an unfamiliar page, or has an extension nobody remembers installing, AdwCleaner-style scanning is often faster than a full system scan at isolating the cause. It's a reasonable first step before reaching for a broader tool like Malwarebytes for Windows.
It is not designed to catch ransomware, rootkits, or targeted trojans. For those, a full-featured scanner with real-time protection, such as Malwarebytes Premium, covers ground this kind of tool does not attempt to.
How a cleanup pass typically works
- Close all browser windows before scanning so extensions and settings can be reset cleanly.
- Run a scan and review the list of detections rather than approving them blindly.
- Quarantine or remove confirmed junk, then restart the PC.
- Reopen each browser and check that the homepage, new-tab page and default search engine are back to normal.
Limits worth knowing
Because it targets a narrow category of threats, running it alone leaves gaps. It also won't stop the next bundled installer from reintroducing the same adware, so pairing an occasional cleanup scan with more careful software installation habits matters more than the tool itself. For background on how these categories of threats spread, our blog covers real-world cases.
Frequently asked questions
Does AdwCleaner remove viruses?
It's built for adware, browser hijackers and unwanted programs, not the broader malware categories like ransomware or trojans. Use a full anti-malware scanner for those.
Will it reset my browser?
A cleanup pass may reset browser settings such as the homepage or default search engine to remove a hijack, so expect to reconfigure preferences afterward.
Is this the same as Malwarebytes?
It shares a developer and some detection heritage, but it's a narrower, single-purpose scanner rather than the full application described on our Malwarebytes for Windows page.
Malware-Bytes.net is an independent information resource about malware protection for Windows. We are not Malwarebytes, and this site is not the official Malwarebytes website or support channel. Malwarebytes is a trademark of Malwarebytes Inc.