How Can I Delete Virus From My Computer Without Antivirus? (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Posted by Sam A January 3, 2026
how can i delete virus from my computer without antivirus

Have you ever noticed your computer suddenly becoming slow, showing strange pop-ups, or opening random tabs—then realized you don’t have antivirus installed? It’s a common situation. Many people discover a virus only after the damage has started, and then they assume the only fix is installing paid antivirus software.

The good news is: in many cases, you can remove a virus without antivirus—if you act carefully and follow the right steps.

This guide is designed for security-conscious readers, IT managers, and business leaders who want a practical, safe, and professional approach. You’ll learn how to identify signs of infection, contain the threat, remove malicious programs, and restore your system using built-in tools—without relying on third-party antivirus.

Important note: If your machine contains highly sensitive data, business credentials, or you suspect ransomware, the safest approach is professional incident response. This guide focuses on common malware and adware infections.

Why Viruses Spread Even Without “Downloading Anything”

A virus doesn’t always need you to install a suspicious file. Modern malware often enters through:

  • Fake browser updates

  • Malicious ads (malvertising)

  • Email attachments and phishing links

  • Infected USB drives

  • Outdated software vulnerabilities

  • Cracked software and “free” tools

That’s why viruses can hit even careful users and businesses—especially if systems aren’t patched.

Quick Signs Your PC Might Have a Virus

Before you try to remove anything, confirm that something is actually wrong. Common red flags include:

  • Constant pop-ups or browser redirects

  • Unusual CPU usage and system slowdowns

  • Unknown apps installed recently

  • Suspicious browser extensions

  • Antivirus disabled (if it was installed earlier)

  • Windows updates failing repeatedly

  • Files encrypted or renamed unexpectedly

  • Fake warnings like “Your PC is infected—click here”

If you’re seeing multiple symptoms, assume infection and proceed.

Step 1: Disconnect the Computer Immediately (Containment)

If you suspect a virus, your first priority is preventing spread or data theft.

Do this right away:

  • Turn off Wi-Fi

  • Unplug Ethernet cable

  • Remove USB drives/external disks

  • Disconnect from shared business network

Why it matters:

  • Some malware spreads laterally across networks

  • Some steals passwords in real time

  • Some downloads additional payloads

Containment limits damage.

Step 2: Restart in Safe Mode (Virus-Friendly Apps Won’t Load)

Safe Mode starts Windows with minimal drivers and services—this makes it harder for many viruses to run.

On Windows 10/11

  1. Click Start → Settings

  2. Go to System → Recovery

  3. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now

  4. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings

  5. Click Restart

  6. Press 4 (Safe Mode) or 5 (Safe Mode with Networking)

If you disconnected internet earlier, choose Safe Mode (without networking) for best containment.

Step 3: Check and End Suspicious Processes

Many infections stay active through background processes.

Use Task Manager:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc

  2. Go to Processes

  3. Look for:

    • Strange names (random letters/numbers)

    • High CPU usage with no reason

    • Apps you don’t recognize

  4. Right-click suspicious process → Open file location

  5. If it looks suspicious, End task first

Do not delete random system files. Only proceed when you’re confident it’s not a Windows core process.

Pro tip for professionals: If a process name looks legitimate (like “svchost.exe”), confirm its location. Legitimate Windows processes run from system folders. Malware often imitates names but runs from temporary directories.

Step 4: Uninstall Suspicious Programs

Many viruses come bundled with unwanted programs, toolbars, fake cleaners, or adware.

Uninstall via Windows:

  1. Open Control Panel → Programs and Features
    (or Settings → Apps → Installed Apps)

  2. Sort by Install date

  3. Remove:

    • Unknown software

    • Recently installed suspicious apps

    • Anything tied to pop-ups or redirects

If uninstall fails, note the program name. We’ll handle leftover files later.

Step 5: Remove Malicious Startup Programs

Malware often survives reboots by launching at startup.

Windows Startup:

  1. Open Task Manager

  2. Go to Startup tab

  3. Disable anything suspicious or unnecessary

  4. Restart PC (still in Safe Mode if possible)

Also check:

  • Win + R → type msconfig → Startup

  • Task Scheduler (next step)

Step 6: Check Task Scheduler for Hidden Malware Triggers

Some malware creates automated tasks to reinstall itself.

How:

  1. Press Win + R → type taskschd.msc

  2. Go to Task Scheduler Library

  3. Look for tasks that:

    • Run every few minutes

    • Launch strange files

    • Have random names

  4. Right-click suspicious task → Disable, then Delete

Be careful—some tasks are legitimate Windows maintenance tasks. Focus on unknown names and unusual triggers.

Step 7: Clean Your Browser (Most “Viruses” Are Browser-Based)

If your main symptoms are redirects or pop-ups, the infection may be browser hijacking.

Remove suspicious extensions:

  • Chrome: Settings → Extensions

  • Edge: Extensions

  • Firefox: Add-ons

Delete anything you didn’t install or anything that looks like:

  • “Search Manager”

  • “Coupon helper”

  • “PDF converter”

  • “Video downloader”

  • “Security extension”

Reset browser settings:

Chrome:

  1. Settings → Reset settings

  2. Restore settings to their original defaults

Edge:

  1. Settings → Reset settings

  2. Restore to defaults

This step alone fixes many “virus-like” issues.

Step 8: Delete Temporary Files (Where Malware Often Hides)

Temporary folders are common hiding places.

Run Disk Cleanup:

  1. Search “Disk Cleanup”

  2. Select drive (C:)

  3. Check:

    • Temporary files

    • Recycle bin

    • Temporary internet files

  4. Clean files

Manually delete temp files:

  1. Press Win + R → type %temp%

  2. Delete all files that allow deletion

  3. Repeat with:

    • temp

    • prefetch (only if you know what you’re doing)

Deleting temp files may remove remnants and speed up cleanup.

Step 9: Restore Hosts File and DNS Settings (Stop Redirects)

Some malware changes system routing to redirect you to fake websites.

Reset DNS:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

  2. Run:

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Restart afterward.

Check Hosts file:

Go to:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Open with Notepad (Admin).
The hosts file should usually have minimal entries. If you see many suspicious website redirects, remove them.

Step 10: Use Built-in Malware Removal Tools (No Third-Party Antivirus Needed)

Many users don’t realize Windows includes strong scanning tools already.

Option A: Windows Security (Microsoft Defender)

Even if you don’t use “antivirus,” most Windows systems have Microsoft Defender.

  1. Start → Windows Security

  2. Virus & threat protection

  3. Run:

    • Quick scan

    • Full scan

    • Offline scan (best for stubborn malware)

Offline scan restarts your PC and scans before malware loads—very effective.

Option B: Microsoft Safety Scanner (On-demand tool)

If Defender is disabled or failing, Microsoft provides a free scanning utility.

You can download Microsoft Safety Scanner from Microsoft’s official website and run a scan. It isn’t a full-time antivirus, but it helps remove many active threats.

Step 11: Check for Unusual Network Activity (For Businesses)

If you’re an IT manager or founder handling employee machines, you should confirm if the virus attempted communication.

Indicators:

  • Unknown outbound connections

  • Suspicious browser logins

  • Password reset emails

  • Strange email sent from your account

Action steps:

  • Change passwords immediately

  • Enable MFA

  • Review admin logs (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, etc.)

  • Check firewall logs if available

This matters because removal doesn’t always undo stolen credentials.

Step 12: Update Windows and All Software (Close the Entry Point)

If malware entered through an exploit, cleanup alone isn’t enough.

Update immediately:

  • Windows Update

  • Browsers (Chrome/Edge/Firefox)

  • Java, Adobe, Office

  • Any third-party apps

Outdated software is one of the easiest attack routes.

Step 13: Verify the PC Is Clean (Post-Cleanup Checklist)

After cleaning, verify results:

  • No pop-ups or redirects

  • CPU usage normal

  • Startup programs look normal

  • Browser extensions are clean

  • Windows Security is enabled

  • No unknown apps are reinstalling

  • Downloads behave normally

If symptoms return after reboot, you may be dealing with persistent malware. At that point, professional assistance is recommended.

What If the Virus Won’t Go Away?

Some infections are deeply embedded or have multiple components.

If any of the following are true, consider escalation:

  • Files are encrypted (possible ransomware)

  • System tools are blocked

  • “Administrator permissions required” appears everywhere

  • Defender keeps getting disabled

  • Your PC can’t update or boot properly

In these cases, the safest option may be:

  • Recover important files (carefully)

  • Backup data

  • Do a clean Windows reinstall

  • Audit business credentials

For business environments, containment and credential reset should happen immediately.

Best Practices to Prevent Future Infections

Once your system is clean, reduce risk going forward:

  • Turn on automatic updates

  • Avoid pirated/cracked software

  • Use strong passwords + MFA

  • Don’t click unknown email links

  • Use browser security settings

  • Regularly backup files (offline + cloud)

  • Limit admin access for daily use

For companies: a simple endpoint security policy and employee phishing awareness training can reduce incidents drastically.

1) Can I remove a virus without antivirus completely?

Yes, many common threats can be removed using Safe Mode, uninstalling malicious apps, cleaning browsers, and built-in Windows security tools. Persistent malware may require professional help.

2) What if my PC is too slow to follow these steps?

Start by disconnecting from the internet, restart in Safe Mode, and remove startup programs. You can also use Windows Offline Scan, which runs before the system fully loads.

3) How do I know if a file is a virus?

Suspicious files often have random names, unusual extensions, or run from temporary folders. If you’re unsure, don’t execute it. Investigate the file location and behavior first.

4) Is Windows Defender enough even if I don’t use antivirus?

For many situations, yes. Microsoft Defender is a robust built-in solution and includes offline scanning, which is highly effective against many infections.

5) Should businesses handle this internally or use professionals?

If the infected system has access to sensitive data, admin credentials, or financial information, professional incident response is recommended to ensure there’s no hidden persistence or data theft.

Conclusion: Delete Viruses Without Antivirus—Safely and Professionally

If you searched “how can I delete virus from my computer without antivirus,” you’re not alone. Most infections can be handled by isolating the device, using Safe Mode, removing malicious programs, cleaning the browser, resetting system settings, and using built-in Microsoft tools.

But if the virus keeps returning, affects multiple machines, or involves business accounts, the risk is higher than it looks.

If you want expert help securing your computers or confirming that your system is 100% clean, reach out here: https://scanoncomputer.com/ 

Sam A
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Sam is an experienced information security specialist who works with enterprises to mature and improve their enterprise security programs. Previously, he worked as a security news reporter.