Instup.exe Process – What is it, Uses & How to Fix it ?

Wondering what is Instup.exe file? Well, this Instup process belongs to Avast Antivirus, however is known for using the internet, high disk usage and show application error. AVAST Antivirus is a premium freeware internet security service available for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. It is one of the most popular alternatives for internet security available on the market.

The full form of Instup.exe is Installer and Virus Definition Updater, which is required to keep the antivirus up to date. It also keeps the software up to date with the latest virus definitions. These definitions are essentially files that usually assist security software to effectively detect malware on the system, and they are crucial for any security software’s functioning.

File Size and Location

Instup.exe can be found in the C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\ folder and the executable usually takes up around 3.19 MB of space.

Quick Overview

A genuine instup.exe file will be located under Program Files > Avast Sofware > Avast > setup folder and will look like this:

Is Instup.exe a Virus or Safe?

In most of the cases, Instup considered as a safe file as far as it is located under C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\ directory. The best way to figure out whether instup.exe is malware or a safe file is to check its file properties.

1) Right-click on instup.exe

2) Click on Properties

3) Check for the 6 tabs like General, Compatibility, Digital Signatures, etc.

4) If all 6 tabs are there and located under the ‘setup’ folder then it’s a safe file.

Here is how the file properties looks like:

Common Errors

In its usual state, the instup.exe file is unproblematic and it only runs in the background when the software needs to update or install new virus definitions. However, these operations occur daily which can lead to an overconsumption of resources if any malfunctions do occur. This can result in multiple instances of the program operation or user suspension.

How to Fix Instup?

To resolve such issues, we have listed 3 methods that you can choose from.

Method I: Self-Repair Avast Software

Avast Antivirus has an in-built troubleshooting tool that fixes issues which you can even use to maintain the smooth functioning of certain components.

1. Open up Avast Antivirus software and select the menu button.
2. Click the Settings button and hit the Troubleshoot option.
3. Select the Repair App button and wait.

This method may take a few minutes depending on your system’s set-up. Once the reparation process is complete, reboot your system.

Here is how to disable Avast on a permanent basis.

Method II: Disable Automatic Updates

1. Open up Avast Antivirus and click the menu button.
2. Select the Settings option, and then select Update.
3. Within the Virus Definitions, click on More options
4. Now here select Manual update option
5. Now close the Avast antivirus and Reboot your system.

Once the instup.exe program has stabilized, feel free to enable Automatic Updates once again by reverse-engineering the steps above.

Method III: Force-Stop Instup.exe Functioning

1. Type Task Manager in the Windows Search bar, and launch it.
2. Click the Details tab of Task Manager, and select instup.exe.
3. Click the End Task option and then reboot your system.

This will fix the issue, however, if you still notice that instup.exe uses high CPU or memory then uninstall and download the latest antivirus using Avast’s official website.

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