Author Topic: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window  (Read 3515 times)

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Offline jaymdoc

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ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« on: December 03, 2020, 11:04:40 PM »
This only started happening a few days ago, but I'll be typing, even like typing in this post and then suddenly the keyboard stops working for a second, and it'll pick up if I'm in the middle of typing a word skipping a few letters and go back.  Sometimes I visibly see the avast window come up on top of all other windows when it happens, other times the focus window will just flicker really quickly and then back.

SUPER annoying and by itself makes me want to uninstall.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2020, 07:01:59 AM by jaymdoc »

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2020, 11:43:06 PM »
What avast version and build number do you have ?
I haven't seen this on my system win10 and avast! free 20.9.2437 (build 20.9.5758.609)

There have been a few topics like this, one https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=235370.0 relates to start up but is a few months old and should have been fixed in following updates.

Try an Avast Repair.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2020, 12:17:23 AM »
version 20.9.2347 build 20.9.5758.615
I tried doing a repair and I also turned off DND mode which is something that some of those other threads suggested, but I just now while typing this line had it break focus and I had to backspace and retype a word.. REALLY annoying.

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2020, 01:49:37 AM »
I have never used the DND, never felt the need as I want control over any avast detections (I have them set to ASK anyway).

Again I remember something about DND that whilst it can block the avast popup ads/promo of other products, it does put up a small slider popup to say DND is enabled, which I find weird.  But I guess this isn't the popup you are talking about.

Unfortunately despite a number of searches I can't find these topics.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2020, 03:10:35 AM »
I have never used the DND, never felt the need as I want control over any avast detections (I have them set to ASK anyway).

Again I remember something about DND that whilst it can block the avast popup ads/promo of other products, it does put up a small slider popup to say DND is enabled, which I find weird.  But I guess this isn't the popup you are talking about.

Unfortunately despite a number of searches I can't find these topics.

Yeah I turned off focus assist, in windows too, but it seems like every few minutes it'll drop focus without actually changing windows just a blue circle where my mouse pointer is, other times the avast window will come up for a split second.  Thing is windows has been doing updates basically daily at the same time as I had avast update, so it could also be a windows 10 thing it's just the avast window has come up which led me to believe it's avast.

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2020, 03:35:54 AM »
I certainly haven't noticed any daily windows updates.

Now I don't know if that is down to my settings, Windows Defender is off when you install Avast.  But it still has an option to do periodic scans (I have that disabled also), I don't know if this is your source of daily windows updates.

Avast doesn't have daily program updates, it may check for emergency or regular program update availability, but that shouldn't take long, just to check.  The Virus Definitions are updated daily (again this shouldn't take long) and there are also virus definition streaming updates which are very frequently, but they are usually measured in KBs not MBs.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, avast keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2020, 07:01:22 AM »
I ran a focus logger while watching a video on youtube for about 20 minutes and it logged AvastUI stealing focus several times
So yeah.. it's Avast, even though the UI wasn't popping up.

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2020, 11:44:38 AM »
Well the AvastUI does a few things not just the display of the interface such as the tray icon animation (reflects activity, scanning and notifications), you may have noticed more than one instance of it in the task manager.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2020, 12:12:46 PM »
Well the AvastUI does a few things not just the display of the interface such as the tray icon animation (reflects activity, scanning and notifications), you may have noticed more than one instance of it in the task manager.
This wasn't task manager, this was focus logger, it shows what app had focus over a period of time.  If I alt tabbed it showed, if I swapped windows on the task bar it showed.  But I let it sit in chrome on a youtube video for a solid 20 minutes and the thing that kept taking focus was AvastUI
I think it's checking for updates.

Offline Asyn

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2020, 12:29:21 PM »
- Which Avast..? (Free/Premium)
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2020, 01:05:53 PM »
- Which Avast..? (Free/Premium)
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

Free
Windows 10 64 bit experience pack 120.2212.31.0 build 19041.630
no other security software installed
I've used Avast free the entire time I've had this machine over a year and a half.
This issue started just a few days ago after the last update to the software.

Offline Asyn

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2020, 01:09:56 PM »
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2020, 04:17:47 PM »
Well the AvastUI does a few things not just the display of the interface such as the tray icon animation (reflects activity, scanning and notifications), you may have noticed more than one instance of it in the task manager.
This wasn't task manager, this was focus logger, it shows what app had focus over a period of time.  If I alt tabbed it showed, if I swapped windows on the task bar it showed.  But I let it sit in chrome on a youtube video for a solid 20 minutes and the thing that kept taking focus was AvastUI
I think it's checking for updates.

I wasn't saying it was task manager, just pointing out that the avastUI does multiple tasks and as such will be active outside of opening the UI.

As for checking for updates, I mentioned this in my Reply #5 and the Streaming updates happen (or are checked) every few minutes. The regular virus definitions update checks every four hours or so (at least this used to be the interval.

If you also look at the avast tray icon, when in animated mode that will 'throb' every time the main avast process is scanning activity/content, etc.  I don't know if this animated activity would also contribute to what you see with a focus logger.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline jaymdoc

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2020, 12:27:23 AM »
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
The link doesn't work but I'll hunt it down.. I don't see why that'd work when repairing didn't.. but..

Offline DavidR

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Re: ever since last update, AvastUI keeps breaking focus window
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2020, 03:17:00 AM »
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
The link doesn't work but I'll hunt it down.. I don't see why that'd work when repairing didn't.. but..

Both links work for me (using firefox browser), what issues are you getting ?

A Repair may not work, that is a first step, if it works great. 
If not complete removal could resolve problems outside of the Repair function.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security