Avg free - update failed

Latest update on by Virginia Parsons .

AVG Free is an open source antivirus and anti-spyware software that guards the PC from threats that can harm the system. The user can update this software; however, the update process may fail and it may show an error message such as, connection with update server failed. There are three options to solve this issue with AVG Free. Firstly, one can make the changes in the settings of Dial-up. Secondly, one can choose the required connection settings in the AVG Free Watchdog that allows interaction between the service and the desktop. If none of these work, then the issue may be due to a .ctf file that has to be deleted following which, the update must be restarted.


When you want to update your antivirus AVG Free, it displays the following message:

update failed, the connection with update server has failed

First Solution

  • Open AVG
  • Click on Tool>
  • Click on Advanced settings
  • Click on Update
  • Click on Dial-up.
  • Uncheck the box Dial-up

Second solution

  • Open the Control Panel
  • Click on Administrative Tools
  • Click on services
  • Right click on AVG Free Watchdog
  • Choose properties
  • Select the Connection tab
  • Check "Allow service to interact with desktop".

Going further

If this still does not work:

  • Open C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data (visible after viewing hidden files)\AVG8\update\download
  • Delete the two *.ctf files then restart the update!
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