Renewal is the point at which most of the commercial risk in a McAfee consumer subscription sits. The first term is usually sold at an introductory price, the subscription then renews automatically, and several benefits only exist for as long as automatic renewal stays on. This article sets out the renewal mechanics from the License Agreement and the offer terms, the Refund Policy, and the Virus Protection Pledge (VPP).
Automatic renewal
The License Agreement distinguishes software bought from McAfee from software bought from a third party. If the software was bought from McAfee, the payment details given at purchase authorise McAfee, or its authorised partner, to charge the initial amount and any subscription renewals.[1] The paid subscription then renews automatically at the end of its term unless the customer opted out or never enrolled. McAfee emails in advance to say that the subscription is due for renewal and charges the payment type within 30 days before the subscription is due to end.[1] The offer terms say the same for the first term: 30 days before the first term expires, the subscription renews on an annual basis at the renewal price in effect, until the customer cancels. They add that Vermont residents must opt in to automatic renewal.[3]
Where automatic renewal does not apply in a location, McAfee says it will state this at the time of purchase. The customer is responsible for keeping the email address on the account up to date, because the renewal notice goes there.[1]
Price at renewal
The amount charged is the price of the software or services at the time of renewal, which might be different from the amount first paid. If the software has been renamed, upgraded or replaced by a new offering, McAfee says it will provide the new offering at no more than its renewal price, provided it has reasonably comparable features.[1] McAfee may change prices at any time after an introductory period (if applicable), for legal or regulatory reasons, for improvements or new features, or because of market factors such as taxes, inflation, currency or infrastructure costs.[1] The offer terms promise advance notice if the renewal price changes.[3]
The savings figures shown on plan pages describe the difference between the introductory first-term price, which is available only to customers without an existing McAfee subscription, and the renewal price.[3] A renewal budget should therefore start from the renewal price shown in My Account or the offer terms, not from the advertised first-term price.
Payment methods
A customer who gives more than one payment type authorises McAfee to charge the alternatives automatically if there is a problem with the primary one. Alternative methods can be deleted in My Account, but McAfee keeps the last payment method used for up to 12 months to resolve outstanding settlements. McAfee may also use updated card details received from the issuer or card network, and may retry failed payments, including by extending expiration dates.[1]
Turning off automatic renewal
A customer can turn off automatic renewal at any time in My Account or by contacting Customer Service, and McAfee asks that this be done more than 30 days before the term ends so the payment type is not charged.[1] The offer terms say cancellation and auto-renewal settings are managed from My Account.[3] Turning it off has a cost: the customer loses access to the premium features McAfee offers to subscribers of its automatic renewal service, and, under the offer terms, loses eligibility for the free auto-renewal benefits.[1][3]
When the agreement ends the user must stop using the software and permanently delete it from devices. A subscriber who cancels before expiry and does not qualify for a refund can keep using the software until the end of the paid period.[1]
Local variations
The regional terms in the License Agreement change renewals. Quebec and Dutch automatic renewals run for an indefinite term and may be terminated after renewal on notice, with a prorated refund under local law. German consumer contracts from 1 March 2022 renew indefinitely and may be terminated after the initial term on one month’s notice, and McAfee informs the customer 30 days before the period ends and charges a year in advance.[1] The Refund Policy states that it does not apply to customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, or British Columbia and Quebec in Canada, who are directed to regional policies or Customer Service.[2]
Free trials
For the trial advertised on the free antivirus page, the customer pays nothing at sign-up and is told to cancel up to seven days before the trial ends to avoid being charged.[6] The offer terms give the charging sequence: the first term is charged at the end of the trial, the subscription then renews at the renewal price, and McAfee charges seven days before renewal; the customer may cancel at any time before being charged.[3] A trial bundled with a new device is superseded by an existing subscription on the account email.[1]
Refunds
The License Agreement promises a 30-day money-back guarantee: in the first 30 days after purchase the user can cancel for any reason and ask for a refund of the amount paid. The Refund Policy turns this into an eligibility rule for annual subscribers who bought from McAfee, summarised in the table below.[1][2]
| Situation | Outcome under the Refund Policy |
|---|---|
| Annual subscription, request within 30 days of purchase | Eligible for a refund |
| Annual subscription renewed automatically, request within 60 days of the charge | Most recent renewal charge refunded in full |
| Monthly subscription | 30-day guarantee not available |
| Mid-term cancellation outside those windows | No prorated refund |
| Bought through an app store | Not eligible under this policy |
| Bought at retail | Contact Customer Service for details |
Requests are handled by phone or chat with Customer Service, the user must uninstall the software and delete the program files after the refund, and McAfee may at its sole discretion disable the licence. Shipping, handling and applicable tax are not refundable except where local law makes them so.[2] The offer terms say the same in shorter form: a full refund on request within 30 days of the initial purchase or 60 days of automatic renewal.[3]
Single-incident support services follow separate terms. Refunds are available only for paid standalone purchases, PC Tune-Up has a 30-day refund window for listed reasons, and no refunds are offered for services bundled with other software or included in a software suite.[5]
Free benefits tied to auto-renewal
For many qualifying subscriptions McAfee offers additional benefits free of charge while the customer is enrolled in automatic renewal. Eligibility is shown in My Account, benefits are not offered in all locations or for all subscriptions, and system requirements apply.[3] The system requirements page notes that McAfee TechMate requires TechMaster Concierge Gold or Platinum, or the auto-renewal benefits that come with a qualified McAfee+ or Total Protection subscription.[7] A subscriber who stops auto-renewal therefore also loses these support entitlements.
Virus Protection Pledge
The VPP promises that if a McAfee-supported device is infected by a virus, a McAfee expert will remove it, and if McAfee cannot, it offers a refund.[4]
Eligibility
To qualify, the customer must meet all of the following.[4]
- A paid, active McAfee antivirus product runs on a qualifying device before the infection.
- The subscription is enrolled in automatic renewal and the account has a valid card or other payment mechanism on file.
- The subscription was bought, renewed or upgraded directly from McAfee.com, or, for a retailer purchase other than Google Play or Apple App stores, the customer has given valid, current proof of purchase.
- A high-speed internet connection is available.
Exclusions
The VPP does not cover standalone products without antivirus, such as WebAdvisor or the mobile security apps, small business products, trial subscriptions or free software. It is not available on products purchased through Google Play or Apple App stores, ends when the paid subscription ends, is not transferable, and is valid only in listed countries, which include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Japan, several European countries and several Latin American countries.[4] It applies only to McAfee’s efforts to remove viruses; it does not cover losses from malware that deletes, modifies or encrypts files, such as ransomware, and the customer is responsible for backups.
Refund amount
For an annual or monthly subscription the refund is the full price paid for the subscription in the current term. For a multi-year lump-sum subscription it is the actual price paid for the specific subscription. For a bundle it is the antivirus price posted on McAfee’s website, not above the bundle price. Savings, rebates, refunds, shipping, handling and taxes are not refundable except where law requires.[4] The refund is made by reversing the card transaction if McAfee processed it within the last six months, and otherwise by a mailed cheque or Visa gift card.
Out of scope
This article does not cover the refund policies for the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, British Columbia and Quebec, which the United States policy excludes, or the refund tables for Concierge subscriptions, which are published as part of the Virus Removal and TechMaster terms.