Kaspersky Lab requires no introduction. It’s one of the best, if not the best, security application developers for the Windows operating system. Its antivirus and internet security products are the most popular ones and offer value for money as well.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was using Kaspersky Internet Security on two of my desktop computers only without a single issue, and about ten days ago, I uninstalled the Norton Antivirus from my HP notebook and installed Kaspersky Internet Security as I had a spare license key with me.
After installing the KIS, I activated the product by entering the license key and then manually updated the database to the latest available version. And after that, I didn’t bother to open Kaspersky as I was under the impression that it would automatically download the database and requires no manual intervention but I was wrong. About 5 days ago, I found that Kaspersky isn’t updating the virus database automatically, and decided to find a fix for this issue.
If you’re also having trouble in automatically updating Kaspersky Antivirus or Kaspersky Internet Security, you could try out the following solutions.
NOTE: We assume that your PC is connected to the internet and you haven’t blocked Kaspersky in any way.
Make sure that your system date and time is correct
Before you start troubleshooting, make sure that your system date and time is correct as Kaspersky depends on your system date and time to download virus database.
Set Kaspersky to download updates automatically
This is very important. With default settings, Kaspersky products regularly connect to the server and download available updates automatically. But if you have changed this default setting, you need to set back it to download updates automatically by following given below instructions:
Step 1: Launch Kaspersky. To do this, double-click on the Kaspersky icon running in the system tray or notification area.
Step 2: Click on the small Settings option located bottom right corner to open Kaspersky settings.
Step 3: In the left pane, click Additional to see various options on the right side. Now click Update settings option on the right side to access the Update settings page.
Step 4: Here, make sure that the first option Download and install updates automatically is selected, and if not, select the same to automatically download and install updates.
Step 5: Next, click Set up updates run mode, set it to Automatically and then click the Save button. That’s it!
Enable update tasks while running on battery power
This is the most important one and with default settings, Kaspersky neither starts scheduled scans nor updates the virus database while running on battery power. In short, if you charge your notebook’s battery when your notebook is turned off and always use the notebook on battery power, this could be the core reason why Kaspersky isn’t updating the database automatically.
To configure Kaspersky to download and install updates while on battery power, you need to complete the given below steps.
Step 1: Open Kaspersky window. Click the Settings option located bottom right corner to open its settings.
Step 2: On the left pane, click Performance to see a couple of settings related to Kaspersky’s performance.
Step 3: On the right-side, uncheck the option labeled Disable scheduled scan tasks while running on battery power. That’s it!
Configure Kaspersky not to use a proxy server
For users who need to connect to the Internet using a proxy server, Kaspersky offers options to use a specific proxy server. If you aren’t connecting to the web using a proxy server, make sure that the option Do not use proxy server option is enabled by following the given below instructions.
Step 1: Once again, open Kaspersky settings by clicking on the Settings option.
Step 2: Under Settings, click Additional on the left pane, and then click Network settings option present on the right side.
Step 3: Here, under Proxy server section, click Proxy server settings.
Step 4: Select the first option titled Do not use proxy server. That’s it!
Eddy says
Guys,Kaspersky Internet Security doesn’t update Automatically if your internet connection is a metered connection,
Allan says
It started with not updating but after downloading the latest version of Kaspersky total security I can’t connect to Kaspersky to activate. I have 935 days left on my subscription. Kaspersky has been unable to fix it either. Connection attempt times out every single time.
bob says
there is also a setting, under “additional – network” at the top “cost-aware networking”.
this may be checked by default, which would limit downloads over a metered connection.
If you have set your network connection to “metered” to avoid the horrors coming from windows, it may help to uncheck this one in kaspersky.
Andrew says
K told me to update to V2018 to fix another issue. Since then Auto update has failed with no error.
Manual update works.
I’ve done everything in this post.
Nothing K has suggested has fixed this.
Since the upgrade my Gmail will not send until I accept a KIS notification Pop-up.
Any ideas?
Loving this version – not!
Roland DuBay says
I am getting message that security updates need updating…but when I press the update command it always results in the same message…security updates need updating and the last update failed. Are you guys down?
Vicki says
Great advice thank you. Can I ask about the proxy server setting – how do you know if you ever use a proxy server?
Paulo says
I agree with the comment of Kaspersky being irritating. It does not update automatically. It warns too often about bad certificates, and what’s worse, with no close button. It doesn’t have an exception configuration.
It sadly became a software for expert only….
AmnesiaForgot says
I followed all the steps (my update settings were on ‘automatic’ already). But I STILL get the message to update manually. Kaspersky may be the best security, but it’s also the MOST IRRITATING software I have on my computer, with its persistent unnecessary message interruptions to my work.
rajat says
thanks, its working now
Ruth says
Ah, great, fancy the default being not to update while running on battery. All sorted, thank you so much.
jay says
Thanks for this – for me it was that little hidden-away option about not updating on battery power. As mentioned above, it’s a bit of strange default … :)
Dave says
I found that KIS Battery Saving mode is ON by default. That’s why it doesn’t update – how stupid is that?
Claire C says
Thanks so much for this, I knew I was set to update automatically and couldn’t work out why it wasn’t doing it. I’ve now sorted it!
JYOTHI says
Thanks a lot. It is through your guidance, I solved the problem.
Judie says
Thanks a lot . Resolved my issue. Unchecked “Disable scheduled scan tasks while running on battery power” and now automatic updates are running as expected.
Siti Nur Megatron says
Thanks a lot admin!! I don’t know what going wrong with my kkaspersky antivirus when it shows that my kaspersky database is extremely out of date.. but after I try your guidelines to fix it, it works!! tq.. but if I select to not use proxy server, is’t my kaspersky cannot update automatically?
Dickee says
tried all of them, still nothing works. any other ideas?
Alex says
I tried everything from above, but they are still stopping at 88% update. What else can be done here?
Robin says
My system time was off by 21 seconds. Would that be enough to keep it from updating?
admin says
Are you able to initiate the update by manually clicking the update button?
Mary Jean Jones says
I have tried all of your suggestions and nothing works. I simply can not get this program to update. What should I do?
Do I scrap it and purchase Norton or McAfee? At the end of my rope, please advise.
Jamie says
Thank you SO much for posting this! It is now updating after not working for MONTHS!
ramprakash says
i will try this software