The short answer
MCAFEE charges are almost always the annual auto-renewal of antivirus software — at full price, typically 2–3× the promotional price paid the first year. One of the most disputed legitimate charges on the internet.
Why it shows up like this
Antivirus subscriptions ship enabled-by-default auto-renewal, often attached to a new PC purchase. The first-year price is promotional; renewals bill at list price. Also note: 'Your McAfee subscription has renewed' is simultaneously a real email and one of the most common phishing templates — verify charges on your statement, not from email links.
Don’t recognize it? You might still
- The renewal price is far higher than what you originally paid.
- The subscription came bundled with a laptop years ago.
- You switched antivirus but never cancelled the old one.
What to do, in order
- Confirm the charge is real before reacting Check your statement, not your inbox — fake McAfee renewal emails outnumber real ones. A real charge appears on the card; an email alone proves nothing.
- Claim the renewal refund window McAfee's policy allows refunds of auto-renewal charges within 60 days — request it via their support.
- Turn off auto-renewal in the account Account → auto-renewal settings. Do this even after a refund, or next year repeats.
Quick questions
I got an email about a McAfee renewal I never bought. Should I call the number in it?
No — that's the classic refund-scam template. Never call numbers from renewal emails. Check your actual card statement; if there's no charge, delete the email. If there is one, use mcafee.com directly.
Independent reference — not affiliated with McAfee, LLC. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Reviewed Aug 3, 2026 · high · About ChargeDecoder