Why does F-Secure keep telling me that I need to restart my device.

TeresaofAvila
TeresaofAvila Posts: 1 New Member
in Device Protection

This often happens as soon as the computer is booted up and is very annoying. It also does it when I am in the middle of something and is even more annoying. How can I put this right?

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Answers

  • JOnes
    JOnes Posts: 1,164 Forum Guru
    edited September 6

    That restart prompt from F-Secure usually means the product has installed a core update (engine, drivers, or VPN components) that cannot take effect until Windows has been restarted.

    A few common reasons it keeps coming back:

    • Pending product updates → Sometimes Windows Fast Startup or Sleep mode prevents F-Secure from finishing an update.
    • Stuck update loop → A failed or incomplete update can cause it to keep asking.
    • Conflicting drivers or VPN components → If you use F-Secure Total (with VPN), its new Unified Wintun driver sometimes requires multiple reboots until it fully replaces the old driver.

    Things you can try

    1. Do a full restart (not just shutdown)
      • In Windows 11/10, click Start → Power → Restart.
      • This bypasses Fast Startup and forces Windows to reload all drivers.
    2. Check F-Secure for pending updates
      • Open F-Secure → go to Settings / Updates → make sure all updates are installed.
    3. Clear Windows Update & restart loop
      • If you still get the prompt, uninstall F-Secure with the F-Secure Uninstallation Tool (from their support site), then reinstall the latest version.
    4. Check for conflicts
      • If you also use other security software (or have remnants of an old antivirus), remove them—they can interfere with F-Secure’s update process.
    5. Contact support if it persists
      • Sometimes the restart prompt is caused by a known bug in a specific version, in which case F-Secure support can provide a hotfix or tell you when the next patch is due.

    Common Causes and Community Insights

    1. Software Conflicts

    Many users found that other security software interfered with F-Secure—even other F-Secure components like Freedome VPN or ID Protection can cause conflicts.

    “...this issue is caused by conflicting software. This may include Acronis True Image, Kaspersky Total Security, or even other F-Secure products like Freedome VPN or ID Protection…”
    F-Secure Community

    F-Secure support (Firmy, Community Manager) consistently recommends checking for and uninstalling any conflicting software.
    F-Secure Community+1

    2. Missing Windows Updates

    If your system hasn't fully installed recent Windows updates, F-Secure may fail to apply updates and repeatedly ask for a reboot.

    “One of the most common causes of this message is the failure to install Windows updates…”
    F-Secure Community

    3. Stuck or Failed Updates

    Cases have been reported where the Device Protection module goes into an endless loop of failed updates—even after restarts and reinstalls.

    “The ‘not protected’ dialog box never goes away… Restarting the machine does absolutely nothing.”
    F-Secure Community

    “Update received today failed to load. Manual update check not successful and no virus scan possible.”
    F-Secure Community

    4. Suggested Workarounds That Have Helped Others

    • Clean Reinstall with the Uninstallation Tool
      The F-Secure Uninstallation Tool is more thorough than standard uninstaller and often resolves persistent glitches.
      F-Secure Community+1
    • “Log out completely … restart … log back in … this workaround works for me so far.”
      F-Secure Community
    • Disable Microsoft Defender Temporarily (if applicable)
      On Windows 11, interference from Microsoft Defender has been suspected. Disabling it briefly helped some users, though results vary.
      F-Secure Community

    Recommended Steps to Try

    1. Update Windows
      • Check for and install all pending Windows updates. A reboot afterward can clear installation blockers.
        F-Secure Community+1
    2. Check and Remove Conflicting Software
      • Look for other antivirus, backup, or VPN tools (including Freedome or ID Protection). Uninstall them completely.
    3. Use F-Secure’s Uninstallation Tool
      • Run the special tool to fully remove F-Secure components, then reboot and reinstall the latest version.
        F-Secure Community+1
    4. Logout and Re-login (if supported by your version)
      • Try the workaround: sign out of F-Secure (from the app), restart your PC, then sign back in again.
    5. Temporarily Disable Windows Defender (Test Only)
      • On Windows 11, try disabling Windows Defender’s real-time protection, then reboot to see if F-Secure installs updates properly.
    6. Contact F-Secure Support with an fsdiag Log
      • If the issue persists, generate an fsdiag file (via F-Secure’s help menu or support tool) and send it privately to the community manager (“Firmy”). They analyze the logs and look for root causes.
        F-Secure Community+2F-Secure Community+2

    Summary Table for Quick Reference

    Step

    Action

    1⃣

    Install all Windows updates

    2⃣

    Remove any conflicting security or backup software

    3⃣

    Run F-Secure Uninstallation Tool and reinstall

    4⃣

    Try log out → reboot → log in (if available)

    5⃣

    (Optional) Disable Windows Defender temporarily

    6⃣

    If nothing works, send fsdiag to F-Secure support for analysis

    and finally: (if nothing else works)

    https://www.f-secure.com/en/support

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