How to Fix Malwarebytes Error Code 20025

Malwarebytes error 20025 shows up during a scan or update and almost always means the program couldn’t complete a database update or ran into a conflict with something else on your system. It isn’t a sign that your computer is infected — it’s a Malwarebytes-side problem, and it’s usually fixable in a few minutes.

What Error 20025 Actually Means

Malwarebytes needs to reach its servers regularly to download the latest threat definitions. Error 20025 appears when that process fails partway through, leaving the program unable to verify it has current data. The most common triggers are a blocked or unstable connection, another security program interfering, or a partially corrupted local installation.

Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection

Malwarebytes can’t update without reaching its servers. Confirm other sites load normally, and if you’re on a work or school network, be aware that some networks block security-software update traffic by policy — in that case, try the update on a home connection or mobile hotspot to confirm.

Step 2: Close Other Security Software

This is the single most common cause. Running two real-time antivirus programs at once frequently causes exactly this kind of error, because each tries to scan the other’s files as they’re written.

1. Temporarily disable any other antivirus program’s real-time protection.
2. Also check for firewall software blocking Malwarebytes’ outbound connections.
3. Run the Malwarebytes update again.
4. Re-enable your other software afterward — and if this was the cause, add a permanent exception for Malwarebytes rather than leaving protection off.

Step 3: Update Manually and Restart

1. Open Malwarebytes and go to Settings > General.
2. Click Check for updates rather than waiting for the automatic cycle.
3. Restart your computer, then try a scan again.

A restart matters more than people expect here: it clears any locked files left behind by a failed update attempt.

Step 4: Check Your Subscription Status

If your Malwarebytes Premium licence has expired, some update and protection features stop working, which can surface as an error rather than a clear expiry message. Check your account status inside the app before assuming the software is broken.

Step 5: Clean Reinstall

If the error persists after everything above, a clean reinstall usually resolves it:

1. Uninstall Malwarebytes completely through Settings > Apps.
2. Restart your computer — don’t skip this, since leftover files stay locked until reboot.
3. Download the latest installer directly from Malwarebytes’ official site.
4. Install fresh and sign back in to restore your licence.

Malwarebytes also publishes a dedicated support tool that removes leftover files a normal uninstall misses — worth using if a standard reinstall doesn’t fix it.

What Not to Do

• Don’t download Malwarebytes from third-party sites — a real risk with security software specifically, since fake installers are a common malware vector. Use malwarebytes.com only.
• Don’t leave your other antivirus permanently disabled to work around the conflict. Add an exception instead.
• Don’t ignore it indefinitely — an antivirus that can’t update is running on outdated definitions, which is meaningfully worse than one that’s working.

If Nothing Works

Malwarebytes offers guided troubleshooting for persistent error codes through their official support site. They can also identify whether a specific error is tied to a known issue with a particular version.

FAQ