Malwarebytes is actually software which protects your system from online threats. In order to keep your system safe and secure, you need Malwarebytes in your system. But what is the use if you face such an error like Malwarebytes error code 20026. You don’t have to worry about that. We have some easy steps to follow with which you can get this problem fixed. So, before you spend your money on professionals, give these fixes a try.
Now, before we proceed, we need to find out the reasons for the error code 20026.
Common Symptoms of Malwarebytes Error code 20026
There are some indications or symptoms with which you will be able to recognize the error 20026. These are:
- Malwarebytes error code 20026 crashes the active program window.
- “Malwarebytes was unable to load the Anti-Rootkit Driver” message gets displayed on your computer screen.
- Windows runs sluggishly and also takes time to respond to mouse or keyboard input.
- Your computer freezes frequently.
During program installation, you might face the Malwarebytes 20026 error code. Also, while a Malwarebytes Corporation-related program (eg. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware) is running, during startup or shutdown of the Windows Operating System, this issue occurs. You need to keep track of when and where the Malwarebytes 20026 error appears. You should keep that information in your mind as you will require this during the troubleshooting.
Causes and Fixes for Malwarebytes Error Code 20026
- Corrupted files or incomplete installation of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
- The registry-related issue can also be a cause of this error.
- If the Windows system files get corrupted due to a virus or malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware-related program files can also get corrupted due to a virus or malware attack.
- In case Malwarebytes Anti-Malware-related files get deleted mistakenly.
But before you get in touch with a technical expert, you can try the below steps.
Repair all Corrupted Registry Entries related to Error 20026
This is one option through which you will be able to fix the Malwarebytes error 20026. But you are advised to take a backup of the Registry Key.
To repair the Windows Registry Entries, you need to follow these steps:
- Click on the Start button.
- After that, you will see a white panel where you can type in. Make sure that the white panel is empty. You need to write “command” in the search box. Then, hold Ctrl + Shift key together and at the same time hit the Enter button.
- You will see a permission dialog box pop up on the screen. You need to give your positive consent.
- After that, a black window will appear on the screen with a blinking cursor.
- You have to type “regedit” and then press Enter.
- Now, select the error 20026 related key which you want as a backup from the Registry Editor.
- Select the Export option from the File menu.
- Now, select the location where you want to save the Anti-Malware backup. Put the file name to continue.
- Put the selected branch in the export range box.
- Then, click on the Save option.
- Finally, the files will save with .regfile extension and the issue will be fixed. If not, then try out the next solution.
Clean the Temporary Files and Folders with Disk Cleanup
Over the period of time, your system stores a lot of unwanted files and folders which make your computer run slower. This is because of the overloaded hard drive. So, you can clean up these temporary files and folders with Disk Cleanup in order to fix the problem. This will not only fix the issue but also boost the speed of your system.
- Click on the Start button.
- After that, type “command” in the white panel and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- Give your positive consent in the permission dialog box.
- After that, a black window will appear on the screen with a blinking cursor.
- You have to type “cleanmgr” and then press the Enter button.
- Now, the Disk Cleanup will start calculating how much space you can reclaim.
- Then, the Disk Cleanup window will appear on the screen with the number of checkboxes which you need to select. And you will get to see that the Temporary Files occupy most of the spaces.
- You should check the relevant checkbox of the same categories and then press the OK button.
Utilize Windows System Restore
System Restore is one option that helps you to revert back to the time when things were working smoothly. This will help you to avoid troubleshooting headaches.
- Click on the Start button.
- There will be a white search panel where you can type in.
- You have to type “System Restore” and then hit the Enter button.
- If it requires the administration password, then provide that to continue.
- There will be on-screen instructions which you need to follow in order to choose the restore point.
- Then, restore the system and if the error still persists.
Close the Conflicting Programs
When you get a runtime error, keep in mind that it is happening due to programs that are conflicting with each other. So, what you can do to resolve the problem is to stop these conflicting programs.
- Open Task Manager by clicking Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time. This will let you see the list of programs currently running.
- Go to the Processes tab and stop the programs one after another by highlighting each program and clicking the End Process button.
- You will need to observe if the error message will reoccur each time you stop a process.
- Once you get to identify which program is causing the error, you can go ahead with the next troubleshooting step, which is reinstalling the application.
Reinstall Conflicting Programs or Update using Control Panel
- For Windows 7, click the Start Button, then click on the Control Panel. Then, navigate to Uninstall a Program.
- For Windows 8, click the Start Button, then scroll down and click More Settings. Then, click Control panel > Uninstall a program.
- For Windows 10, just type Control Panel on the search box and click on the result. Then, click on Uninstall a Program.
- Once inside Programs and Features, click the problematic program and choose either Update or Uninstall.
- In both cases, you just need to follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process. However, if you chose to Uninstall, then reinstall the program after the issue is fixed.
Alternative Method
- For Windows 7, you might find the list of all installed programs when you click Start and scroll the mouse over the list that appears on the tab. You will see the list of programs. You can go ahead and uninstall using utilities available in this tab.
- For Windows 10, click Start, then Settings, then choose Apps. Scroll down to see the list of Apps and Features installed on your computer. Click the Program which is causing the runtime error, then uninstall it. Or, you can click on Advanced options to reset the application.
Install Windows Updates
Windows Continuously comes up with updates to improve the performance of the Operating System. At the same time, this will make your system secure.
So, to check if a Windows update is available or not, you need to follow the below steps:
- Click on the Start button.
- After that, in the white panel, type in “update” and then press Enter.
- You will see a Windows Update dialog box coming up on the screen.
- If an update is available, you just need to hit on Install Update button.
Wrapping it Up
So far, we have explained the Malwarebytes error code 20026 and why it appears. We also explained the easy solutions which will help you to fix this issue. However, if you face any difficulties or you have any doubts in your mind, you can let us know by your comment.
