The message “Self Protection Failed – Error Code 4” usually appears with antivirus or security software when the program’s built-in protection service fails to start or gets blocked.
It essentially means the software’s security layer—which prevents other programs from tampering with it—has encountered a conflict or permission issue.
Here are the most effective ways to fix it, ranked from simplest to most advanced:
How to Fix “Self Protection Failed – Error Code 4”
1. Run as Administrator
The software may lack the “privileges” to start its own security services.
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Right-click the application icon (or game launcher).
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Select Run as administrator.
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If this works, you can make it permanent by going to Properties > Compatibility and checking Run this program as an administrator.
2. Check for Expired Subscriptions
If you are seeing this in Avast or AVG, Error Code 4 often translates specifically to a license/subscription issue.
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Open your antivirus interface.
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Go to Menu > My Subscriptions.
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Verify that your license is active. If it has expired or shows an error, the “self-protection” module may disable itself.
3. Clear “Leftover” Files (Common for Games)
If this happens while launching a game, it is usually caused by a corrupted .ini or crash handler file.
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The “OnlineFix” Method: Go to your game folder, delete
OnlineFix.ini, and replace it with a fresh copy from the original download. -
Delete Crash Handlers: Some users have success deleting
UnityCrashHandler64.exe(or similar) from the game directory, as it can conflict with anticheat self-protection.
4. Temporarily Disable Self-Defense
If you need to repair or reinstall the program, you may need to turn off the very feature that is failing.
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For Avast/AVG: Go to Menu > Settings > Troubleshooting.
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Uncheck Enable Self-Defense.
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Restart your computer and try to run the program or update it.
5. Verify Integrity (Steam/Epic Games)
If the error is related to a game:
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Open your Steam Library.
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Right-click the game > Properties > Local Files.
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Click Verify integrity of game files…
⚠️ Less Common Causes
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Malware infection blocking security software
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Damaged Windows system files
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Corrupted registry entries
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Windows update issues
If needed, run:
in Command Prompt (Admin).
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