Installing Sophos on a personal computer

As of November 2024, Sophos has made the business decision to no longer provide a free home edition of antivirus. Following the steps below will provide you with a free trial for 30 days, after which your device will become unprotected unless a subscription is purchased. The IT Security team is currently in the process of researching and vetting any other options for personal devices, if something is found that can be recommended than this article will be updated accordingly.

Windows: 

1. Click the following link. Home.sophos.com
2. Click the blue “Download Free Edition” button.
3. Click the blue “Download Now” button.
4. Fill in the form with your information and click “Create account” at the bottom.
5. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. 
6. Open the email and click the green “Confirm email” button.
7. Login with your email and previously created password. 
8. Click the blue “Download” button.
9. Once the installer finishes downloading open it and click install.
10. After it is finished installing click “Finish.”
11. Sophos will automatically open and start a scan.
12. At the end of the scan, if Sophos finds anything, it will alert you.
13. Click “Next”
14. Click “Next” again
15. Click “Close”
16. Now that it is finished you can close out of Sophos.

Sophos will continue to run in the background and provide protection every time you boot your computer.

After 30 days the free trial of “Sophos Home Premium” will expire.  Leaving behind the “Sophos Home Free” edition.  We are not sure yet how the screen will appear, but Sophos will likely prompt you to purchase a premium license.   Follow the onscreen instructions to make your choice.  

Mac users:

1. Click the following link. Home.sophos.com
2. Click the blue “Download Free Edition” button.
3. Click the blue “Download Now” button.
4. Fill in the form with your information and click “Create account” at the bottom.
5. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. 
6. Open the email and click the green “Confirm email” button.
7. Login with your email and previously created password. 
8. Click the blue “Download” button.
9. Once the installer finishes downloading open it.
10. Open the "SophosInstall" folder.
11. Click on "Sophos Installer"
12. Follow through the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.

Sophos will now run in the background and provide protection every time you boot your computer.

After 30 days the free trial of “Sophos Home Premium” will expire.  Leaving behind the “Sophos Home Free” edition.  We are not sure yet how the screen will appear, but Sophos will likely prompt you to purchase a premium license.   Follow the onscreen instructions to make your choice.