What is Agent.exe and is it safe to use?.
If you are using Windows, there are hundreds of different system processes running in the background, which will allow you to read this article. A browser like Chrome (chrome.exe) provides you with the page, while processes like ntoskrnl.exe and conhost.exe provide you with a user interface, internet access, and other components.
However, one of the least understood processes is agent.exe. With this generic name, this process occurs in hundreds of different programs, making it difficult to identify and troubleshoot problems. If you are asking yourself, “What is agent.exe?” and you don’t know the answer, this troubleshooting guide should help.
What is Agent.exe and Is It Safe?
When we talk about executable files, especially system process files, it is usually easy to explain what the process is and what it is for. After all, every EXE has a purpose.
Unfortunately with the agent.exe file this is not so clear. This file name is used in many programs and services, from game clients to hard drive copiers, that use this file for their background update services.
When you update your software, agent.exe can be responsible for the updates, make sure you are using the correct software, and install them automatically. In short, on startup, it connects to an external server and checks for the latest software updates.
Because of this, it is difficult to tell if the agent.exe process running on your computer is safe. The only way to double-check this is to trace the location of the file and from there determine if the matching software is suspicious or not.
Identifying the Agent.exe Process in Task Manager
While we can list any number of possible examples, let’s take one example of the agent.exe process and see what it does. If a process is running, you can track its location in the Windows Task Manager.
- Start by opening the Task Manager. To do this, right-click the taskbar and select the Task Manager option.
- In the Task Manager window, select the Details tab. Locate the agent.exe process that is running, then right-click it and select the “Open file location” option.
The Task Manager will open the location of the running agent.exe process in Windows Explorer. Most of the apps installed on your computer will be installed in the C: Program Files or C: Program Files (x86) folders, but this does not necessarily apply to all apps (especially UWP apps like yourphone.exe).
The location will give you an idea of ​​what the agent.exe process is used for. For example, C: ProgramData Battle.net Agent Agent.xxxx agent.exe is the update process for the Battle.net game client used for Blizzard Entertainment games such as World of Warcraft.
If you know and trust the software, you can relax – the app is (probably) safe to run. If you don’t, you should schedule a Windows Defender scan immediately and use your antivirus software to check for infection.
Can Agent.exe Cause High CPU, RAM or Other High System Resource Usage?
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to the question of whether agent.exe can cause high utilization of system resources, such as high CPU or RAM utilization. Some programs require a lot of system resources to run properly, while others do not.
The only way to know for sure is by examining the process in Task Manager. If you’ve traced the process back to the software that you know can drain resources (like a game or a web browser), then agent.exe may play a role.
In most cases, background applications like agent.exe should not (at least not noticeably) affect your computer. If so, it could indicate outdated hardware, and updating your PC would be the best option to fix system lag and other issues.
How to Safely Stop or Remove Agent.exe From Windows 10
If you have checked the location of the running agent.exe process and are still not sure of its origin, this could put your computer at risk (although in many cases agent.exe is a completely safe and legal process to leave running).
Of course, if you recognize the software behind agent.exe and are sure that it is safe, but still want to uninstall it, you can uninstall it using Windows System Preferences or a third-party software removal tool.
- To uninstall the software using Windows Settings, right-click the Start menu and select Settings.
- From the Settings menu, select Applications> Applications & Features. In the list, find the application that corresponds to the agent.exe process, then selects it. Choose Remove> Remove to begin the removal process.
The Windows uninstaller should remove any legitimate software it finds. Otherwise, third-party tools like Geek Uninstaller may find and uninstall the app instead, even if the uninstaller is missing.
- Start by downloading Geek Uninstaller to your computer. After downloading and unpacking, launch the application and let it scan your computer for installed software.
- In the Geek Uninstaller window, you will see a list of installed applications. Select the application you want to uninstall, then right-click and select the Uninstall option. If the application does not have an uninstaller or is difficult to remove, select the Force uninstall option instead.
- Confirm that you want to uninstall the software by selecting Yes from the pop-up window. You may also need to follow additional onscreen instructions to completely uninstall the software.
- When the process completes, Windows removes the software from your PC. However, if the application is using any system files or processes, you may need to restart your computer to make sure all files are removed.
Keep an Eye on Rogue Windows Programs
In most cases, it is safe to run the agent.exe process as it is a background system service used for updates by third-party software such as the Blizzard Battle.net game client. If you have suitable systems, such as a good anti-malware solution, you should also be able to fix any issues with the rogue agent.exe process.
If the problem persists, you can always erase and reinstall Windows 10 by removing all infections. Don’t forget to back up and restore your backed up files when you’re done.
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What is Agent.exe and is it safe to use?
What is Agent.exe and is it safe to use?.
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