What Is Agent.exe and Is it Safe?
The answer is yes, but be careful
If you’re using Windows, then hundreds of different system processes are running in the background, allowing you to read this article. A browser like Chrome (chrome.exe) provides you with the page, while processes likentoskrnl.exeandconhost.exegive you the user interface, internet access, and other components.
One of the least understood processes, however, isagent.exe. With such a common name, this process appears in hundreds of different software, making it difficult to identify and troubleshoot. If you’re 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 aboutexecutable files, especially system process files, it’s usually easy to explain what the process is and what it does. Each EXE file has a purpose, after all.
Unfortunately, it’s less clear cut with the agent.exe file. This file name is used by Many software and services, from game clients to hard disk copiers, use this file for their background update services.
When you update your software, agent.exe may be the process responsible for updates, checking that you’re running the correct software and installing them automatically. In short, when it runs, it connects to an external server and checks for the latest software updates.
This makes it difficult to say if the agent.exe process running on your PC is safe. The only way to double-check this is to trace the file location and, from there, consider whether the matching software is suspicious or not.
Identifying the Agent.exe Process in Task Manager
While we could list any number of potential examples, let’s pick up one example of an agent.exe process and see what it does. If the process is running, you can trace its location in Windows Task Manager.
Task Manager will open the location of the running agent.exe process in Windows File Explorer. Most apps installed on your PC will be installed in theC:Program FilesorC:Program Files (x86)folders, but this isn’t necessarily the case for all apps (especially UWP apps likeyourphone.exe).
The location will give you an indication of what the agent.exe process is used for. For instance,C:ProgramDataBattle.netAgentAgent.xxxxagent.exeis the update process for the Battle.net game client, used for Blizzard Entertainment games like World of Warcraft.
If you recognize and trust the software, you can rest easy—the app is (probably) safe to run. If you don’t, then you should immediatelyschedule a Windows Defender scanand use anti-malware software to check for an infection.
Can Agent.exe Cause High CPU, RAM or Other High System Resource Usage?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a go-to answer for determining whether agent.exe can cause high system resource usage, such as high CPU or RAM usage. While some software will demand a lot of system resources to function correctly, others won’t.
The only way to know for sure is to look into the process in Task Manager. If you’ve traced the process to software that you know can be a drain on resources (like a game or web browser), then agent.exe could play a part in that.
In most cases, background apps like agent.exe shouldn’t have an impact on your PC (at least noticeably). If it does, it could point to outdated hardware, whereupgrading your PCbecomes the best option to help resolve system lag and other issues.
How to Safely Stop or Remove Agent.exe From Windows 10
If you’ve checked the location of a running agent.exe process and you’re still unsure of its origins, then it could put your PC at risk (although, in many cases, agent.exe is an entirely safe and legitimate process to leave running).
Of course, if you recognize the software behind agent.exe, trust that it’s safe, but still want to remove it, you canuninstall it using Windows System Settingsor a third-party software removal tool instead.
The Windows uninstaller should remove any legitimate software that you come across. If it doesn’t, third-party tools like Geek Uninstaller can locate and remove the app instead, even if it lacks an uninstaller.
Keep an Eye on Rogue Windows Programs
In most cases, the agent.exe process is safe to run, referring to a background system service used for updates by third-party software like the Blizzard Battle.net game client. If you have the right systems in place, like agood anti-malware solution, you should also be able to deal with any issues with a rogue agent.exe process.
If you’re still having trouble, you can alwayswipe and reinstall Windows 10, removing any infection. Don’t forget to back up and restore your backed up files once you’re done.
Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio
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