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What is McInst.exe?

McInst.exe is a legitimate executable file that belongs to McAfee, LLC. It is a core component of the McAfee Installer and is also referred to as the McAfee Application Installer Cleanup. This file is typically found in temporary folders created during the installation or update process, such as 'C:\ProgramData\McInstTemp[random_numbers]'.

This software is used by McAfee security products, like McAfee Total Protection, for installing, uninstalling, or updating the application on your system. Its primary function is to manage the installation process and then clean up any temporary files that were created, ensuring that no unnecessary files are left behind. This helps to free up disk space and maintain system tidiness after a software installation or update is complete.

This file is needed during the active installation, modification, or removal of McAfee software. It ensures that these processes run correctly and efficiently. In many cases, the process is temporary and should automatically remove itself after its task is finished. A user might consider removing the file or its parent folder if they have already uninstalled all McAfee products and the file persists, or if they suspect it might be malware disguised with a legitimate name. While the authentic file is safe, malware can sometimes use the names of legitimate system files to avoid detection.

To verify the legitimacy of the McInst.exe process running on your computer, you can use tools like the Security Task Manager, which can provide more detailed information about the file's path, developer, and behavior.

Click to Run a Free Scan for McInst.exe related errors

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McInst.exe file information

The process known as McAfee Application Installer Cleanup (version (0084501745419423), (0179201663682420)) or McAfee Installer appears to belong to software McAfee by (www.mcafee.com).

Description: McInst.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. The file McInst.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\ProgramData" (for instance C:\ProgramData\McInstTemp0084501745419423\). Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 928,576 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 913,112 bytes or 939,944 bytes. file.net/process/mcinst.exe.html 
The service can be started or stopped from Services in the Control Panel or by other programs. There is no detailed description of this service. The file is not a Windows core file. The software is not active. The program has no visible window. There is no file information. McInst.exe appears to be a compressed file. Therefore the technical security rating is 70% dangerous.

Recommended: Identify McInst.exe related errors

If McInst.exe is located in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 64% dangerous. The file size is 959,224 bytes. The McInst.exe file is not a Windows core file. The McInst.exe file is digitally signed. The program is not visible. McInst.exe is able to hide itself and monitor applications.

Uninstalling this variant: In case you experience problems using McInst.exe, you can do the following:

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as McInst.exe. Therefore, you should check the McInst.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

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Best practices for resolving McInst issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with McInst. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.

To help you analyze the McInst.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.



Other processes

McInst.exe [all]


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