The genuine werfault.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "WerFault.exe" is a Microsoft 32-bit process in "C:\Windows\System32", (or "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" on 64-bit Windows systems). It is the Windows Error Reporting (WER) Fault Reporting process. It is an essential Windows process and should not be removed. When a process "crashes" because an exception occurs for which no handling exists in the code, WerFault.exe is launched by the WER Service which passes the ID of that process in the command line. It first consults the "Auto" and "Debugger" values in the "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\AeDebug" registry key. If the system has a debugger installed, the "Auto" value can cause WerFault.exe to launch it automatically, or to display a dialog asking if the user wants debugging. The alternative to debugging is placing an error report on a queue, where "WerMgr.exe" will manage sending it to Microsoft's WER servers for analysis. The behavior of Windows Error Reporting can be controlled through registry keys or by group policy settings in an enterprise environment.
WERFault stands for Windows Error Reporting Fault Reporter
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the werfault.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: The original werfault.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Werfault.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 360,448 bytes (44% of all occurrences), 262,496 bytes and 21 more variants.
The werfault.exe file is a Windows core system file. The werfault.exe file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. The program is not visible.
Werfault.exe is able to monitor applications.
Therefore the technical security rating is 3% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case you experience problems using werfault.exe, you can do the following:
Is werfault.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true werfault.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Windows Problem Reporting".
However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are such as Virus.Win32.Virut.ce (detected by Kaspersky), and W32.Virut.CF (detected by Symantec).
To ensure that no rogue werfault.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants?
If werfault.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 0% dangerous. The file size is 360,448 bytes (68% of all occurrences), 388,096 bytes and 4 more variants.
The file is a Windows core system file. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
Werfault.exe is able to monitor applications.
If werfault.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 75% dangerous. The file size is 13,179,660 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 17,408 bytes.
The program has no visible window. Werfault.exe is not a Windows core file.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case you experience problems using werfault.exe, you can do the following:
uninstall Node.js from your computer using the Control Panel applet Uninstall a Program
If werfault.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 66% dangerous. The file size is 13,179,660 bytes.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as werfault.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the werfault.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.
Score
User Comments
The Werfault.exe process is a part of Windows Error Reporting in Windows Vista. This feature allows Microsoft to monitor and solve problems in the Vista operating system, features and applications, and enables users to send error data and receive updates and solutions. Lera (further information)
It activates very briefly and dies after one registerable game does not run syntotic
I have windows 7 but it is still active there
this file lets me do anything. I cant download, cant install etc Karin Weller
WerFault.exe sends problem reports to Microsoft so that it can check for a solution to the problem and download it if available.
I have 8 WerFault.ext processes according to Task Manager... Laszlo Gombos
werfault launches when i select start and blocks access to my computer or control panel. problem began when i tried to remove and re-install spotify i could not delete spotify from c drive mitch
Summary: Average user rating of werfault.exe:
based on 25 votes with 7 user comments.
10 users think werfault.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
6 users think it's probably harmless.
4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
4 users suspect danger.
One user thinks werfault.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
2 users don't grade werfault.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving werfault issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with werfault. 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 werfault.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.
Score
User Comments
Lera (further information)
syntotic
Karin Weller
Laszlo Gombos
mitch
Summary: Average user rating of werfault.exe: based on 25 votes with 7 user comments. 10 users think werfault.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 6 users think it's probably harmless. 4 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 4 users suspect danger. One user thinks werfault.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it. 2 users don't grade werfault.exe ("not sure about it").