Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Should be located in C:\Windows\System32\logman.exe
Warning
Not typically a standalone consumer process
Logman is usually invoked by data collector sets or system diagnostics; a stray, unconfigured instance may indicate misconfiguration
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disable data collector sets or stop related tasks; do not delete the file unless you uninstall Windows features
What is logman.exe?
logman.exe is a Windows command-line utility that manages Data Collector Sets and performance logs. It coordinates with Performance Monitor to gather system counters, trace data, and alerts for offline analysis.
Logman provides a CLI interface to create, start, stop, and enumerate data collectors and logs. It runs under Windows, schedules data collection via Tasks or PerfMon, and writes results to log files for later review.
Quick Fact: Logman has shipped with Windows for decades and integrates with PerfMon to automate performance data gathering.
Types of Logman Processes
- Data Collector Set Manager: Orchestrates a set of counters/logs for collection.
- Counter Log Process: Collects performance counters at specified intervals.
- Trace Log Process: Captures ETW traces or user-defined events.
- Report/Analysis Wrapper: Post-processing tasks that generate reports.
Is logman.exe Safe?
Yes, logman.exe is safe when it's the legitimate Windows utility located in C:\Windows\System32 and signed by Microsoft.
Is logman.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real logman.exe is NOT a virus. Malware might mimic names; verify the path and signature.
How to Tell if logman.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\logman.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\logman.exe.
- Digital Signature: Right-click logman.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures; should show Microsoft Corporation.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is typically low; unusual spikes suggest misconfiguration or malware.
- Behavior: Should operate as part of Performance Monitor tasks or Windows tasks; unexpected startup or persistence outside of planned logs is suspicious.
Red Flags: If logman.exe appears outside system folders, lacks a valid signature, or runs unexpectedly with no Data Collector Sets configured, scan with Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Beware of similarly named files.
Why Is logman.exe Running on My PC?
logman.exe runs to create or maintain data collection sets, or to support system diagnostics and monitoring tasks. It may be invoked by schedulers or services to capture performance data.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Data Collection: A Data Collector Set is actively collecting counters or traces for analysis.
- Scheduled Logging: A task or PerfMon job is configured to run at intervals or on events.
- Background Diagnostics: Windows diagnostics or enterprise monitoring tools invoke logman for reporting.
- Startup or Service Triggers: Logman might be started by startup scripts or by the Performance Monitor service.
- Automated Report Generation: Post-processing tasks generate reports from existing log data, triggering logman activity.
Can I Disable or Remove logman.exe?
Yes, you can disable logman.exe from triggering logs or remove logman-related data collectors. Do not delete the file itself; you can disable data collection and scheduled tasks.
How to Stop logman.exe
- Disable Data Collector Sets: Open Performance Monitor or logman query and disable the defined data collector sets.
- Stop Scheduled Tasks: Open Task Scheduler and disable tasks that reference logman data collectors.
- Stop Logging Jobs: Use logman stop to halt active collectors for a given set.
- Disable Startup Triggers: Remove startup tasks or registry entries that launch logging on boot.
- Uninstall or Reconfigure: If you don’t need Windows performance logging, you can disable related services or remove Data Collector Sets.
How to Remove logman-related Data or Disable Windows Performance Logging
- ✔ Open Windows Settings -> Privacy & security -> Diagnostics & feedback, disable data collection features.
- ✔ In Performance Monitor, delete or disable Data Collector Sets.
- ✔ If you must remove the tool, disable the Windows Feature: Windows Performance Toolkit may require admin steps.
Common Problems: Performance Logging Issues
If logman.exe shows unexpected behavior or resource spikes, try the following fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Misconfigured Data Collector Sets: Review collector definitions with logman query and adjust sampling intervals or counter sets.
- Too Frequent Sampling: Increase sample interval or stop unused counters to reduce overhead.
- Backup/Archive Delays: Ensure destination logs path has sufficient space and permissions.
- Corrupted Log Files: Clear or rotate logs; re-create Data Collector Sets.
- Interference from Antivirus: Temporarily exclude logman-generated logs from scans or adjust exclusions.
- Compatibility Issues: Update Windows components or Perf Monitor tools; ensure matching OS version.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Performance Monitor, review active collectors, and stop unnecessary ones.
2. Rename or clear the log file directory to avoid disk contention.
3. Update Windows and logman-related components via Windows Update.
4. Ensure enough RAM and disk space for logs.
5. Run Defender scan to rule out malware impersonating logman.exe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is logman.exe a virus?
No, logman.exe is a legitimate Windows utility for performance data collection, located in C:\Windows\System32 and signed by Microsoft.
What does logman.exe do?
Logman.exe manages Data Collector Sets and logs for performance monitoring, including counters, traces, and report generation.
How do I use logman.exe to create a Data Collector Set?
Use the command line: logman create counter <SetName> -p <Counter> -o <OutputPath> and then start it with logman start <SetName>.
Can I disable logman.exe?
You can disable or stop data collectors and scheduled tasks; do not delete the program file itself unless you uninstall Windows features.
Where is logman.exe located?
Typically at C:\Windows\System32\logman.exe; 64-bit systems may also have SysWOW64 copies for compatibility.
Why is logman.exe running at startup?
If a startup task or data collector set is configured to run on boot, logman.exe will start to collect data as configured.