Quick Answer
macrium-reflect-exe is safe. It is the main executable for Macrium Reflect used to perform imaging, cloning, and restoration tasks. It runs during backups, restores, and when mounting images.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe
Warning
Backup tasks may run in background
Reflect.exe coordinates imaging tasks; multiple threads may appear during large backups
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Macrium Reflect GUI or stop scheduled tasks to halt automated backups
What is Reflect.exe?
macrium-reflect-exe is the primary executable for Macrium Reflect, a trusted disk-imaging and backup tool. It launches during backup jobs, cloning operations, and while mounting backup images for recovery. The process coordinates imaging blocks and verifies data integrity.
Reflect.exe runs as a multi-threaded backup engine, coordinating image creation, verification, mounting, and restoration while interacting with Windows VSS. It manages job queues, writes to destinations, and ensures recoverability of protected volumes.
Quick Fact: Macrium Reflect leverages VSS integration to create consistent images, allowing reliable backups even when active file changes occur.
Types of Macrium Processes
- Reflect Engine: Core backup engine coordinating imaging, cloning, and restore tasks
- Backup Service: Windows Service controlling scheduled backups and monitoring job queues
- VSS/Snapshot Helper: Modules that handle VSS snapshots and mount points during imaging
- Mount Manager: Mounts and exposes disk images for recovery or verification
- Chunking Process: Splits large images into manageable chunks and handles block-level copy
- Verification Process: Performs post-backup image verification to ensure integrity
Is macrium-reflect-exe Safe?
Yes, macrium-reflect-exe is safe when obtained from official Macrium sources and resides in the proper installation directory.
Is macrium-reflect-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real Reflect.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade, so always verify location and digital signature.
How to Tell if macrium-reflect-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe. Any Reflect.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click Reflect.exe in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show vendor "Macrium Software Ltd".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-15% CPU and 50-200 MB memory during backups. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Reflect.exe should run mainly when performing backups or restores. Persistent background activity without tasks warrants malware check.
Red Flags: If macrium-reflect-exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData), runs nonstop without a backup schedule, lacks a valid signature, or shows irregular file sizes, run a full antivirus scan and verify your Macrium installation from the official site.
Why Is macrium-reflect-exe Running on My PC?
Reflect.exe runs to perform imaging, backups, and recovery tasks. It may start when a backup is scheduled, a user initiates a clone, or a system restore point is created.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Backup or Restore: An ongoing image creation, restore, or verification task will keep Reflect.exe active.
- Scheduled Backups: Macrium Reflect tasks are scheduled to run at configured times or events.
- Background Backup Jobs: Background tasks such as incremental backups or automatic verification may run without GUI interaction.
- Mounting Images: Reflect may mount images for verification or recovery, requiring the process to stay active temporarily.
- Service-Driven Monitoring: The Macrium Reflect Service monitors tasks and ensures scheduled jobs execute reliably.
Can I Disable or Remove macrium-reflect-exe?
Yes, you can disable macrium-reflect-exe from running continuously. You can stop backups, disable startup tasks, or uninstall Macrium Reflect if you no longer need it.
How to Stop macrium-reflect-exe
- End Active Tasks: In the Macrium Reflect GUI, pause or cancel ongoing backup tasks.
- Close the Application: Close Macrium Reflect to stop active imaging tasks.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Macrium Reflect
- Stop Background Jobs: In Macrium Reflect settings, disable "Run backups automatically" or similar options.
- Schedule Adjustments: Modify or remove scheduled backups to prevent automatic runs.
How to Uninstall Macrium Reflect
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Macrium Reflect → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Macrium Reflect → Uninstall
- ✔ Restart computer and verify no Reflect services are active
Common Problems: Imaging Delays or Failures
If macrium-reflect-exe is slow, failing, or not completing backups, inspect the following typical causes and fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Insufficient disk space: Free up space on source or destination drives; consider adding another drive or using compression options in Macrium Reflect.
- Slow I/O or hardware bottlenecks: Check disk health, disable unnecessary background processes, and ensure SATA/NVMe performance is optimal.
- Corrupted backup job configuration: Open Macrium Reflect, review the backup definition, and re-save or recreate the job.
- Incompatible media or wrong destination: Verify media type and destination path; ensure network shares are accessible with correct permissions.
- Antivirus interference: Add Macrium Reflect folders to exclusions; temporarily disable real-time scanning during backups if safe.
- Outdated Reflect software: Update Macrium Reflect to the latest version and apply all patches.
Quick Fixes:
1. Check the backup job in Macrium Reflect for obvious configuration errors
2. Free disk space on source and destination drives
3. Run a small test backup to verify core functionality
4. Update Macrium Reflect to the latest version
5. Exclude non-essential processes from antivirus scanning for the duration of the backup
Frequently Asked Questions
Is macrium-reflect-exe a virus?
No, Reflect.exe is the legitimate executable for Macrium Reflect. Ensure it is located in C:\Program Files\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Macrium\Reflect\Reflect.exe and has a valid signature from Macrium Software Ltd.
Why is macrium-reflect-exe using CPU during backups?
Backups require reading and writing large blocks of data; CPU usage increases during imaging, compression, and verification. It should settle once the job completes.
Can I delete macrium-reflect-exe?
You should not delete Reflect.exe manually. To remove Macrium Reflect, use Windows Settings → Apps → Uninstall or the official uninstaller shipped with the product.
Can I disable macrium-reflect-exe from running at startup?
Yes. Disable the Macrium Reflect startup task in Task Manager → Startup to prevent automatic backups on boot.
Why are my Macrium backups failing with access denied?
Check destination permissions, ensure the destination drive is accessible, and verify that Reflect has required rights for the backup path. Run Reflect as administrator if needed.
Where are Macrium backup images stored?
Backup images are stored at the configured destination path in the Reflect job settings, commonly on local disks (e.g., D:\Backups) or network shares with appropriate permissions.