pathping.exe

Windows PathPing Diagnostic Tool

System UtilitySafeNetwork Diagnostic Tool

CPU Usage

1-5%

Memory

5-60 MB

Location

System32

Publisher

Microsoft Corporation

Quick Answer

pathping.exe is a legitimate Windows network diagnostic tool. It blends traceroute and ping to measure route latency and packet loss to a destination.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be located in C:\Windows\System32\pathping.exe

Warning

PathPing runs as a diagnostic tool and may appear to hold CPU during execution

Expect CPU spikes only while the test runs; no background persistence

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

PathPing runs only when invoked; closing the command window or stopping the command ends it

What is pathping.exe?

pathping.exe is a Windows network diagnostic utility that blends traceroute and ping to evaluate the path to a target host. It measures per-hop latency and packet loss by sending a sequence of pings across each hop after performing a traceroute, giving insight into where a connection may degrade.

PathPing runs a traceroute-like pass followed by repeated pings to each hop, producing per-hop latency and loss statistics. This helps diagnose which network segment or device along the path degrades connectivity to the target host.

Quick Fact: PathPing originated to provide deeper route health data by combining tracert and ping outputs in a single run.

Types of PathPing Execution Modes

Interactive Run: Executed from Command Prompt or PowerShell to test a specific target.
Batch/Scripted Run: Used in scripts to log route metrics over time for monitoring.
Administrative Run: Requires appropriate privileges for raw socket operations on Windows.

Is pathping.exe Safe?

Yes, pathping.exe is safe when it's the legitimate Windows binary from Microsoft and located in the System32 folder.

Is pathping.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real pathping.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may imitate names, so verify the file location and signature.

How to Tell if pathping.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\pathping.exe. Any pathping.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click pathping.exe in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a valid Microsoft signature.
File Version / Publisher: Check the file version and publisher: PathPing should be signed by Microsoft Corporation.
Resource Usage: PathPing runs briefly; prolonged high resource use outside of a test indicates potential misuse.

Red Flags: If pathping.exe is not located in C:\Windows\System32 or lacks a valid signature, or if it runs continuously without user invocation, scan for malware.

Why Is pathping.exe Running on My PC?

pathping.exe runs when you start a pathping test, either from a command line or a script, to assess network path health and latency.

Reasons it's running:

Active Diagnostic Run: You launched pathping to check route quality to a destination.
Batch Monitoring: A script or monitoring tool runs periodic pathping checks for network health over time.
Remote Administration: An IT admin uses pathping in a remote session to troubleshoot connectivity.
Automation Tests: CI/CD or infrastructure scripts invoke pathping during network validation stages.
Scheduled Diagnostics: Monitoring software triggers pathping on a schedule to verify reachability.

Can I Disable or Remove pathping.exe?

Yes, you can disable pathping.exe. It's a built-in diagnostic tool; you typically don't remove it, but you can avoid running it.

How to Stop pathping.exe

Cancel Command: If pathping is running in a Command Prompt, press Ctrl+C to stop.
Close Console: Close the Command Prompt or PowerShell window.
End Task: Open Task Manager, find pathping.exe, and End Task.
Remove Script Call: If invoked by a startup script or task, remove the pathping call from the script.
Group Policy / Imaging: In managed environments, restrict or disable pathping usage via policy.

How to Remove Windows Components

✔ Pathping is a built-in utility; it cannot be uninstalled separately. It is part of Windows networking components.
✔ To minimize exposure, avoid invoking it in scripts or remove associated scripts.
✔ If you need to restrict command usage, consider endpoint management policies to block pathping calls.

Common Problems: Slow or Inaccurate PathPing Results

If pathping.exe reports unexpected results or runs slowly:

Common Causes & Solutions

Network routing changes: Re-run after routing stabilizes; ensure the target is reachable and test during normal traffic conditions.
High latency across hops: Delay is often due to network congestion; re-run during off-peak times or test different targets.
ICMP blocked by routers: Some routers deprioritize or block ICMP; interpret losses at those hops as non-critical and focus on the end-to-end path.
DNS resolution issues: Verify target hostname resolves correctly; test with a direct IP if needed.
Insufficient privileges: Run Command Prompt as Administrator to ensure proper access to networking interfaces.
Antivirus or firewall interference: Temporarily adjust security software to allow pathping.exe traffic during testing.

Quick Fixes:
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run pathping with the target.
2. Run pathping -n to skip DNS resolution for faster results.
3. Check firewall/antivirus for any blocks on ICMP or pathping.exe.
4. Re-run tests at different times to rule out transient network issues.
5. Use tracert to verify basic route before pathping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pathping.exe safe to run?

Yes. PathPing is a built-in Windows diagnostic tool provided by Microsoft. Ensure the file is located at C:\Windows\System32\pathping.exe and is digitally signed by Microsoft Corporation.

How do I run pathping.exe?

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type pathping <destination> (for example, pathping www.example.com). You can add options like -n or -PingRepeat to customize the test.

What do the pathping results mean?

PathPing shows per-hop latency and packet loss. High loss at a hop may indicate congestion or filtering; end-to-end loss and delivery issues are most relevant for the destination.

Why is pathping taking so long?

PathPing performs multiple pings per hop and a traceroute pass, which can take time on long routes or congested networks. It may appear to run longer during extensive tests.

Can pathping diagnose VPN or wireless issues?

Yes, pathping can help identify where a VPN or wireless path degrades performance by highlighting problematic hops or interfaces along the route.

Can I run pathping without admin rights?

Basic pathping tests may run without admin rights, but certain features or a full route analysis may require administrative privileges to access certain network interfaces.