pktmon.exe

Windows Packet Monitor

System UtilitySafeNetworking

CPU Usage

0-2%

Memory

10-60 MB

Location

C:\Windows\System32

Publisher

Microsoft Corporation

Quick Answer

pktmon.exe is a legitimate Windows network monitoring tool. It captures traffic for diagnostics and security research, typically used with PowerShell or CMD commands. It’s safe when sourced from Microsoft.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

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

Warning

Common when monitoring

PktMon may spawn additional child processes during capture; use with care

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Run pktmon stop if capturing, or close the monitoring session; ensure you don’t leave it running unnecessarily

What is pktmon.exe?

pktmon.exe is the Windows Packet Monitor tool used for capturing and analyzing network traffic. It works with customizable filters and can export data to ETL/log files for offline analysis, aiding troubleshooting and security auditing.

PktMon leverages a kernel-mode component and user-mode commands to start/stop captures, filter on IPv4/IPv6, and log events to ETL. It provides a lightweight, platform-integrated monitoring solution for Windows.

Quick Fact: PktMon debuted in Windows for lightweight, scriptable network capture, enabling repeatable diagnostics without third-party tools.

Types of PktMon Processes

PktMon Core: Main capture engine and command interface
PktMon Driver: Kernel-mode driver handling packet capture
Logging Service: Writes ETL/log data for analysis

Is pktmon.exe Safe?

Yes, pktmon.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from Microsoft, typically located in C:\Windows\System32\ and used for diagnostics.

Is pktmon.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real pktmon.exe is not a virus. Malware masquerading as pktmon.exe is possible, so verify the path and signature.

How to Tell if pktmon.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\pktmon.exe or within C:\Windows\System32\PktMon\. Any pktmon.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click pktmon.exe in Explorer or Task Manager -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Microsoft Windows" or "Microsoft Corporation".
Resource Usage: Normal usage is minimal when idle. Abnormally high CPU when not monitoring is suspicious.
Behavior: PktMon should only run during explicit capture or diagnostic sessions. Unnecessary background activity indicates compromise.

Red Flags: If pktmon.exe is found outside System32, without a valid Microsoft signature, or running when no diagnostic session is active, scan for malware with a reputable antivirus. Be cautious of similarly named files like 'pktmon64.exe'.

Why Is pktmon.exe Running on My PC?

PktMon runs when you start a capture to monitor network traffic or when a script enables monitoring for diagnostics or security audits.

Reasons it's running:

Active Capture: A capture session is in progress to log network packets for analysis.
Automated Diagnostics: Monitoring initiated by scripts or security tools for incident response.
Governance/Compliance: Organizations run pktmon to document traffic for auditing and troubleshooting.
Background Logging: PktMon may be triggered by scheduled tasks that log traffic during off-hours.
System Telemetry: Telemetry or security-related tooling may enable temporary captures to diagnose issues.

Can I Disable or Remove pktmon.exe?

Yes, you can disable pktmon.exe. Stop captures when finished; you can disable or remove the diagnostic tooling if you do not need network monitoring.

How to Stop pktmon.exe

Stop Current Capture: Run 'pktmon stop' in CMD or PowerShell to stop an active capture.
Pause or Disable Logging: Do not start new captures; disable logging in the capture configuration.
Close Sessions: Close PowerShell or CMD sessions that started pktmon.
Disable Startup or Scheduled Tasks: If configured, remove startup scripts or scheduled tasks that enable pktmon automatically.
Uninstall Diagnostics Tools: If you installed a separate diagnostic solution that uses pktmon, disable or uninstall it.

How to Uninstall pktmon (Windows)

✔ PktMon is a built-in tool and typically cannot be removed. Disable captures and remove scripts that invoke it.
✔ If you need to remove Windows features to disable pktmon, consult the Windows Features settings; otherwise keep the default install.
✔ No separate uninstall steps are required; use 'pktmon stop' to terminate captures.

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage with pktmon

If pktmon.exe seems to consume resources unexpectedly during or after captures:

Common Causes & Solutions

Active capture running: Stop capture with 'pktmon stop' and verify with 'pktmon stop' again; ensure sessions are terminated.
Repeated captures triggered by scripts: Review automation scripts; throttle capture frequency or use filters.
Large capture files: Limit capture duration or apply filters; truncate or export logs to manage file size.
Driver issues: Ensure Windows drivers are up to date; run Windows Update and check for driver conflicts.
Background monitoring by security tools: Temporarily disable other security tools that may invoke pktmon; consult with IT to avoid conflicts.
Corrupted ETL: Delete or repair corrupted ETL files; restart capture to generate fresh logs.

Quick Fixes:
1. Run 'pktmon stop' to end active captures
2. Reset network capture filters to defaults
3. Export or clear ETL logs if needed
4. Restart the system if captures persist unexpectedly
5. Check for conflicting monitoring tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pktmon.exe safe?

Yes, pktmon.exe is a legitimate Windows network monitoring tool from Microsoft. Verify it's in C:\Windows\System32 and digitally signed by Microsoft.

What is pktmon used for?

PktMon is used to capture and analyze network traffic for troubleshooting, diagnostics, and security auditing.

Can pktmon.exe be a virus?

The legitimate pktmon.exe is not a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names; always verify path and signature.

How do I stop pktmon.exe from running?

Use 'pktmon stop' to end captures; disable any startup scripts or scheduled tasks that enable it. Remove it from scripts if not needed.

Where is pktmon.exe located?

Typically in C:\Windows\System32\pktmon.exe. If found elsewhere, investigate for malware.

How do I export capture data from pktmon?

Use 'pktmon format <format>' to export to CSV or JSON, followed by import into analysis tools.