sort.exe

Windows Sort Utility

System UtilitySafeCommand-Line Tool

CPU Usage

0-2%

Memory

1-5 MB

Location

C:\Windows\System32

Publisher

Microsoft Corporation

Quick Answer

sort.exe is a safe Windows utility used to sort lines of text from files or input via the command line. It is a built-in tool that supports basic sorting operations.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be located in C:\Windows\System32\sort.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sort.exe

Warning

Multiple sort.exe processes can appear if multiple command prompts are sorting in parallel

Each invocation may spawn a separate process

Can I Disable?

✔ NO

Sort.exe is a built-in Windows utility; you can avoid using it or remove scripts that invoke it, but it cannot be globally uninstalled from the OS

What is sort.exe?

sort.exe is the Windows command-line sort tool that orders lines of text from a file or standard input. It’s part of the built-in Windows suite and is commonly used in batch scripts to arrange data alphabetically or numerically for reporting and processing tasks.

It reads textual data, sorts lines in ascending order by default, and writes the sorted output to stdout or a file. It is a simple, single-threaded utility that relies on OS buffering and supports a few basic command-line switches for control.

Quick Fact: sort.exe has been part of Windows for decades and provides a lightweight, script-friendly way to organize text data in pipelines.

Types of Sort Processes

Command Process: The sort operation is invoked from cmd.exe or PowerShell
Input Stream: Reads lines from a file or standard input
Output Stream: Writes sorted lines to stdout or a file
Batch Script Hybrid: Often used inside batch scripts for automation

Is sort.exe Safe?

Yes, sort.exe is safe when it’s the legitimate Windows binary located in the System32/SysWOW64 directories and not replaced by malware.

Is sort.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real sort.exe is not a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names; verify the path and digital signature.

How to Tell if sort.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Windows\System32\sort.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sort.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click sort.exe in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "Microsoft Corporation" or "Microsoft Windows".
Resource Usage: Normal usage is minimal; CPU near 0-2% and small memory footprint. Constant high usage may indicate tampering.
Behavior: Sort.exe should only run when invoked by cmd/PowerShell or a script. Hidden or background execution without user action is suspicious.

Red Flags: If sort.exe is found in non-standard folders (e.g., AppData, Temp) or lacks a valid Microsoft signature, scan with antivirus and verify startups and scheduled tasks.

Why Is sort.exe Running on My PC?

sort.exe runs when you explicitly invoke the Windows sort utility or when a batch/script calls it to organize data. It may also be launched by automation tasks that read and process text.

Reasons it's running:

Active Command Use: You or a script are actively sorting lines from a file or input stream.
Batch Scripts: A scheduled task or batch file runs sort.exe to pre-process log files or reports.
Pipelines and Redirection: Sort is used as part of a data pipeline (pipe input/output) in the command line.
Automation Tools: System maintenance or monitoring tools invoke sort.exe to organize textual data.
Misconfigured Tasks: A misconfigured startup or script may repeatedly launch sort.exe for data sorting tasks.

Can I Disable or Remove sort.exe?

NO - sort.exe is a built-in Windows utility; you cannot uninstall it from the OS. You can avoid invoking it or remove scripts that call it, and disable automatic scripts or startup tasks that trigger it.

How to Stop sort.exe

Close active shells: Close the Command Prompt or PowerShell window running sort.exe
Terminate process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate sort.exe, right-click End Task
Review startup tasks: Task Scheduler or Startup folder – disable tasks invoking sort.exe
Check scripts: Search for sort.exe in batch scripts and remove or modify to avoid sorting operations
System-wide settings: Ensure PATH or environment does not override built-in behavior to run custom sort utilities

How to Uninstall Windows Components (Note)

✔ This utility is part of the Windows OS; it cannot be uninstalled separately.
✔ You can disable or avoid using it in scripts and batch processes.

Common Problems: Sorting Issues and Resource Use

If sort.exe is giving unexpected results or consuming resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Unexpected input format: Ensure input is plain text with newline separators; use proper redirection to feed correct data into sort.exe
Script returns unsorted results: Check quotes, encoding, and locale; ensure the script passes correct input and captures output correctly
High CPU or memory usage: If multiple sort operations run in parallel, close extra shells or limit concurrent jobs
Non-deterministic sort due to locale: Set the system locale or use a specific collation routine in the script
Output redirection issues: Verify redirection targets exist and have write permissions; use full paths for output files
Corrupted source file: Check the input file integrity; run a quick checksum before sorting

Quick Fixes:
1. Open a command prompt and run sort.exe with proper redirection, e.g., sort.exe < input.txt > sorted.txt
2. Verify encoding of input is ASCII/UTF-8 to avoid mis-sorts
3. Limit input size by processing smaller chunks
4. Check for malicious scripts invoking sort.exe
5. Update Windows to ensure system tools are intact

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sort.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate sort.exe from Microsoft is a safe Windows utility. Check that it’s located in C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and has a valid signature.

Where is sort.exe located?

The legitimate file is usually at C:\Windows\System32\sort.exe (or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sort.exe on 64-bit systems). Any other path is suspicious.

How do I use sort.exe?

From a command prompt, you can sort a file alphabetically with: sort.exe < input.txt > output.txt. Use pipes and additional switches for advanced behavior.

Why is sort.exe using CPU?

Usually due to sorting large inputs, intense pipelines, or many parallel sort operations. Check active processes in Task Manager and review scripts invoking sort.exe.

Can sort.exe be disabled?

Not globally; sort.exe is a built-in Windows utility. You can avoid invoking it or remove scripts that call it, and disable related startup tasks.

Does sort.exe affect performance or compatibility?

Sorting small text files has negligible impact. For large datasets, consider alternative tools or break data into chunks to maintain performance.