How To Run Windows Malware Removal Tool

Summary

The Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) helps remove malicious software from computers that are running any of the following operating systems:

Windows x
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2016
Windows 8.1
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows 7
Windows Server 2008

Microsoft releases the MSRT on a monthly cadency every bit office of Windows Update or as a standalone tool. Use this tool to discover and remove specific prevalent threats and reverse the changes they have made (run into covered malware families). For comprehensive malware detection and removal, consider using Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Condom Scanner.

This commodity contains data near how the tool differs from an antivirus or antimalware product, how you can download and run the tool, what happens when the tool finds malware, and tool release information. Information technology also includes information for the administrators and advanced users, including information about supported command-line switches.

More data

The MSRT does not supplant an antivirus product. It is strictly a post-infection removal tool. Therefore, we strongly recommend that yous install and use an up-to-date antivirus product.

The MSRT differs from an antivirus product in three important ways:

The tool removes malicious software from an already-infected computer. Antivirus products block malicious software from running on a computer. Information technology is significantly more than desirable to block malicious software from running on a computer than to remove it after infection.
The tool removes simply specific prevalent malicious software. Specific prevalent malicious software is a small subset of all the malicious software that exists today.
The tool focuses on the detection and removal of active malicious software. Active malicious software is malicious software that is currently running on the computer. The tool cannot remove malicious software that is non running. However, an antivirus product tin can perform this job.

For more data about how to protect your computer, become to the Microsoft Prophylactic & Security Centre website.

Note The MSRT focuses on the detection and removal of malicious software such every bit viruses, worms, and Trojan horses simply. It does not remove spyware.

You practice not have to disable or remove your antivirus program when y'all install the MSRT. Still, if prevalent, malicious software has infected your computer, the antivirus program may detect this malicious software and may forbid the removal tool from removing information technology when the removal tool runs. In this example, yous can apply your antivirus programme to remove the malicious software.

Because the MSRT does not contain a virus or a worm, the removal tool alone should not trigger your antivirus program. However, if malicious software infected the figurer before you installed an up-to-engagement antivirus program, your antivirus program may non find this malicious software until the tool tries to remove it.

The easiest way to download and run the MSRT is to turn on Automatic Updates. Turning on Automatic Updates guarantees that you lot receive the tool automatically. If you take Automatic Updates turned on, you take already been receiving new versions of this tool. The tool runs in Tranquility manner unless it finds an infection. If you have non been notified of an infection, no malicious software has been found that requires your attention.

Enabling automated updates

To plow on Automated Updates yourself, follow the steps in the post-obit table for the operating arrangement that your computer is running.

If your computer is running:	Follow these steps:
Windows ten	Select the Showtime button, then selectSettings > Update & security > Windows Update . If you want to cheque for updates manually, selectCheck for updates. Select Avant-garde options, and then underChoose how updates are installed, selectAutomatic (recommended). Note Windows 10 is a service. This ways that automatic updates are turned on by default and your PC ever has the latest and best features.
Windows 8.ane	Open up Windows Update past swiping in from the correct edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), selectSettings > Modify PC settings> Update and recovery> Windows Update. If you desire to cheque for updates manually, selectCheck now. SelectChoose how updates get installed, and and then netherImportant updates, selectInstall updates automatically (recommended). NetherRecommended updates, select theGive me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box. UnderMicrosoft Update, select theGive me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then selectUtilise.
Windows 7	Click Showtime , point to All Programs, and so click Windows Update. In the left pane, click Change settings. Click to select Install updates automatically (recommended). Under Recommended updates, click to select the Give me recommended updates the aforementioned way I receive of import updates check box, so click OK. If you are prompted for an authoritative countersign or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Get to step 3.

If your computer is running:

Follow these steps:

Windows ten

Select the Showtime button, then selectSettings > Update & security > Windows Update . If you want to cheque for updates manually, selectCheck for updates.
Select Avant-garde options, and then underChoose how updates are installed, selectAutomatic (recommended).

Note Windows 10 is a service. This ways that automatic updates are turned on by default and your PC ever has the latest and best features.

Windows 8.ane

Open up Windows Update past swiping in from the correct edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), selectSettings > Modify PC settings> Update and recovery> Windows Update. If you desire to cheque for updates manually, selectCheck now.
SelectChoose how updates get installed, and and then netherImportant updates, selectInstall updates automatically (recommended).
NetherRecommended updates, select theGive me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box.
UnderMicrosoft Update, select theGive me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then selectUtilise.

Windows 7

Click Showtime , point to All Programs, and so click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Change settings.
Click to select Install updates automatically (recommended).
Under Recommended updates, click to select the Give me recommended updates the aforementioned way I receive of import updates check box, so click OK. If you are prompted for an authoritative countersign or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Get to step 3.

Download the MSRT. You must take the Microsoft Software License Terms. The license terms are only displayed for the first time that y'all access Automatic Updates.

Notation Afterward yous have the old license terms, you tin receive future versions of the MSRT without beingness logged on to the computer as an ambassador.

The MSRT runs in Quiet mode. If it detects malicious software on your computer, the side by side time that you log on to your computer equally a computer administrator, a balloon appears in the notification surface area to make you aware of the detection.

Performing a total scan

If the tool finds malicious software, you may be prompted to perform a total scan. We recommend that y'all perform this scan. A full scan performs a quick browse and and so a full scan of the computer, regardless of whether malicious software is constitute during the quick scan. This scan tin can have several hours to complete considering it will scan all fixed and removable drives. However, mapped network drives are not scanned.

Removing malicious files

If malicious software has modified (infected) files on your estimator, the tool prompts y'all to remove the malicious software from those files. If the malicious software modified your browser settings, your homepage may exist changed automatically to a page that gives you lot directions on how to restore these settings.

You can clean specific files or all the infected files that the tool finds. Be aware that some data loss is possible during this procedure. Also, be enlightened that the tool may be unable to restore some files to the original, pre-infection state.

The removal tool may asking that y'all restart your estimator to complete the removal of some malicious software, or information technology may prompt you to perform transmission steps to complete the removal of the malicious software. To complete the removal, you should utilise an up-to-appointment antivirus product.

Reporting infection information to Microsoft The MSRT sends bones information to Microsoft if the tool detects malicious software or finds an error. This information will exist used for tracking virus prevalence. No identifiable personal information that is related to you or to the figurer is sent together with this study.

The MSRT does not use an installer. Typically, when you run the MSRT, information technology creates a randomly named temporary directory on the root drive of the computer. This directory contains several files, and it includes the Mrtstub.exe file. Most of the time, this folder is automatically deleted after the tool finishes running or after the next time that yous commencement the computer. However, this binder may not ever be automatically deleted. In these cases, you tin manually delete this binder, and this has no adverse effect on the figurer.

How to receive support

Help protect your computer that is running Windows from viruses and malware: Virus Solution and Security Center

Assistance installing updates: Support for Microsoft Update

Local back up according to your country: International Support.

Microsoft Download Center

You can manually download the MSRT from the Microsoft Download Center. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

For 32-bit x86-based systems:

Download icon Download the x86 MSRT parcel at present.

For 64-bit x64-based systems:

Download icon Download the x64 MSRT package at present.

Release Date: May 10, 2022.

For more data about how to download Microsoft support files, run across How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services.

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the near electric current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Deploying the MSRT in an enterprise surround

If you are an Information technology administrator who wants more information about how to deploy the tool in an enterprise environment, see Deploy Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool in an enterprise environment.

This commodity includes information about Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), Microsoft Software Update Services (MSUS), and Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA).

Except where noted, the information in this section applies to all the ways that you can download and run the MSRT:

Microsoft Update
Windows Update
Automatic Updates
The Microsoft Download Center
The MSRT website on Microsoft.com

To run the MSRT, the following atmospheric condition are required:

The figurer must exist running a supported version of Windows.
You must log on to the computer by using an account that is a fellow member of the Administrators group. If your logon account does not have the required permissions, the tool exits. If the tool is not being run in serenity way, it displays a dialog box that describes the failure.
If the tool is more than than 215 days (7 months) out of engagement, the tool displays a dialog box that recommends that you download the latest version of the tool.

Support for command-line switches

The MSRT supports the post-obit control line switches.

Switch	Purpose
/Q or /tranquillity	Uses quiet mode. This pick suppresses the user interface of the tool.
/?	Displays a dialog box that lists the command-line switches.
/Northward	Runs in detect-only way. In this mode, malicious software volition be reported to the user, merely it will not be removed.
/F	Forces an extended browse of the computer.
/F:Y	Forces an extended scan of the computer and automatically cleans any infections that are plant.

Usage and release information

When yous download the tool from Microsoft Update or from Automatic Updates, and no malicious software is detected on the reckoner, the tool will run in quiet mode next time. If malicious software is detected on the computer, the next time that an administrator logs on to the computer, a balloon will appear in the notification surface area to notify you of the detection. For more information near the detection, click the balloon.

When you lot download the tool from the Microsoft Download Heart, the tool displays a user interface when it runs. Withal, if you supply the /Q control-line switch, it runs in tranquillity mode.

Release information

The MSRT is released on the 2d Tuesday of each month. Each release of the tool helps detect and remove current, prevalent malicious software. This malicious software includes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Microsoft uses several metrics to determine the prevalence of a malicious software family and the damage that tin exist associated with it.

This Microsoft Cognition Base commodity will be updated with information for each release then that the number of the relevant article remains the same. The proper name of the file will be changed to reverberate the tool version. For case, the file proper name of the Feb 2020 version is Windows-KB890830-V5.80.exe, and the file name of the May 2020 version is Windows-KB890830-V5.82-ENU.exe.

The following table lists the malicious software that the tool tin can remove. The tool tin also remove any known variants at the time of release. The table also lists the version of the tool that commencement included detection and removal for the malicious software family.

Reporting component

The MSRT sends information to Microsoft if it detects malicious software or finds an error. The specific information that is sent to Microsoft consists of the following items:

The name of the malicious software that is detected
The result of malicious software removal
The operating system version
The operating organization locale
The processor architecture
The version number of the tool
An indicator that notes whether the tool is being run by Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Automatic Updates, the Download Centre, or from the website
An anonymous GUID
A cryptographic i-way hash (MD5) of the path and file proper name of each malicious software file that is removed from the computer

If apparently malicious software is constitute on the computer, the tool prompts you to send information to Microsoft beyond what is listed here. Y'all are prompted in each of these instances, and this information is sent only with your consent. The additional information includes the following:

The files that are suspected to exist malicious software. The tool volition identify the files for you.
A cryptographic one-style hash (MD5) of any suspicious files that are detected.

You can disable the reporting characteristic. For information almost how to disable the reporting component and how to foreclose this tool from sending data to Microsoft, see Deploy Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool in an enterprise environment.

Possible scanning results

Afterward the tool runs, in that location are 4 main results that the removal tool tin can report to the user:

No infection was constitute.
At least one infection was plant and was removed.
An infection was found but was not removed.

Note This result is displayed if suspicious files were plant on the reckoner. To help remove these files, y'all should utilize an upwardly-to-appointment antivirus product.
An infection was institute and was partially removed.

Note To complete this removal, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product.

Frequently asked questions most the MSRT

A3: Yes. Per the terms of this tool'south license terms, the tool can exist redistributed. All the same, make sure that you are redistributing the latest version of the tool.

A4: If y'all are a Windows 7 user, use Microsoft Update or the Microsoft Update Automated Updates functionality to exam whether you are using the latest version of the tool. If you take chosen not to use Microsoft Update, and y'all are a Windows vii user, use Windows Update. Or, apply the Windows Update Automated Updates functionality to examination whether you are using the latest version of the tool. Additionally, y'all tin visit the Microsoft Download Center. Also, if the tool is more than 60 days out of date, the tool reminds you to await for a new version of the tool.

A5: No. The Microsoft Knowledge Base of operations article number for the tool volition remain as 890830 for hereafter versions of the tool. The file proper name of the tool when information technology is downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center will change with each release to reverberate the month and the year when that version of the tool was released.

A6: Currently, no. Malicious software that is targeted in the tool is based on metrics that rails the prevalence and harm of malicious software.

A8: Several scenarios may prevent yous from seeing the tool on Microsoft Update, Windows Update, or Automatic Updates:

If you have already run the current version of the tool from Windows Update, Microsoft Update, Automatic Updates, or from either of the other ii release mechanisms, information technology will not be reoffered on Windows Update or Automated Updates.
For Automatic Updates, the first time that you run the tool, you must exist logged on as a member of the Administrators group to accept the license terms.

A9: The tool is offered to all supported Windows and Windows Server versions that are listed in the "Summary" section if the post-obit conditions are truthful:

The users are running the latest version of Windows Update or Windows Update Automated Updates.
The users take non already run the electric current version of the tool.

A11: Yes. Fifty-fifty if there are no new security bulletins for a particular calendar month, the Malicious Software Removal Tool will be rereleased with detection and removal support for the latest prevalent malicious software.

A12: When you are offset offered the Malicious Software Removal Tool from Microsoft Update, Windows Update, or Automatic Updates, you can decline downloading and running the tool by declining the license terms. This action can utilize to only the current version of the tool or to both the current version of the tool and any future versions, depending on the options that you choose. If y'all have already accepted the license terms and prefer non to install the tool through Windows Update, clear the checkbox that corresponds to the tool in the Windows Update UI.

A13: If it is downloaded from Microsoft Update or from Windows Update, the tool runs but one time each month. To manually run the tool multiple times a month, download the tool from the Download Centre or by visiting the Microsoft Safety & Security Centre website.

For an online browse of your organization by using the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner, go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner website.

A14: Currently, the Malicious Software Removal Tool is not supported on a Windows Embedded computer.

A15: No. Unlike nearly previous cleaner tools that were produced by Microsoft, the MSRT has no security update prerequisites. However, we strongly recommend that you lot install all disquisitional updates before you use the tool, to assistance prevent reinfection by malicious software that takes reward of security vulnerabilities.

A18: Yes. You can apply the microsoft.public.security.virus newsgroup.

A19: In some cases, when specific viruses are found on a system, the cleaner tool tries to repair infected Windows system files. Although this action removes the malicious software from these files, it may also trigger the Windows File Protection feature. If you see the Windows File Protection window, nosotros strongly recommend that you follow the directions and insert your Microsoft Windows CD. This will restore the cleaned files to their original, pre-infection state.

A20: Yep, the tool is available in 24 languages.

A21: The tool does apply a file that is named Mrtstub.exe for certain operations. If you verify that the file is signed past Microsoft, the file is a legitimate component of the tool.

A22: Yeah. If y'all have run the MSRT before you start the computer to Safe mode, you can access MSRT at %windir%\system32\mrt.exe. Double-click the Mrt.exe file to run the MSRT, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/remove-specific-prevalent-malware-with-windows-malicious-software-removal-tool-kb890830-ba51b71f-39cd-cdec-73eb-61979b0661e0

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