nssm.exe Windows process - What is it?
By Iian Patterson
Archived: 2026-04-06 00:24:02 UTC
The genuine nssm.exe file is a software component of NSSM by .
Non-Sucking Service Manager is a service manager for Microsoft Windows. Nssm.exe launches the Non-Sucking
Service Manager program. This is not an essential Windows process and can be disabled if known to create
problems. NSSM is a free utility that manages background and foreground services and processes. The program
can be set to automatically restart failing services. The program also logs all progress in an Event Log, making it
easier to identify applications that aren't behaving as they should. Iian Patterson is a programmer that develops
Windows utility and networking programs such as Remoteactions, Logrotate, lnkedit, Layered Window,
Ofpsounds, NSSM service helper, and Kerberos.
NSSM stands for The Non-Sucking Service Manager launcher
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may in some cases harm your
computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the nssm.exe on your computer is a Trojan
that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted
application.
Click to Run a Free Scan for nssm.exe related errors
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Nssm.exe file information
Nssm.exe process in Windows Task Manager
https://www.file.net/process/nssm.exe.html
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Description: Nssm.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. Nssm.exe is located in a
subfolder of the user's profile folder or sometimes in a subfolder of the user's "Documents" folder—mostly
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\ or C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Host Service\. Known file
sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 294,912 bytes (98% of all occurrences), 338,944 bytes and 4 more variants.  
It runs as service clr_optimization_v1.02 in the background: Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN.
The program is not visible. It is not a Windows core file. There is no file information. Nssm.exe is able to monitor
applications. Therefore the technical security rating is 73% dangerous, but you should also take into account the
user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant: If problems with nssm.exe occur, you could remove the entire Host Service or HttpFilter
program using Windows Control Panel.
Recommended: Identify nssm.exe related errors
If nssm.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 51% dangerous. The file
size is 294,912 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 378,616 bytes and 33 more variants. The program is not
visible. The nssm.exe file is not a Windows system file. There is no information about the author of the
file. Nssm.exe is able to monitor applications.
Uninstalling this variant: If problems with nssm.exe occur, you could do the following:
  1) remove the entire NordVPN or myCANAL program using Windows Control Panel
  2) turn to the software developer, Nordvpn, for advice.
If nssm.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 45% dangerous. The file size is
324,608 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 294,912 bytes, 331,264 bytes or 394,240 bytes. It is not a
Windows system file. The program has no visible window. There is no description of the program.
Nssm.exe is able to monitor applications.
Uninstalling this variant: If problems with nssm.exe occur, you could do the following:
  1) remove the entire EaselLocal or QRMAgentService program using Windows Control Panel
  2) consult www.easel.com [1][2]’s Customer Service for advice
  3) search for an update on the vendor’s website.
If nssm.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 54% dangerous. The file size is
331,264 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 368,640 bytes, 207,360 bytes or 381,952 bytes.
If nssm.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 49% dangerous. The file size is
324,608 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 167,424 bytes or 229,376 bytes.
Important: Some malware also uses the file name nssm.exe, for example Trojan.Win64.NSSM.AGNT (detected by
TrendMicro), and Trojan.Win64.Agent.qwhvbo (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the
nssm.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your
computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Best practices for resolving nssm issues
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A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with nssm. This means running a scan for
malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer
need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always
remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before
the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your
problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your
installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to
repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain
intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the nssm.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful:
ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as
keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the
process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping
spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Other processes
sptd.sys acs.exe browser_assistant.exe nssm.exe wlidnsp.dll dirmngr.exe igfxhk.exe riconman.exe
service_update.exe mpcopyaccelerator.exe jqs.exe [show all]
 
Source: https://www.file.net/process/nssm.exe.html
https://www.file.net/process/nssm.exe.html
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