# consent.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called consent, uac, user account control prompt

Windows, System Component

The User Account Control consent UI. It is the dimmed prompt that asks Yes or No, not the app that needed elevation.

## What you need to know

This is the UAC Yes/No window. The app that triggered it is a different process.

consent.exe draws the secure-desktop elevation prompt. Ending it cancels UAC. It does not uninstall the program that asked for admin.

- **Safe?**: Yes, in System32

  **Why did it appear?**: Something asked to elevate

  **Should I end it?**: The prompt dies. The app stays unelevated

Feex says

If consent.exe is on screen, I would read the publisher on the prompt. Ending consent is Cancel, not a malware scan.

## What is consent.exe?

consent.exe is the User Account Control consent executable. It appears on the secure desktop so other windows cannot click Yes for you.

## What does it do?

It shows the program name, publisher, and Yes / No. It is not SmartScreen reputation and it is not Windows Hello.

## Why is it running?

An installer, an admin tool, or a script requested elevation. A consent.exe that stays after you already clicked is stuck UI, not a second UAC service.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

System32 consent.exe is UAC. A consent.exe in AppData is using the name. The prompt publisher still matters more than the host filename.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe`

- Secure desktop prompt
- Triggered by elevation
- Not the elevated app itself

## Can I end it?

Same as clicking No

Ending consent.exe dismisses UAC. The requesting app stays without admin. That is fine if you did not mean to elevate.

## Can I remove it?

No

Do not delete consent.exe. Disabling UAC is a policy setting, not an Explorer delete.

## Should it start with Windows?

It starts when elevation is requested. It should not sit in Startup Apps.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Low while the dimmed desktop is up

  **Memory**: Small

  **Disk**: None

  **Network**: None

## File information

| Executable name        | consent.exe                     |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation           |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows     |

## Common problems

### UAC loop

An installer that relaunches itself will keep spawning consent.exe. Cancel the installer, not System32.

### People turn UAC off to stop consent

That removes the secure prompt for every elevate. Use a standard account if you want fewer prompts.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Read the program name on the prompt

That is the caller. consent.exe is only the dialog.

### Do not run a UAC "crack"

Those replace consent.exe. That is the opposite of safer.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | consent.exe    |
| ---------- | -------------- |
| Role       | UAC consent UI |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[CredentialUIBroker.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/credentialuibroker.exe)[winlogon.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/winlogon.exe)[What is a Windows process: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/what-is-a-windows-process)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Learn: UAC ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/)· Consent UI
- [Microsoft Support: Windows ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows)· Public support naming
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: consent.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/consent.exe/)

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