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What’s mct.exe (Windows 11 Setup)? Is it safe or a virus?

The *mct.exe* tool, associated with Microsoft Corporation and described as "Windows 11 Setup," refers to the Media Creation Tool. It is used to facilitate the installation or upgrade to Windows 11 on a compatible PC. The utility helps users create a bootable USB drive or ISO file for clean installations and allows direct upgrades to Windows 11 from their current operating system. This tool verifies system compatibility, downloads the necessary installation files, and guides users through the setup process.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

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A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.

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More about mct.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes mct.exe (Windows 11 Setup)?

We’ve found Microsoft Corporation should be the publisher of mct.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: September 30, 2025

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Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

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