Microsoft Windows EXE qwinsta.exe

Qwinsta.exe Runtime Errors: Download and Troubleshoot

Last Updated: 12/05/2024
[Average Read Time: 4.5 minutes]

qwinsta.exe, also known as a Query Session Utility file, was created by Microsoft for the development of Microsoft® Windows® Operating System. EXE files fall under under the Win32 EXE (Executable application) file type category.

The first version of qwinsta.exe for Windows Vista was introduced on 11/08/2006 in Windows Vista. The most recent version [file version 10.0.15063.0 (WinBuild.160101.0800)] was introduced on 07/29/2015 for Windows 10. qwinsta.exe is packaged with Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.

In this article, you will find detailed qwinsta.exe information, a EXE file troubleshooting guide, and a list of versions that are available for free download.

File Analysis Provided by Jason Geater (Author)

File Overview

General Information ^✻
File Name:	qwinsta.exe
File Extension:	EXE file extension
Description:	Query Session Utility
Object File Type:	Executable application
File Operating System:	Windows NT 32-bit
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
User Popularity Rating:

Developer and Software Information
Software Developer:	Microsoft Corporation
Software Program:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Legal Copyright:	© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

File Details
Character Set:	Unicode
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
File Flags:	(none)
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
Entry Point:	0x4bf0
Code Size:	17408

View Other qwinsta.exe Information

File Info	Description
File Size:	24 kB
File Modification Date/Time:	2017:03:18 20:25:41+00:00
File Inode Change Date/Time:	2017:11:05 07:07:54+00:00
File Type:	Win32 EXE
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
Warning:	Possibly corrupt Version resource
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
Time Stamp:	2023:09:12 07:49:05+00:00
PE Type:	PE32
Linker Version:	14.10
Code Size:	17408
Initialized Data Size:	26624
Uninitialized Data Size:	0
Entry Point:	0x4bf0
OS Version:	10.0
Image Version:	10.0
Subsystem Version:	10.0
Subsystem:	Windows command line
File Version Number:	10.0.15063.0
Product Version Number:	10.0.15063.0
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
File Flags:	(none)
File OS:	Windows NT 32-bit
Object File Type:	Executable application
File Subtype:	0
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
Character Set:	Unicode
Company Name:	Microsoft Corporation
File Description:	Query Session Utility
File Version:	10.0.15063.0 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Internal Name:	qwinsta
Legal Copyright:	© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Original Filename:	qwinsta.exe
Product Name:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Product Version:	10.0.15063.0

^✻ Portions of file data provided by Exiftool (Phil Harvey) distributed under the Perl Artistic License.

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What are qwinsta.exe Error Messages?

qwinsta.exe Runtime Errors

Runtime errors are Windows errors that occur during "runtime". Runtime is pretty self-explanatory; it means that these EXE errors are triggered when qwinsta.exe is attempted to be loaded either when Windows is starting up, or in some cases already running. Runtime errors are the most common form of EXE error you will encounter using Windows.

In most cases, qwinsta.exe runtime errors occurring while the program is running will result in the program terminating abnormally. Most of these qwinsta.exe error messages mean that Windows was either unable to locate this file on startup, or the file is corrupt, resulting in a prematurely-aborted startup process. Generally, Windows will be unable to start without resolving these errors.

Some of the most common qwinsta.exe errors include:

qwinsta.exe - Bad Image.
qwinsta.exe Application Error.
qwinsta.exe could not be found.
qwinsta.exe could not be installed.
qwinsta.exe could not be launched. Class not registered.
qwinsta.exe could not be started.
qwinsta.exe failed to initialize properly.
qwinsta.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
qwinsta.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
qwinsta.exe is not running.
Cannot find qwinsta.exe.
Error starting program: qwinsta.exe.
Faulting Application Path: qwinsta.exe.
The file qwinsta.exe is missing or corrupt.
Windows failed to start - qwinsta.exe.

System Error

The program can’t start because qwinsta.exe is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

Finding the source of the qwinsta.exe error is key to properly resolving these errors. Although most of these EXE errors affecting qwinsta.exe will happen during startup, occasionally you will encounter a runtime error while using Microsoft® Windows® Operating System. This can occur due to poor programming on behalf of Microsoft Corporation, conflicts with other software or 3rd-party plug-ins, or caused by damaged and outdated hardware. Also, these types of qwinsta.exe errors can occur if it has been accidentally moved, deleted, or corrupted by a malware infection. Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

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How to Fix qwinsta.exe Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your qwinsta.exe issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

Step 1: Restore your PC back to the latest restore point, "snapshot", or backup image before error occurred.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
In the search results, find and click System Restore.
Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the qwinsta.exe error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

Step 2: Run SFC (System File Checker) to restore the corrupt or missing qwinsta.exe file.

System File Checker is a utility included with every Windows version that allows you scan and restore corrupted system files. Use the SFC tool to fix missing or corrupt qwinsta.exe files (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "cmd" but DO NOT PRESS "ENTER".
Press and hold "CTRL-Shift" on your keyboard while pressing "ENTER".
You'll be prompted with a permission dialog box.
In the box, click "YES".
You should have a black screen with a blinking cursor.
In that black screen, type "sfc /scannow" and hit "ENTER".
SFC will begin scanning for qwinsta.exe issues and any other system file problems.
Follow any on-screen commands to complete the process.

Please be aware that this scan might take a while, so please be patient while it is working.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

sfc /scannow

Step 3: Perform a Windows Update.

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many qwinsta.exe error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the qwinsta.exe error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

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If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your qwinsta.exe File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate qwinsta.exe file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free qwinsta.exe files for every applicable version of Windows. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download qwinsta.exe Files".
Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
Copy the file into the appropriate directory for your Windows version:

Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\
Windows XP: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows Vista: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 7: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 8: C:\Windows\System32\
Show 2 more directories +

Windows 8.1: C:\Windows\System32\
Windows 10: C:\Windows\System32\

Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

GEEK TIP : We must emphasize that reinstalling Windows will be a very time-consuming and advanced task to resolve qwinsta.exe problems. To avoid data loss, you must be sure that you have backed-up all of your important documents, pictures, software installers, and other personal data before beginning the process. If you are not currently backing up your data, you need to do so immediately.

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Download qwinsta.exe Files (Malware-Tested 100% Clean)

CAUTION : We strongly advise against downloading and copying qwinsta.exe to your appropriate Windows system directory. Microsoft typically does not release Windows EXE files for download because they are bundled together inside of a software installer. The installer's task is to ensure that all correct verifications have been made before installing and placing qwinsta.exe and all other EXE files for Windows. An incorrectly installed EXE file may create system instability and could cause your program or operating system to stop functioning altogether. Proceed with caution.

Windows 10

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

10.0.15063.0

10.0.15063.0 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 10
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	10.0.15063.0
File Version:	10.0.15063.0 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
File Size:	25088
File Date:	03/18/2017
MD5 Checksum:	bcd69f71127f20338bbfc46c5f59cf61
SHA1 Checksum:	f971a535fe21bc560ff15651dd868f02013acd55
SHA256 Checksum:	09273be7867de70e0439f2176689cc023d9681028f2b227005e5462508fd81ce
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	10.0
Initialized Data Size:	26624
Linker Version:	14.10
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	10.0
File Modification Date/Time:	03/18/2017

Windows XP

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

5.1.2600.0

5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)

32-bit (x32)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows XP
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	5.1.2600.0
File Version:	5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)
File Size:	22016
File Date:	04/14/2008
MD5 Checksum:	1317cb79629c34b5ff8260c297b09a1c
SHA1 Checksum:	4de1fb0d917d7067658652b731d39ad663ae0087
SHA256 Checksum:	3c82b77015cb1cbc0bebeacf77da216de1a8b11e3567eb49a3f50dce9d29f62e
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\ C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	5.1
Initialized Data Size:	26624
Linker Version:	7.0
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	4.0
File Modification Date/Time:	04/14/2008

Windows Vista

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

6.0.6001.18000

6.0.6001.18000 (longhorn_rtm.080118-1840)

32-bit (x32)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows Vista
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	6.0.6001.18000
File Version:	6.0.6001.18000 (longhorn_rtm.080118-1840)
File Size:	27648
File Date:	01/21/2008
MD5 Checksum:	053b0965eded128e33e5e6bba08928b8
SHA1 Checksum:	7d8a5a01516e53a2f72d9e1c12c79553815991c1
SHA256 Checksum:	1930b3a4ed74d936a434a10bed28b4597afba73a2bad07f9e0996919355fdddd
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win64 EXE
Image Version:	6.0
Initialized Data Size:	26112
Linker Version:	8.0
Machine Type:	AMD AMD64
PE Type:	PE32+
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.0
File Modification Date/Time:	01/21/2008

Windows 8.1

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

6.3.9600.17415

6.3.9600.17415 (winblue_r4.141028-1500)

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 8.1
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	6.3.9600.17415
File Version:	6.3.9600.17415 (winblue_r4.141028-1500)
File Size:	24576
File Date:	11/21/2014
MD5 Checksum:	e1897b83712dc560d57ba19d8a410c08
SHA1 Checksum:	d897d50c10ee6b1baa36aa46bd63157328a6f29d
SHA256 Checksum:	33e0694012804397159c9e4634dd749d497de5a47c6ddc805510edb2e7f222dc
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	6.3
Initialized Data Size:	26624
Linker Version:	11.0
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.3
File Modification Date/Time:	11/21/2014

Windows 8

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

6.2.9200.16384

6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 8
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	6.2.9200.16384
File Version:	6.2.9200.16384 (win8_rtm.120725-1247)
File Size:	25088
File Date:	07/26/2012
MD5 Checksum:	aabb1c6aa55c050d5d608b11334db4d9
SHA1 Checksum:	25b7cd6ba34248b14c5b88a28d4bc3b10d70519b
SHA256 Checksum:	7cf58e6ffed043c2217e3a48787a135ec195774afa588e5c13730f86b50f0681
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	6.2
Initialized Data Size:	27648
Linker Version:	10.10
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.2
File Modification Date/Time:	07/26/2012

Windows 7

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

qwinsta.exe

6.1.7600.16385

6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 7
Software:	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Software Version:	6.1.7600.16385
File Version:	6.1.7600.16385 (win7_rtm.090713-1255)
File Size:	28672
File Date:	07/14/2009
MD5 Checksum:	0caaca912fd84d8451d6cec78dcb0d13
SHA1 Checksum:	ff04529c75b30d47a3c87532bc80839789b10d29
SHA256 Checksum:	08e7e5f49e3e254e348f69e15ca72bec2dccd8540fc460030415491f67f7d499
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win64 EXE
Image Version:	6.1
Initialized Data Size:	27136
Linker Version:	9.0
Machine Type:	AMD AMD64
PE Type:	PE32+
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.1
File Modification Date/Time:	07/14/2009

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Files Related to qwinsta.exe

EXE Files Related to qwinsta.exe

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
SearchUI.exe	Search and Cortana application	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (10.0.15063.0)	7770016	C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\
mspaint.exe	Paint	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (6.0.6002.18005)	593408	C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\
wbemtest.exe	WMI	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (5.1.2600.5512)	116224	C:\Windows\inf\
WFS.exe	Microsoft Windows Fax and Scan	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (6.3.9600.17415)	806400	C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\
unlodctr.exe	Unload PerfMon Counters	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (6.0.6001.18000)	39936	C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\

Other Files Related to qwinsta.exe

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
OneX_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows Vista	5957	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
WWAN_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 10	6201	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
LAN_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 7	2241	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
LAN_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 8.1	2241	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
LAN_policy_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 10	3472	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\

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