AdGuard

ApplicationAdGuard

Also called ad guard, adguard windows, adguard premium

AdGuardSecurity

A desktop HTTPS filtering app, not only a browser extension. The window is Adguard.exe. It is not uBlock Origin.

What you need to know

Adguard.exe is a desktop filter. uBlock Origin is an extension.

AdGuard for Windows can filter HTTPS for more than one browser. uBlock Origin cannot. An AV that also decrypts HTTPS can fight this cert. This is not Defender.

What is it?: Desktop HTTPS filter. Not only an extension
Same as uBlock?: No. uBlock is browser-only
Plus AV HTTPS scan?: Two decryptors can break sites

Feex says

If Adguard.exe is installed, I would treat it as a desktop filter, not uBlock. I would not stack it on another HTTPS-scanning antivirus without expecting cert warnings. I would not call it Windows Security.

What is AdGuard?

AdGuard for Windows is a desktop HTTPS filtering app. Adguard.exe is the process. uBlock Origin is an extension in the browser, not this exe.

If you have never used it

If you wanted system-wide filtering on Windows, this is AdGuard the desktop app, not uBlock Origin. Download it from adguard.com. Adguard.exe can decrypt HTTPS to filter outside one browser. uBlock Origin is a browser extension only. An antivirus HTTPS scan plus AdGuard is a second decryptor fight. This is not Windows Security.

What is it used for?

Filter apps, not only Chrome

The desktop app can see traffic from other programs. uBlock cannot.

HTTPS filtering

AdGuard installs a cert to read HTTPS. That is why some AV HTTPS scanners fight it.

Browser extension sibling

adguard.com also ships an extension. That extension is not Adguard.exe.

Who is it for?

People who want filtering outside one browser
Users who already run uBlock and wonder why they also have Adguard.exe
Anyone whose AV complains about a new root cert

Current status

Actively sold. This article is AdGuard for Windows, not only the extension.

How old is it?

AdGuard began in 2009. The Windows app is older than most "just install uBlock" advice. Current builds are AdGuard for Windows. The browser extension is a thinner sibling.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

AdGuard for Windows

Browser extension

AdGuard DNS (other product)

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 or Windows 11, per AdGuard for Windows
RAM	Light to moderate. HTTPS filtering adds CPU, not a huge RAM floor

Resource profile

CPU demand: HTTPS decrypt on new connections
Network demand: Filter lists update

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
Adguard.exe	Desktop filter. Not an extension-only process

Startup components

Adguard.exe can start with Windows so filtering is on before the browser.

File locations

Common AdGuard locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\AdGuard\

Common problems

Two HTTPS decryptors

AdGuard plus a suite that also scans HTTPS can break banking sites. Pick one decryptor.

People think uBlock is this exe

uBlock lives in the browser. Adguard.exe is a Windows install.

Getting unstuck

Install from adguard.com

A "AdGuard free 2026" host is not the vendor. uBlock is on the Chrome Web Store or addons.mozilla.org.

If a bank page fails, disable HTTPS filtering as a test

That toggle is in AdGuard. It is not a Windows certificate repair first step.

Do not add a second desktop filter

Two system filters fight. Keep uBlock in the browser or AdGuard on the desktop, not two decryptors.

Alternatives

uBlock Origin if you only need one browser. Windows Security if you meant antivirus. GlassWire if you wanted a network graph.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	adguard.com/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	adguard.com/support.html Vendor support
Official site	adguard.com/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

HTTPS filtering uses CPU on every new connection. That is the decrypt cost, not a GPU job.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

AdGuard official site · Vendor product page
AdGuard help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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