Commwatch.exe

The executable runs silently in the background. It uses Windows API calls to monitor serial ports (COM1, COM2, etc.). When a legacy application (like a fax software or dial-up networking) attempts to access the modem, commwatch.exe mediates the handshake. It ensures the modem is powered on, sets the correct baud rate, and passes the data stream.

If you want to keep using SoftEther VPN and commwatch.exe but you are experiencing crashes or high resource usage, try these fixes:

Legitimate commwatch.exe should live in a specific folder. Here’s how to check: commwatch.exe

Safe path (typical):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Sierra Wireless Inc\Common\commwatch.exe

or

C:\Program Files\Sierra Wireless Inc\Common\

Red flags (possible malware):

If you observe any of the following, run a full antivirus scan immediately: The executable runs silently in the background

Note: Some lesser-known antivirus engines may flag the genuine commwatch.exe as a "Potentially Unwanted Program" (PUP) because it can be used to bypass network restrictions. This is often a false positive.

Cause: The process hangs while trying to close network connections. Windows waits for it to release handles, leading to a "Waiting for background programs to close" message. or C:\Program Files\Sierra Wireless Inc\Common\

If uninstallers fail, follow these steps:

sc delete SEVPNCOMMWATCH

In its legitimate form, commwatch.exe is lightweight: