Handle is a utility that displays information about open handles for any process in the system. You can use it to see the programs that have a file open, or to see the object types and names of all the handles of a program.
Handle is targeted at searching for open file references, so if you do not specify any command-line parameters it will list the values of all the handles in the system that refer to open files and the names of the files. It also takes several parameters that modify this behavior.
When in search mode, Handle prints the process names and id's are listed on the left side and the names of the objects that had a match are on the right.
Publisher’s description
What is Handle?
Handle is a proprietary system utilitie program for Windows from Sysinternals.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit as Portable. The main installer is 747 KB. It runs without installation (portable).
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 699,160 times. Similar programs include AutoHotkey, Bazel and osquery.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Small download (747 KB)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No update for more than a year
In short: Handle is a system utilitie tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down.
Is Handle safe to download?
- The file is served by download.sysinternals.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
279AAF8ECCB6F79147F4DCC6BA091FB895C4CB8B199A0DD186A4C76BC519D2CD· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0Latest | October 26, 2022 | 747 KB | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP32-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.Handle -echoco install Handle -yProgram files (.exe): handle.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Sysinternals
- Category
- System utilities
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 5.0
- Released
- October 26, 2022
- Added to the catalogue
- October 14, 2023
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 699,160
- Website
- learn.microsoft.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.Sysinternals.Handle
- Chocolatey package
- Handle
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Handle free?
Handle is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Handle safe to download?
The download comes from download.sysinternals.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Handle with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Handle run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Can I use Handle without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to Handle?
AutoHotkey, Bazel, osquery, LocalSend and Simplenote. The alternatives page compares them.
