It is typically used as a "last resort" when:
: It is available at support.fortinet.com under Firmware Images > FortiClient . You must navigate to the version folder corresponding to your installed software (e.g., v7.00 > 7.2) and download the FortiClientTools.zip .
You are migrating from FortiClient to another EDR solution. The new antivirus cannot install because FortiClient drivers are loading at boot. Exclusive mode, run from Safe Mode, removes the conflicting drivers permanently. forticlient fcremoveexe exclusive
Always use the version of FCRemove.exe that corresponds precisely with the major and minor version of the installed FortiClient agent (e.g., use 7.2.x tools for a 7.2.x client).
Unlike the standard Windows "Add/Remove Programs" feature, FCRemove wipes all FortiClient components, registry entries, and driver files. Forced Removal: It is typically used as a "last resort"
Once that exclusive lock was granted, no other process—not Windows Defender, not a new EDR agent, not even an administrator’s remote kill command—could read or modify that driver’s memory space. The system was still online. The user could still browse. But the eyes of every security tool were suddenly blindfolded.
Because FCRemove.exe possesses the exclusive power to strip away network security drivers, it should only be executed by authorized IT personnel. Acquiring the Tool The new antivirus cannot install because FortiClient drivers
Even with the exclusive removal tool, failures can occur. Here are the most frequent causes and their solutions: