Nowadays, getting malware and other malicious files on your device is very easy. Therefore, encountering an unknown program like ESN Sonar on your PC can be very distressing.
Of course, in such a situation, the first thing that comes to mind is uninstalling the application. But before you do so, knowing what it does and whether it is safe to have on your PC is a good idea.
Below is a detailed look at the application, its functions, and other things you should know before considering uninstallation.
What is ESN Sonar on PC, and what does it do?
ESN Sonar is an application designed by ESN (now called Uprise), a Swedish EA gaming studio. It is part of Battlelog, a web-based social networking service used to launch and manage Battlefield games.
The application is a cloud-hosted service that integrates voice communication on websites. This allows you to enjoy the voice chat feature when playing Battlefield games on your PC browser.
The application supports the VOIP service in Battlelog and offers other features, such as muting your PC’s microphone and speaker while playing your game.
How is the ESN Sonar application installed on your PC?
One of the things that bugs most people about ESN Sonar is that they have no idea how the application gets installed on their PCs. Instead, they notice it after launching the Battlefield games.
However, there is a simple explanation: the application is installed as part of the Battlelog web browser plugin. It will then launch on your PC whenever you play Battlefield via your browser.
Is ESN Sonar safe?
The application is not a virus, malware, or malicious. It is legitimate software developed and managed by a reputable company. Therefore, while it might be concerning to unexpectedly encounter it, having it on your PC is safe.
In fact, the application can be very handy if you often use the voice chat feature when playing Battlefield games with other users online.
Should you uninstall ESN Sonar from your PC?
Since it is a legitimate and safe application for your PC, there is no need to uninstall it, especially if you regularly play Battlefield on your PC.
That said, some users have raised concerns about the application, which might make you consider leaving it on your PC. These include:
1. The way ESN Sonar is installed
One of the top concerns many people have is that the application is installed automatically and by default (not as an option) when you download the Battlelog browser plugin.
On top of that, some users have complained about the application re-installing itself after deletion.
2. The permission ESN Sonar has over your PC
Another major concern about ESN Sonar is that the application is granted several advanced permissions over your computer’s system.
For example, it can take exclusive control over your PC’s microphone and speaker. When this happens, other programs with VOIP features (like Skype) are denied access to the microphone and speaker.
3. How ESN Sonar works
Another issue with the application is that it runs in the background and is active even when not using the voice chat feature on Battlefield games. As a result, some users have been concerned that the application could secretly eavesdrop on them.
4. The presence of applications with a similar name
One of the biggest concerns about ESN Sonar is that other applications go by the same name. Therefore, you might inadvertently install malicious software on your PC, which could harm your device.
You can uninstall the application from your PC if you share any of the above concerns.
NOTE: ESN Sonar is essential for the Battlelog platform. Therefore, if you uninstall it, you will experience VOIP issues when playing Battlefield over your PC browser.
So, you should only consider uninstalling the application if you no longer play Battlefield on your PC or don’t use the don’t chat feature.
How to uninstall ESN Sonar?
You can use the following methods to uninstall ESN Sonar from your PC:
1. Using the “Apps & Features” option on your PC
One of the top ways to uninstall ESN Sonar is by using the “Apps & Features” setting on your Windows PC. To do this:
- Press the Windows button (or click on the Windows icon) to bring up the Start menu.
- Select “Settings” and go to “Apps”.
- Look for the application in the list of installed programs/apps.
- Click on the application and choose “Uninstall”.
- Confirm the decision to uninstall the application. Windows will then launch the app uninstaller interface.
- Follow all the prompts on the uninstaller until the process is complete.
After uninstalling the app, restart your computer to allow the new changes to take effect.
2. Using the application’s uninstaller interface
You can delete ESN Sonar from your PC by manually launching its uninstaller interface. To do this:
- Go to the application’s installation directory on your PC (C:\Program Files\Battlelog Web Plugins\Sonar)
- Look for “esnsonar_unistall.exe” or a file with “uninstaller” on its name.
- Launch the uninstaller interface and follow all the prompts until the application is removed from your PC.
- Restart your computer to allow new changes to take effect.
3. By removing the Battlelog browser plugin
ESN Sonar is installed on your PC via the Battlefield browser plugin. Therefore, you can uninstall the application by deleting the plugin.
To do this:
- Launch the PC browser you use with Battlefield and go to the extensions panel.
- Click “Remove” under Battlelog and follow all the prompts until the plugin is removed from your browser.
- Restart your browser to ensure that the changes take effect.
NOTE: While you can uninstall ESN Sonar using the first two methods, the application will likely be re-installed if you launch Battlefield on your browser. Therefore, deleting the Battlelog plugin is the only way to remove the application from your PC for good.
