The genuine NIHardwareService.exe file is a software component of Maschine by Native Instruments. The driver interface that manages communication between your computer and Native Instruments product, this application is required when using Maschine software. Maschine is a media production studio that includes an audio mixer, arranger, effects generator, and more. Without NIHardwareService, your Native Instruments hardware will not function properly. This application is known to take up large amounts of system resources. Founded in 1996 in Germany, Native Instruments produces both hardware and software for disc jockeys.
NIHardwareService stands for Native Instruments HardwareService
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the NIHardwareService.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: NIHardwareService.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. NIHardwareService.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files\Common Files"—for instance C:\Program Files\Common Files\Native Instruments\Hardware\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 5,352,960 bytes (14% of all occurrences), 13,179,660 bytes and 21 more variants.
It is a service (NIHardwareService) running invisible in the background. The service manages Native Instruments controller hardware. If this service is stopped, the hardware becomes unavailable.
The program has no visible window. It is not a Windows core file. The application can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. It is digitally signed.
Therefore the technical security rating is 23% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
It is possible to safely remove the program using the uninstall program of Visual C++ Redistributables (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program).
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as NIHardwareService.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the NIHardwareService.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
It's a service for managing Native Instruments Controller hardware. Nameless (further information)
Guitar Rig and other Native Instr. software Douchebag
NIHardwareService.exe is a necessary component to any musician who is running Native Instruments products. It does not cause problems with the operating system. Ironman2819 (further information)
I sold my Native Instruments keyboard and no longer own any NI hardware. I keep using their software sample libraries without issues. This process (NIHardwareService.exe) went immediatelly away by uninstalling "Native Instruments Controller Editor" from Programs and Features. Ross
Summary: Average user rating of NIHardwareService.exe:
based on 6 votes with 4 user comments.
2 users think NIHardwareService.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
One user thinks it's probably harmless.
3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
Best practices for resolving NIHardwareService issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with NIHardwareService. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the NIHardwareService.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
Nameless (further information)
Douchebag
Ironman2819 (further information)
Ross
Summary: Average user rating of NIHardwareService.exe: based on 6 votes with 4 user comments. 2 users think NIHardwareService.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's probably harmless. 3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.