The genuine ApMsgFwd.exe file is a software component of Alps Pointing-device by Alps Electric Co.. ApMsgFwd.exe is an executable file that runs the device drivers for touchpads manufactured by Alps. These drivers are usually preinstalled on laptops. Terminating the process may result in problems with using the laptop touchpad.
Alps Electric Co. is a Japanese company that manufactures electronics. The company was founded in 1948 as Kataoka Electric Co. The company has produced over 40,000 kinds of electronic components for thousands of device manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba and Dell. Alps Electric has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
ApMsgFwd stands for Alps Message Forwarding Service
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 ApMsgFwd.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: ApMsgFwd.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. The file ApMsgFwd.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" or sometimes in a subfolder of the user's profile folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\DellTPad\ or C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 66,856 bytes (22% of all occurrences), 50,736 bytes and 51 more variants.
The program is not visible. ApMsgFwd.exe is a Verisign signed file. The ApMsgFwd.exe file is digitally signed. The file is not a Windows core file. ApMsgFwd.exe is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
ApMsgFwd.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Therefore the technical security rating is 4% dangerous; however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case of any problems with ApMsgFwd.exe, you may also want to uninstall Dell Touchpad or ALPS Touch Pad Driver software via Windows Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows 10/8/7).
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as ApMsgFwd.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the ApMsgFwd.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.
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User Comments
It has something to do with Alps Touchpad, which are included in some(atleast in my) dell laptop. NickBomb
File for the touchpad on most laptops.Alps Pointing Device (mine is a Sony VAIO laptop) Really smart girl - lol
Seems to Context thrash on Windows 7 32 bit.
size of exe checks out 50 736 George Hewitt
I would like to know if this program could be used as a spy program to detect what was typed on the keyboard Marin
well obviously if it is verisigned and a microsoft signed file that means it passed microsofts WHQL or windows hardware quality labs tests then it is safe for one and for two it is for the touchpad/mouse on laptops m.a.
After Avast updates to the latest edition, it started to give alarm on ApMsgFwd.exe. I've upload file to virustotal.com, nothing showns up. Thinks that it is a false positive. John
yeah it is from touch pad as mine is a dell one saurabh
It is on my dell lattitude which has an Alps touchpad. It does thrash in Win 7 ... darius
Verisigned file for alps touchpad john
It uses up a lot of resourses in this Dell Lappy. Rick
Using Win7 32bit on my Sony Vaio VGN-SZ330P it seems to be needed for the touch pad. But this is obviously a back door. Windows is such a piece of crap and Sony is too for not supporting upgrades beyond 5 years. Dawg
For touchpad. Without it your touchpad does not work on your laptop. Hell Angels (further information)
I agree that it comes with Dell laptops and that it's related to the touchpad, but I stopped it along with two other Alps Touchpad processes and my touchpad is still working... Tom
I have a dell latitude series laptop and I got it pre-installed. I have read on kaspersky lab's forum that it is not a key logger. This is a proactive antivirus notification. Asad Ali
receiving conflict on port with lanmessenger, I tried to end the task and touchpad still working, im using hp laptop nanorobot
It's part of the touchpad driver on my Sony Vaio laptop. Vaio owner
Version dated 8/27/2014 has size of 72,496 bytes. The stated version in the file properties is 8.1.0.42. goodros_nemesis
ApMsgFwd is running on a Lenovo edge 15, with a Lenovo mouse, Kingston flashdrive, etc. No dell hardware is present... application is 72,496 bytes. it is using 642k of memory. its status is running. it is in C:\Program Files\Apoint2K. http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/Running_Processes/APoint2K_-_What_is_it.html says that Apoint2k is required by windows to communicate with the touchpad. John (further information)
safe and harmless Reyansh
It appears to be the root cause of AlpsTouchpad freezing momentarily and repeatedly. The pad doesn't respond to taps. Killing the process made the touchpad normal again. Dr Hook
Show all user comments
Summary: Average user rating of ApMsgFwd.exe:
based on 22 votes with 21 user comments.
10 users think ApMsgFwd.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
5 users think it's probably harmless.
5 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
2 users suspect danger.
3 users don't grade ApMsgFwd.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving ApMsgFwd issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with ApMsgFwd. 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 ApMsgFwd.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.
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User Comments
NickBomb
Really smart girl - lol
George Hewitt
Marin
m.a.
John
saurabh
darius
john
Rick
Dawg
Hell Angels (further information)
Tom
Asad Ali
nanorobot
Vaio owner
goodros_nemesis
John (further information)
Reyansh
Dr Hook
Summary: Average user rating of ApMsgFwd.exe: based on 22 votes with 21 user comments. 10 users think ApMsgFwd.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 5 users think it's probably harmless. 5 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 2 users suspect danger. 3 users don't grade ApMsgFwd.exe ("not sure about it").