The genuine backgroundtaskhost.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft's "backgroundTaskHost.exe" process is a component of the Microsoft Cortana virtual assistant. If this name is found in a subfolder of "C:\Programs" it is extremely dangerous malware, able to communicate through open ports with a LAN or the Internet. The normal program resides in "C:\Windows\System32" and acts as a Windows service, starting at Windows boot time and running in the background. Most of the Cortana component files found in "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy" are Dynamic Link Library (.DLL) files which must be loaded into memory by a host ".exe" program in order to execute. The most important is "Cortana.core.dll". Some users dislike Cortana's collection and storage of user activity data on Microsoft servers. It is sometimes suggested to disable Cortana, (which Microsoft makes more difficult with each Windows 10 update), by renaming "Cortana.core.dll" without the ".dll" suffix so that "backgroundTaskHost.exe" cannot load it.
BackgroundTaskHost stands for Cortana BackgroundTaskHost
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 backgroundtaskhost.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: Backgroundtaskhost.exe is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Backgroundtaskhost.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\Windows.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 17,760 bytes (24% of all occurrences), 17,720 bytes and 13 more variants.
Backgroundtaskhost.exe is a Windows system file. The program has no visible window. Backgroundtaskhost.exe is a Microsoft signed file. The file is digitally signed.
backgroundtaskhost.exe appears to be a compressed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 1% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case of any problems with backgroundtaskhost.exe, you can remove the entire program Microsoft Windows using Windows Control Panel or get help from the software vendor Microsoft.
If backgroundtaskhost.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 100% dangerous. The file size is 1,963,572 bytes.
The program has no visible window. The application listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet. Backgroundtaskhost.exe is not a Windows system file. The software has no file description.
backgroundtaskhost.exe appears to be a compressed file.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as backgroundtaskhost.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the backgroundtaskhost.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
its taking up a lot of my internet for some reason. brian
its taking up a lot of my internet for some reason
C:\Windows\System32\backgroundTaskHost.exe lalit
It's been trying to connect to AWS hosted IP addresses that are identified by Mcafee as Risky/Phishing
The Snip and Sketch application requires backgroundtaskhost.exe to run.
royal pain that slows down booting my system. i never use cortana how can i eliminate cortana at startup steve
It’s the Cortana Windows AI virtual assistant. Arsham
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.
uploading my activity online Asaad
Has had more than 25 loaded instances in my TaskManager, all "inactive", all with "0kB" used memory, with no apparent reason what for.
Summary: Average user rating of backgroundtaskhost.exe:
based on 27 votes with 10 user comments.
11 users think backgroundtaskhost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
3 users think it's probably harmless.
6 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
2 users suspect danger.
5 users think backgroundtaskhost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
2 users don't grade backgroundtaskhost.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving backgroundtaskhost issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with backgroundtaskhost. 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 backgroundtaskhost.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
brian
lalit
steve
Arsham
Asaad
Summary: Average user rating of backgroundtaskhost.exe: based on 27 votes with 10 user comments. 11 users think backgroundtaskhost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 3 users think it's probably harmless. 6 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 2 users suspect danger. 5 users think backgroundtaskhost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 2 users don't grade backgroundtaskhost.exe ("not sure about it").