The genuine ie4uinit.exe file is a software component of Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation. "Ie4uinit.exe" is a Microsoft utility program having both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The version matching the machine resides in "C:\Windows\System32". On 64-bit machines the 32-bit version is also run from "C:\Windows\SysWOW64". Called the "Internet Explorer Per-User Initialization Utility," it performs operations on the Icon Cache Database, a hidden ".db"-type file in the "%userprofile%\AppData\Local" subdirectory, determined by command-line switches including "-BaseSettings", "-UserIconConfig", "-ClearIconCache", or "-Reinstall." (In Win10 its switches differ.) The Icon Cache retains copies of icons being used by Windows or IE to avoid repeatedly redrawing them. Most often "ie4uinit.exe" runs during Active Setup, where Windows detects at user login whether a user's profile lacks certain registry subkeys in the Current User (HKCU) hive that exist in the Local Machine (HKLM) hive, performs specific functions, and then puts those subkeys in HKCU to prevent repetition. This is an essential tool in enterprise installations with many endpoints.
ie4uinit stands for Internet Explorer (for) Each User Initialization
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 ie4uinit.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: The original ie4uinit.exe is an important part of Windows and rarely causes problems. The file ie4uinit.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 749,056 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 188,416 bytes or 176,128 bytes.
The file is a Windows system file. The program is not visible. Ie4uinit.exe is a Microsoft signed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 10% dangerous.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as ie4uinit.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the ie4uinit.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
One user thinks ie4uinit.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous.
Best practices for resolving ie4uinit issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with ie4uinit. 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 ie4uinit.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
One user thinks ie4uinit.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous.