The genuine SetupHost.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation.
"SetupHost.exe" by Microsoft is the "Modern Setup Host", part of upgrading to Windows 10 from an older Windows, or resetting or refreshing Windows 10 if already installed. Windows Update downloads it with the upgrade or refresh files into a hidden folder named "$Windows.~BT\Sources" created in the root directory of the hard drive. It executes from this hidden folder to apply the update or refresh files, segregating the previous version of Windows in "C:\Windows.old". This folder is only kept for 10 days. If "Windows.old" already exists, it becomes "Windows.old.001" or ".002", (etc.). High CPU usage by "SetupHost.exe" may mean it needs more free hard drive space.
SetupHost stands for Modern Setup Host
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 SetupHost.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.
The process known as Modern Setup Host belongs to software Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com).
Description: SetupHost.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. SetupHost.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\"—mostly C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\ or C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 827,576 bytes (26% of all occurrences), 818,400 bytes and 65 more variants.
SetupHost.exe is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. The file has a digital signature.
Therefore the technical security rating is 17% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Recommended: Identify SetupHost.exe related errors
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as SetupHost.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the SetupHost.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.
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with SetupHost. 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 SetupHost.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.
utility.exe ibsvc.exe amigo.exe SetupHost.exe boottime.exe sttray.exe foxitconnectedpdfservice.exe ipodservice.exe dsaservice.exe opera_autoupdate.exe aisuite3.exe [all]
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Summary: Average user rating of SetupHost.exe: based on 19 votes with 14 user comments. 11 users think SetupHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user suspects danger. One user thinks SetupHost.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it. 2 users don't grade SetupHost.exe ("not sure about it").