The genuine ShellExperienceHost.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "ShellExperienceHost.exe" is a valid Windows 10 core file, if its location is "C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ShellExperienceHost.exe". (The subfolder name's suffix is always "_cw5n1h2txyewy"; that is not an example.) In other locations under Windows 10, especially any subfolder of the user's profile folder, or appearing at all under Windows 8.1 or older, it is malware. Starting with Windows and running in the background, using additional ".dll" libraries in the same subfolder, it is responsible for presenting universal apps in a windowed interface, and gives Windows 10 its characteristic GUI features such as the Start Button and Start Menu, the Action Center, and flyouts for the clock, network connection and battery icons, and other taskbar elements. It also enables desktop wallpaper to use a slideshow, although it then may sometimes allocate several hundred MB of RAM at each image change and not release it. (Microsoft's updates have mended certain flaws over time.)
ShellExperienceHost stands for Windows ShellExperienceHost
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 ShellExperienceHost.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.
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ShellExperienceHost.exe file information
ShellExperienceHost.exe process in Windows Task Manager
Description: The original ShellExperienceHost.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file ShellExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows (for instance C:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 2,095,968 bytes (12% of all occurrences), 1,653,600 bytes and 84 more variants.
It is a Windows system file. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. The program is not visible. The file has a digital signature.
Therefore the technical security rating is 1% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
In case of any problems with ShellExperienceHost.exe, you can also do the following: 1) remove the entire Windows Shell Experience or Windows Shell-Oberfläche program using Windows Control Panel 2) contact www.microsoft.com Customer Service.
Is ShellExperienceHost.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true ShellExperienceHost.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Windows Shell Experience Host".
However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are e.g. Trojan.Gen.2 or Trojan.Gen (detected by Symantec), and Gen:Variant.Midie.41443 (detected by BitDefender).
To ensure that no rogue ShellExperienceHost.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants?
If ShellExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 72% dangerous. The file size is 2,973,184 bytes (30% of all occurrences), 1,056,768 bytes and 11 more variants.
The file is not a Windows system file. The program has no visible window. The application starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: Run, TaskScheduler, MACHINE\Run).
If ShellExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 79% dangerous. The file size is 5,915,136 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 2,968,064 bytes and 5 more variants.
The program has no visible window. ShellExperienceHost.exe is not a Windows system file. The program starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: Run, TaskScheduler, MACHINE\Run).
ShellExperienceHost.exe is able to monitor applications.
If ShellExperienceHost.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 92% dangerous. The file size is 864,768 bytes (25% of all occurrences), 38,912 bytes, 1,288,704 bytes or 2,970,112 bytes.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as ShellExperienceHost.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the ShellExperienceHost.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
some process not working if shutdown process.I think is a 3 party software created it, uicontrol.skypehost,host thread control suspended.Can figure out.Last software tried ThrottleStop.Uninstall problem crop up.BSOD on ba ttry mode.Other than that nothing much.Ah! Window Update have problem too.
makes disk drive whirr and click, no closing the program bob
it's annoying but it's part of windows 10 me
Would not let me restore my computer. Dumb as downloaded Reimage, and tricked as a pay solution after scan. shell experiencehost.exe pops up after restore from my F. drive. Now trying to uninstall this invisible program. Windows10 upgrade not working failed 100 times with oxc1900107 error code. Microsoft approved my dell inspiron 620 said ok download win 10 upgrade but DEll computer rejects it. Buy a new computer is the only suggestion. Denar Chartering
Integrated with Windows Virus (also known as Windows 10), hard to delete (protected registry keys) Mike
It is a system app and needs to be there for your system to work properly. not suggested to remove it. Ashish Bhatt
if you have this "seh.exe" and its a virus then it wont update, factory reset your pc muyie
Summary: Average user rating of ShellExperienceHost.exe:
based on 18 votes with 7 user comments.
6 users think ShellExperienceHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
5 users think it's probably harmless.
2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
2 users suspect danger.
3 users think ShellExperienceHost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
2 users don't grade ShellExperienceHost.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving ShellExperienceHost issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with ShellExperienceHost. 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 ShellExperienceHost.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
bob
me
Denar Chartering
Mike
Ashish Bhatt
muyie
Summary: Average user rating of ShellExperienceHost.exe: based on 18 votes with 7 user comments. 6 users think ShellExperienceHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 5 users think it's probably harmless. 2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 2 users suspect danger. 3 users think ShellExperienceHost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 2 users don't grade ShellExperienceHost.exe ("not sure about it").