The genuine UI0Detect.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "UI0Detect.exe" is a Microsoft core system file in "C:\Windows\System32" called a "mitigation." Running as a service in Session 0, it detects if another service in Session 0 tries to show a User Interface (UI). In Windows XP and earlier, the console (user interaction) for the first user also ran in Session 0 and services could present a UI. In Vista and later, (including their Windows Server OS counterparts), all services run in Session 0 while the first user becomes Session 1. Services run in the background and should not require user input. If a service in Session 0 tries to interface with the user, UI0Detect shows a flashing icon button in the taskbar. If this is clicked, the UI0Detect dialog informs the user of the other service's UI and enables viewing it. This can also happen if an unhandled exception in a service makes it halt.
UI0Detect stands for User Interface in Session 0Detection
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 UI0Detect.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: UI0Detect.exe is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file UI0Detect.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 35,840 bytes (96% of all occurrences) or 37,376 bytes.
The process runs as service UI0Detect in the background. The service enables user notification of user input for interactive services, which enables access to dialogs created by interactive services when they appear.
The file is a Windows system file. UI0Detect.exe is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. The program has no visible window.
UI0Detect.exe is able to monitor applications.
Therefore the technical security rating is 3% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as UI0Detect.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the UI0Detect.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
ui0detect.exe is a process from Vista Interactive Services Detection Service by Micorsoft and part of Windows Vista Mary
After multiple W7 installs, it only now appears. THEREFORE, it can't be essential. And if not essential, it's suspicious.
Interactive Services Detection is a mitigation for legacy applications (prior to Vista) that detects if a service is trying to interact with the desktop (not allowed in vista, 7, etc.). This is handled by the Interactive Services Detection (UI0Detect) service. When you choose “View the message”, you are taken to session 0’s desktop (UI in Vista is session 1) and you can only interact with the dialog or message that services have tried to display on the desktop. This indicates a problem that needs to be fixed (infection, legacy service, etc.). DDRAMbo (further information)
For the ignorant who thinks essential programs make themselves visible all the time, please read up on how this works. Entirely harmless. It isn't related to any errors so the "Best Practice" is simply a cookie cutter for something that doesn't need a solution
I keep an avid eye on background running apps, this one just appeared in the past 24hours after uninstalling KB3068708. IMO this is very shady and I do not trust it. Zathras
it is annoying when it pops up, but harmless in that it is not malware. It just recently started popping up but is rare enough so as not to be too bothersome to me. Randy (further information)
Shows up as a running exe in HiJackThis but not in my process manager. Still appears legit, from what I can tell.
UI0Detect.exe is a legit windows process allowing you to interact with services that require user interaction. there is nothing to worry about here. its not essential though E
Summary: Average user rating of UI0Detect.exe:
based on 19 votes with 8 user comments.
3 users think UI0Detect.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
3 users think it's probably harmless.
9 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
3 users suspect danger.
One user thinks UI0Detect.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
Best practices for resolving UI0Detect issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with UI0Detect. 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 UI0Detect.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
Mary
DDRAMbo (further information)
Zathras
Randy (further information)
E
Summary: Average user rating of UI0Detect.exe: based on 19 votes with 8 user comments. 3 users think UI0Detect.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 3 users think it's probably harmless. 9 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 3 users suspect danger. One user thinks UI0Detect.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.