The genuine vmware-hostd.exe file is a software component of VMware Workstation by VMware. vmware-hostd is a common library for VMWare products. VMware software provides an entirely virtualised set of hardware to the guest operating system. VMware software virtualises the hardware for a video adapter, a network adapter, and hard disk adapters. The host provides pass-through drivers for guest USB, serial, and parallel devices. In this way, VMware virtual machines become highly portable between computers as every host looks nearly identical to the guest.
vmware-hostd stands for VirtualMachineWare-Hosted Workstation
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 vmware-hostd.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: Vmware-hostd.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. Vmware-hostd.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files (x86)" or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\ or in C:\—for instance C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 13,179,660 bytes (61% of all occurrences), 11,839,488 bytes and 10 more variants.
The process runs as service, and the service name is VMwareHostd: Remote access service for registration and management of virtual machines.
There is no information about the author of the file. The program is not visible. The file is not a Windows system file. The program can be uninstalled in the Control Panel. The process uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet. The file is digitally signed. Vmware-hostd.exe is a Verisign signed file.
Vmware-hostd.exe is able to monitor applications, connect to the Internet and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Therefore the technical security rating is 40% dangerous.
Uninstalling this variant:
You have the option to go to the support area [1][2] of the Vmware website or uninstall the associated program (Start > Control Panel > Uninstall a Program > VMware, Inc. or VMware Workstation).
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as vmware-hostd.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, for example PE_EXPIRO.SD (detected by TrendMicro), and Virus.Win32.Expiro.nr (detected by Kaspersky). Therefore, you should check the vmware-hostd.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
One user thinks vmware-hostd.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
Best practices for resolving vmware-hostd issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with vmware-hostd. 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 vmware-hostd.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
One user thinks vmware-hostd.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.