The genuine WUDFHost.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "WUDFHost.exe" is a Microsoft Windows core file found in "C:\Windows\System32", called the Windows User-mode Driver Framework Host. Drivers are programs that process the intricate aspects of control and communication between the OS kernel and the many different physical devices users connect with computers, such as keyboards, pointing devices, displays, speakers, and audio or video media devices. The User-Mode Driver Framework(UMDF) allows writing user-mode DLL drivers to handle certain I/O functions which the WUDFHost loads and executes, providing an underlying environment of interprocess communications, I/O dispatching, and thread pool management. User-mode driver errors do not corrupt the kernel address space, reducing system crashes. WUDFHost is always started by the driver manager service. The number of WUDFHost instances in use depends on the UMDF version and the OS version together. Before UMDF 1.11 and Windows 8.1, an instance exists for each device stack; newer versions have introduced "device pooling".
WUDFHost stands for Windows User-mode Driver Framework Hosting Process
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 WUDFHost.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 WUDFHost.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file WUDFHost.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 195,584 bytes (35% of all occurrences), 196,608 bytes and 8 more variants.
The program has no visible window. It is a Microsoft signed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 11% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
Is WUDFHost.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true WUDFHost.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Windows Driver Foundation".
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 for instance Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner!bit or HackTool:Win32/BCoinMine (detected by Microsoft), and Trojan.Win64.BitMin.aom or not-a-virus:RiskTool.Win32.BitCoinMiner.hzkc (detected by Kaspersky).
To ensure that no rogue WUDFHost.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants?
If WUDFHost.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 72% dangerous. The file size is 2,594,816 bytes (57% of all occurrences), 229,888 bytes, 1,490,432 bytes or 264,192 bytes.
The file is not a Windows core file. The program is not visible. The file is an unknown file in the Windows folder. The software has no file description. The process listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
If WUDFHost.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 75% dangerous. The file size is 122,880 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 2,594,816 bytes or 912,888 bytes.
The WUDFHost.exe file is not a Windows system file. The file is a file with no information about its developer. The software uses ports to connect to or from a LAN or the Internet. The program is not visible.
WUDFHost.exe is able to manipulate other programs.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as WUDFHost.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the WUDFHost.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
Windows Driver Foundation published by Microsoft. This was sending 1MB/s of data through the network on a Windows 10 laptop. I later realised it was because I was extending my display to a TV through the wireless Microsoft Display Adapter. Peter
Killed HDMI output of my NVIDIA video card to the monitors. Won't let me restore until it's gone. Ameer
Using Win8.1. Running windows media player while an external hard drive is connected can make this use up a ton of CPU (25%, or all of 1 of my 4 cores). Shutting down Windows Media Player immediately dropped it's cpu usage down to nothing. I assume it's just microsoft indexing all your drives without your permission as usual. WildBluntHickok
It is used in Win 10 for handheld devices (Mobile phones) in managed Windows Apps from Microsoft Store. Media file, MS Outlook and MS Office. I suggest to continue to monitor. DONG Eric
I get this whenever I connect a Sony Xperia M2 Smartphone. I am running Windows XP + SP3. Jim
I agree with the fact that this program is harmless. I does use a huge amount of CPU processing time at start up, but this should subside in about 2 to 3 min. I'm running an i5 Gaming system with 16 Gigs of memory, and all my CPU cores lit up for about 2 min, it's back to normal now only using about 1 to 0.5 % of CPU usage. I don't recommend deleting or stopping this process. Christopher John
Memory hogger Gokal
Shows up when I plug in USB devices, such as cellular phones. t1m
Summary: Average user rating of WUDFHost.exe:
based on 152 votes with 9 user comments.
96 users think WUDFHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
15 users think it's probably harmless.
21 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
8 users suspect danger.
12 users think WUDFHost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
30 users don't grade WUDFHost.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving WUDFHost issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with WUDFHost. 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 WUDFHost.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
Peter
Ameer
WildBluntHickok
DONG Eric
Jim
Christopher John
Gokal
t1m
(further information)
Summary: Average user rating of WUDFHost.exe: based on 152 votes with 9 user comments. 96 users think WUDFHost.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 15 users think it's probably harmless. 21 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 8 users suspect danger. 12 users think WUDFHost.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 30 users don't grade WUDFHost.exe ("not sure about it").