Is dwm.exe Safe? Fix Desktop Window Manager Errors and High CPU Usage

“Is dwm.exe safe?” may be your first thinking if you open Windows Task Manager and see a process named dwm.exe running in the background. Perhaps you are wondering what on earth it is or does on your computer. This post will clarify any uncertainty about its presence on your computer.

Users of Windows who are not well-versed in processes frequently believe that dwm.exe is malicious. This is typically caused by problems with the File using a lot of resources and slowing down your computer. In order to assist you with queries like “Is dwm.exe safe?” and “What is dwm.exe?” as well as “Why is dwm.exe using CPU?” we have created this article. Discover the purpose of dwm.exe, the reason for its high CPU usage, and whether you should uninstall it from your computer.

Dwm.exe: What is it?

Desktop Window Manager, or DWM.exe, is a fundamental process that is closely linked to the File Explorer process. The.exe file suffix indicates that the File is executable. The Desktop Windows Manager is thus operated by Dwm.exe.

The original dwm.exe file, which is a Windows core system file created by Microsoft, is a crucial piece of software for Windows. The genuine dwm.exe file is an important software component of Microsoft Windows, and it is a Windows core system file by Microsoft. It is in charge of managing components like Windows Aero as well as other visual effects like Windows Flip and Windows Flip3D.

Because of this, the DWM process is a crucial component of your Windows operating system and ought to be active on your machine. This does not preclude the process from causing problems, degrading performance, or even harboring malware.

DWM.exe: What Does It Do?

Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is a program that manages and supports the graphical user interface (GUI) of various Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. DWM.exe’s primary responsibility is to enable hardware acceleration that supports the visual effects of Windows GUI.

The Visual effects that DWM.exe supports include:

The transparent or glass-like appearance.
The Flip3D Alt-tab windows switcher.
The rendering of each open window.

In addition, Desktop Window Manager can support other specific visual effects on desktops, such as Windows Flip, transparent windows, and live taskbar thumbnails.

Certain users have reported instances where the desktop window manager has a high CPU or memory usage. This is a frequent problem, particularly with Windows 10. Through the Control Panel, you can turn on or off the Desktop Window Manager.

DWM.exe File Information

Dwm.exe is a crucial component of File Explorer and the Windows operating system.

The file information of DWM.exe is as follows:

File Name (internal name): dwm.exe
Name of Product: Desktop Window Manager
Developer/Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7/XP
Location: subfolder C:\Windows\System32 folder
Known file size(s): 92,672 bytes or 81,920 bytes on Windows 10/8/7/XP.

Note: The dwm.exe is a digitally signed product by Microsoft, has no file information, and is not visible.

Is dmw.exe Virus?

Simply put, the DMW.exe file is not a virus. Simply put, DMW.exe file is not a virus. The true dmw.exe file is a safe software component from Microsoft and Windows system processes. It is the file executable for Desktop Window Manager.

But any good file might be infected with malware to disguise itself and evade detection.

For example, writers of malware programs deliberately give their processes the same file name to evade detection. Some Viruses have the same file name, such as Artemis! A29094FF4DC2 (detected by McAfee) and Backdoor: Win32/Capshaw.H. Microsoft also detected a Trojan with the same name as dmw.exe called TrojanDownloader: Win32/Deewomz.A.

In order to make sure that no harmful dwm.exe is running on your computer, it’s recommended to scan your system with reliable antivirus software. At SoftwareKeep, we offer a wide range of antivirus applications that can detect and eliminate any virtual threat that may harm your device.

How to check if dwm.exe is safe or a Virus?

You cannot be sure if the dwm.exe process running on your computer is a virus unless you find out. You can recognize whether the dwm.exe is a virus using the following steps:

Press the Win key + X key to open the Windows Quick Menu.
From the list, click Task Manager.
Under the processes tab, find the Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe)
Right-click on it > choose Open file location.
Check if the dwm.exe file is in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
1. If the File is located in the correct folder, then it isn’t a virus. Your device is safe.
2. If the File is located in a different folder, it’s malware. Proceed with caution and acquire antivirus software as soon as possible.
If it is in that folder, then it isn’t a virus. Otherwise, it is a virus if:

Alternatively, you can also scrutinize the dwm.exe file for malware infections under the following circumstances:

Suppose dwm.exe is located in a subfolder of the user’s profile folder. Malware posing as Windows processes will not be located in the correct “system32” folder. Make sure to thoroughly investigate the file location using the method above.
Suppose the file size is bigger than the average file size. File size helps you determine if the dwm.exe process running on your computer is a virus. The file size should be small, sometimes negligible. If it’s larger than the known file size, you need to scrutinize it more because it can be a virus.
Suppose the dwm.exe process is using a ton of resources. Malware, typically crypto-miners and Trojans, uses a lot of your computer’s resources after successfully infecting it. If the dwm.exe process is displaying high CPU or RAM, it may be a virus.

Why is dwm.exe Using a High CPU?

If the Desktop Windows Manager shows a high CPU or uses lots of memory, you may think it is a virus. While it’s a possible scenario, usually, it isn’t a virus.

Malware, temporary explorer bugs, bad drivers, a bug in 3rd party software, or even a nefarious mdi264.dll are known causes of dwm.exe using high CPU or memory.

The dwm.exe CPU usage increases as you open more Windows programs, sometimes using several megabytes, which is normal. If you notice the Desktop window manager’s high CPU after closing most programs, you may need to take action.

Can I Disable dwm.exe?

Although it is possible to disable dwm.exe in older versions of Windows, it is not recommended to delete or disable the File due to its importance to Windows systems.

If you’re concerned about the amount of memory the dwm.exe process is using or want to optimize your computer’s performance, you can disable it.

If you are using Windows Vista, you could disable dwm.exe, which will, in turn, turn off all the Windows visual effects (in Windows Vista. The process, however, becomes a more integral part of Windows, beginning with Windows 7, and disabling it on any OS beginning with Windows 7 can affect your graphical user interface.

How to Disable DWM.exe on Windows Vista or 7

If you need to disable dwm.exe on Windows Vista or 7, follow these steps:

To open the Windows Start menu, please click on the “Start” button located at the bottom left corner of your screen.
Type services > click the Services app.
In the Services window, locate and double-click Desktop Windows Manager.
In the Desktop Windows Manager window, click Stop to disable the service.
If you want dwm.exe never to start when Windows loads, change the Startup type option from Automatic to Disabled. Use the following steps:
1. Click the Start Menu > Type services.msc.
2. In the list of items, click the Services program.
3. In the services management window, Right-Click Desktop Window Manager > Click Properties > go to the General tab.
4. Now, under Startup, Select Disabled, and underneath that, Click Stop.
5. To finish, click OK.

Note: If you decided to disable dwm.exe, you’d discover that it also disables all Windows themes. The traditional Windows design is for certain folks, but for most, it’s a touch dreary. If you wish to roll back or enable dwm.exe, go back into services.msc and adjust the starting type to Automatic.

How to Remove dwm.exe Windows 10

To remove dwm.exe from your computer, carry out the following actions one by one:

Note: If dwm.exe was a component of the software that was installed on your computer, it will be removed during this process.

There will be an uninstall program for the File if it is a component of a software package. Run the uninstaller located in the following directory:
1. C:Program Files > Microsoft Windows Operating System > Manager de ferestre desktop > Desktop Window Manager > dwm.exe_uninstall.ex.
If the dwm.exe was installed using the Windows Installer, follow this process to uninstall it:
1. Go to System Settings.
2. Open the Add Or Remove Programs Option.
3. Search for dwm.exe or the software name Manager de forestry desktop in the search bar.
4. To remove the program, simply click on it and select the “Uninstall Program” option.
5. This will remove the dwm.exe file from your computer.

Note that disabling dwm.exe also disables support for all Windows Vista themes, forcing you to use the classic theme. If you want to revert, you’ll need to re-enable dwm.exe by going back into Services and setting the startup type to Automatic.

If dmw.exe was using high memory and causing a PC slowdown, removing it can help improve your PC speed.

How to Fix dwm.exe Error and High CPU Usage on Windows 10

Disabling the dwm.exe service is not recommended or possible on systems released after Windows Vista. Because of this, troubleshooting errors and high resource usage related to the process require different methods.

The procedures below will help you fix dwm.exe using a high CPU or high memory. Some methods may require you to have administrative permissions to perform them.

1] Scan your Computer for Malware

If dwm.exe is using high CPU power or memory, it might be due to malware such as computer viruses, hidden crypto-currency miners, and spyware. In this case, you must use an antivirus application to scan your device and detect threats.

First, scan your computer using the built-in Windows Defender application on Windows 10.

Press Windows Key + I.
Select Updates & Security.
Click Windows security.
Click the Virus & Threat Protection option.
Now, click Scan options under Quick Scan.
Select Full Scan.

Click Scan now.
Wait for Windows Defender to finish scanning your computer. If any threats are detected, you’ll be presented with the choice to take action.

You may also want to scan your computer using a good quality, premium antivirus application. After first scanning your PC using Windows Defender, use third-party antivirus software to conduct a full PC scan.

Read our Best antivirus software for Windows 10 article to help you decide which antivirus app is best for your unique needs.

You may need to scan your computer using a quality antivirus. You can first scan your PC using Windows Defender, then use a third-party AV software, such as Malwarebytes, to conduct a full PC scan.

2] Restart the explorer.exe process

Restarting the explorer.exe is a simple workaround to help stop dwm.exe using high RAM.

Use the following steps to restart explorer.exe:

Right-click Windows Start to open Quick Menu.
Select Task Manager.
Go to the Details tab.
Locate explorer.exe > right-click it > choose End Task.
Now go to File> Run a new task.

Enter Explorer and click OK.

3] Update display adapters Drivers

If dwm.exe is using high RAM or CPU, updating display drivers can help sort the issue.

Use the following procedure to update graphics drivers:

Press the Win key + X to open the Quick Menu.
Select Device Manager.
Locate and expand Display adapters > then right-click your video driver.
Now, choose Update Driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

Please wait until the update process finishes, and then restart your computer.

4] Adjust Performance Options

It’s possible that your PC’s current performance settings affect the DWM. You can adjust your performance options to fix the DWM high CPU error using the following steps:

Press Wins Key + S > type performance in the search box.
To adjust the appearance and performance of your Windows, please click on the “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” option.
In the Performance Options window, go to the Visual Effects tab.
Now, check to Adjust for best performance.

Once you have made the necessary changes, click on Apply and then on OK. Finally, restart your computer to complete the process.

5] Run SFC and DISM scans

If all those procedures fail to fix the dwm.exe error, you can run the SFC utility scan to repair damaged or missing system files.

To run the SFC and DISM scan, follow these steps:

Press Wins Key + S > type cmd to open the command prompt.
On the command prompt app, click Run as administrator.
To perform a system file check, please follow the instructions below:
1. Type “sfc /scannow” (without quotes) in the Command Prompt window.
2. Press Enter on your keyboard.

The Scan may take some time to complete and will notify you of any issues it finds with your system files.
Wait for the process to finish (it could take a while).
Now, type the following commands (press Enter after each command);
1. DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth,
2. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

Wait for the process to complete (it could take several minutes).
Give your computer a restart.

Last Words

We believe that you now have important information about the dwm.exe file. You now know it’s safe but not fully because it can be infected by malware. Not entirely because it can be infected by malware, in addition, when you see dwm.exe utilizing excessive CPU, you can use these specific procedures to fix the error.

One More Item

If you require further assistance with Windows or any Windows programs, please feel free to contact our customer care team. They are available 24/7 to assist you with any queries you may have. Additionally, you can always come back to our help center for more informative articles related to productivity and modern-day technology.

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Written by:

Marianne R.

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