If you are looking for the answer to this question, then you are either just curious, or you stumbled over this process, which suddenly began to behave not quite civilly and consume too many resources of your computer. Like a dozen previous articles talking about Windows processes, this article will walk you through the details of the dwm.exe process, also known as the Windows Window Manager.
What is dwm.exe
Dwm.exe is the executable file of the Desktop Windows Manager process or simply "Windows Window Manager". From the name itself, you can understand that this process plays an important role in the work operating system and is directly related to Windows interfaces. Dwm.exe is an integral part of your computer and works always. The task of the process is to render the effects and beauties of the Windows interface: transparency, animations, thumbnails, tile effects, and so on. Moreover, dwm.exe is even responsible for supporting high resolution screens.
Applications on your computer "draw" their windows to a specific location in the computer's memory. Then Windows creates a "composition" of all these windows and then sends it as one picture to the monitor screen.
How to disable Windows Window Manager
Disabling this process is not worth it, and it cannot be disabled. Back in the days of Windows Vista, the Windows Window Manager was managed by a service that can be turned off. When turned off, the system lost all its visual beauty. In Windows 7, dwm.exe has become an integral part of Windows, vital for rendering the user interface. In Windows 8 and Windows 10, this integration has been enhanced.
Often, users tried to disable the Windows Window Manager in Vista because the interface, animations, transparency, and other design delights consumed too many resources and interfered with the normal operation of the computer. Fortunately, with the release of Windows 7, the Windows Window Manager began to work much more adequately and now loads less memory, processor and computer graphics. As a result, there is absolutely no need to try to disable dwm.exe.
Dwm.exe uses a lot of CPU
Windows Window Manager should not cause a headache to the user and under normal conditions, the load on the processor should not exceed a couple of tenths of a percent, and the amount of RAM should not increase above a couple of tens of megabytes. In very rare cases, the load may increase, but at the same time it very quickly returns to its standard indicators, which in no way affect the performance of your computer.
But there are cases when dwm.exe cannot calm down and for a long time the load on the processor, memory or graphics does not fall. In this case, it makes sense to try two things:
Make sure the graphics driver is properly installed and updated to the latest version. This is especially true for computers with integrated graphics. The Windows Window Manager shifts most of the processor work to the graphics, so a correctly and stably working driver is not the most important component.
Check your computer for viruses. Yes, it happens that some malware leads to a load on the hardware of the computer precisely by the dwm.exe process or the Windows Window Manager.
dwm.exe virus
The Windows Window Manager itself cannot be a virus, just like any other standard operating system process. This is an official component of Windows, so on a working computer it quietly performs its function and does not interfere with the user. Unlikely, but it can still happen that a virus or other malware begins to disguise itself as dwm.exe. You can check this in the traditional way for such cases.
All system processes are in most cases stored as executable exe files in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. You need to check the location of the system process that you suspect of bad actions. To do this, open the Task Manager, find the Windows Window Manager process and right-click on it. Select Open file location. The operating system should open File Explorer in the C:\Windows\System32 folder and highlight the file dwm.exe. If you have opened another folder, then you can state that the computer is infected with pests. Here already you will need an antivirus application, like the standard Windows Defender or any other third-party antivirus.
By opening the Task Manager, you can see the DWM.EXE process. Some users are panicking, assuming it might be a virus. Let's find out what DWM.EXE is responsible for and what it is.
It must be said right away that in the normal state the process we are studying is not a virus. DWM.EXE is a system process "Desktop Manager". Its specific functions will be discussed below.
To see DWM.EXE in the process list "Task Manager", call this tool by clicking Ctrl+Shift+Esc. After that, move to the tab "Processes". The list that opens should contain DWM.EXE. If there is no such element, then this means either that your operating system does not support this technology, or that the corresponding service is disabled on the computer.
Functions and tasks
"Desktop Manager", for which DWM.EXE is responsible, is a graphical shell system in Windows operating systems, starting with Windows Vista and ending with the latest version at the moment - Windows 10. However, in some version versions, for example in Windows 7 Starter, this element is missing. For DWM.EXE to function, the video card installed on the computer must support technologies not lower than the ninth DirectX.
Main tasks "Desktop Manager" is to ensure the operation of the Aero mode, support for window transparency, preview of the contents of windows and support for some graphic effects. It should be noted that this process is not critical to the system. That is, in the event of its forced or abnormal termination, the computer will continue to perform its tasks. Only the quality level of graphics display will change.
On normal non-server operating systems, only one DWM.EXE process can run. It runs as the current user.
Location of the executable file
Now let's find out where the DWM.EXE executable file is located, which initiates the process of the same name.
Disable DWM.EXE
DWM.EXE performs fairly complex graphical tasks and loads the system relatively heavily. On modern computers, however, this load is hardly noticeable, but on devices with low power, this process can significantly slow down the system. Considering that, as mentioned above, stopping DWM.EXE does not have critical consequences, in such cases it makes sense to turn it off to free up PC power in order to direct them to other tasks.
However, you may not even completely disable the process, but only reduce the load coming from it on the system. To do this, you just need to switch from Aero mode to classic. Let's see how to do this using Windows 7 as an example.
But there is the possibility of completely disabling DWM.EXE. The easiest way to do this is through "Task Manager".
As mentioned above, this is the easiest way to stop the specified process, but not the best. Firstly, this method of stopping is not entirely correct, and secondly, after restarting the computer, DWM.EXE is activated again and you will again have to stop it manually. To avoid this, you need to stop the corresponding service.
DWM.EXE virus
Some viruses disguise themselves as the process we are considering, so it is important to identify and neutralize the malicious code in time. The main sign that may indicate the presence of a virus hiding in the system under the guise of DWM.EXE is the situation when "Task Manager" you see more than one process with that name. On a normal, non-server computer, there can only be one real DWM.EXE. In addition, the executable file of the real process can be located, as was explained above, only in this directory:
C:\Windows\System32
The process, the launch of which initiates a file from another directory, is a virus. You need to scan your computer for viruses with an antivirus utility, and if the scan does not give results, then you should delete the false file manually.
DWM.EXE is responsible for the graphic component of the system. At the same time, its stop does not pose a critical threat to the functioning of the OS as a whole. Sometimes viruses can be hidden under the guise of this process. It is important to find and neutralize such objects in time.
Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) is a window layout manager that allows you to create all those beautiful effects in Windows: transparent windows, taskbar live thumbnails, Flip3D, and even a high resolution monitor.
The dwm.exe process causes applications to first draw to a specific location in memory. Windows then creates one "composite" view from all the windows on the screen before sending it to your monitor.
Through compositing, Windows can show the contents of each window, as well as add effects such as transparency and window animation.
Is it possible to disable the desktop window manager
No! Ever since Vista controlled by a service that could be turned off - and in turn turn off all visual effects.
Beginning with Windows 7, the Desktop Window Manager became an integral part of Windows as it became "vital" to the creation of a graphical user interface. The integration has gone even deeper in Windows 8 and 10.
The good news is that the window manager has become much better and has learned how to manage resources more efficiently, so there is no point in disabling it.
What to do to reduce the load on memory and processor
Desktop Window Manager uses quite a few system resources. On my system, which has a dozen active applications, including chrome with a dozen open tabs, Desktop Window Manager uses 0.1% of CPU resources and about 36 MB of RAM. This is a fairly typical load.
If you see that the Desktop Window Manager is consuming a lot of RAM or CPU resources, you should do the following:
- Make sure your drivers are up to date, especially drivers for your graphics card or integrated graphics adapter. The desktop window manager moves most of the processes to the GPU to reduce the load on the CPU.
- Check your computer for malware. Certain types of malware cause problems with the Desktop Window Manager.
Could the dwm.exe process be a virus?
The Desktop Window Manager process itself is an official component of Windows. While it is possible that the virus has replaced the actual process, this is highly unlikely.
If you want to be sure, you can check the source of the process. In Task Manager, right-click on the Desktop Window Manager process and select Open file location.
If the file is stored in the WINDOWS\system32 folder, then you can be sure that you are not dealing with a virus.
However, if you are still worried about security, you can always scan your computer for viruses using virus scanner.
Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) or Desktop Window Manager is a process that shows up in the task manager and gives an amazing look to your windows. This process supports Flip 3D, high resolution support, real-time thumbnails, transparency effects. It's a native function of the OS. Microsoft Windows 10 which helps to control various desktop screen functions. When you turn on your computer, you see animations, 3D effects, visual expressions, etc. All these functions are controlled by this process, component, file. This is genuine system file from Microsoft, not a virus, as many people think. The dwm.exe itself is an official component of Windows, so it cannot cause any problems.
Sometimes you may find that the dwm.exe file is CPU intensive. If you find this file in your path c:\windows-system32 then it's not a virus. However, if you find any other file with the same name and extension in any other folder, it might be malware. To find out the folder location of any file, just right-click and click " Open file location".
How does dwm.exe work?
It is the Windows layout manager and allows programs to write data according to their needs. It then combines them into the final image and sends all of the graphics through the media integration layer before it is sent to the graphics card. So the graphics card gives you the desired look on the screen.
Should you disable dwm.exe?
Since you know that dwm.exe controls all the visual effects on your screen, there is no logic to turn it off. You will find an option in the task manager to "End Task" of the process (dwm.exe), but since Windows uses high resolution technology, you cannot end the process, and I do not advise.
dwm.exe high Memory and CPU usage in Windows 10
dwm.exe in Windows 10 takes up a very small portion of your system resources, roughly 0.4% of your CPU and about 40MB of RAM. It may be less or more depending on the screen resolution. Even while working with browsers and applications, you will notice a minimal use of resources.
dwm.exe File Properties
- File Description - Desktop Window Manager
- Product Name - Microsoft OS
- Copyright - Microsoft Corporation
- Size - 61.0 Kb
- The original file name is dwm.exe
If you are sure that the corresponding file is not a virus, you need to follow the instructions:
- Make sure your hardware drivers are up to date, especially the integrated graphics adapter and VGA card. The desktop window manager offloads work to the graphics card's GPU, so the processor continues to run idle.
- Scan the system with one of .
With the problem of disabled dispatcher windows sometimes encountered by users of Windows 7. In particular, disabling this service causes some problems with the correct functioning of the Aero theme. To restore the normal operation of the computer, you must enable the service dispatcher windows.
Instruction
When the controller is off windows some effects do not work in Windows 7 - for example, it is not possible to turn on transparency windows. To enable dispatcher open: "Start" - "Control Panel" - "Administrative Tools" - "Services". Find "Session Manager" in the list of services. dispatcher windows desktop", open it. In the window that opens, set the startup type to "Auto" in the drop-down menu - this will allow the service to start automatically when the computer starts. In order not to restart the computer, start the service by clicking the "Start" button located in the same window.
If the previous option did not work, and the necessary effects did not appear, you should try to force Windows Aero on. To do this, open Notepad and enter the following code into it. Write it in full, line by line, without skipping anything!
Save the file with any name - for example, test. Then rename its extension from *.txt to *.reg. Run the created test.reg file, and the necessary changes will be made in the registry. This is easier than making changes to the registry manually.
Open a command prompt with administrator rights: "Start" - "All Programs" - "Accessories". Locate "Command Prompt", right-click it and select "Run as administrator". In the opened window command line(console) type net stop uxsms and press Enter. Then type net start uxsms and run the command again by pressing Enter.
Keep in mind that if you're running Windows 7 Starter and Starter Basic, some desktop effects won't be available to you. Look at the developer's website for information about your OS version - this will help you understand whether the lack of certain features of the operating system is connected with its version, or the reason still lies in incorrect setting.
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