SMSS.exe Windows process - What is it?

SMSS.exe Windows process – What is it?.

Launch Task Manager on Windows PC and you will find a lot of system processes running in the background. There is usually no reason to worry about these files and processes, what they do, or doubt their safety unless they are affecting your PC’s performance.

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Even when a strange background process that is behaving strangely piques your interest, it can be difficult to determine if it is safe. A system process like smss.exe is usually associated with unnecessarily high CPU and GPU usage. In this guide, we will explain what smss.exe does and how to check if you have a safe version of the file on your computer.

What Is smss.exe and What Does It Do?

smss.exe is an executable file that runs the Session Manager (or Windows Session Manager) subsystem. It is an essential component of the Windows operating system and starts immediately after pressing the power button. He is responsible for creating user sessions and monitoring other important system processes to make sure they are working correctly.

For example, smss.exe will crash your computer if csrss.exe or winlogon.exe is faulty or stops working unexpectedly, resulting in a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error. Likewise, your computer may freeze if the smss.exe file is corrupted, damaged, or missing. This demonstrates the importance of the session manager subsystem process.

Although it is a vital system file that your computer needs to function properly after startup, there are times when the smss.exe file becomes detrimental to your PC’s health and performance. In the next section, you will learn how to find out if the Session Manager Subsystem executable is safe on your computer.

Is smss.exe Safe?

The Session Manager subsystem is one of many system processes that are launched when the computer’s power button is pressed. It helps your computer boot properly and tidies up other programs. After that, it stays in the background and monitors the status of important system processes.

smss.exe consumes a tiny and insignificant portion of your computer’s resources. It is a legitimate file and does not cause any problems or performance issues. If you find that the process is consuming an insane amount of CPU resources or slowing down your computer, it is likely that the malware is disguised as smss.exe.

Cybercriminals sometimes refer to malware by the name of legitimate system files to avoid detection by your PC’s security system and antivirus software. You can determine the legitimacy of the smss.exe file by checking its location on your local drive and verifying its digital signature.

How to verify the location and digital signature of smss.exe

1. Launch File Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Details tab. Right-click the smss.exe file and select Properties.

Or go to the Processes tab, right-click Windows Session Manager and select Properties.

2. On the General tab, check the location of the file and make sure it says C: Windows System32 or C: Windows or C: Windows System32 Event Agent Bin.

3. Click the Digital Signature tab, check the Signature list and make sure it says Microsoft Windows Publisher.

Like many other system processes built into Windows 10, the smss.exe executable is located in the C: Windows System32 directory. For PCs running older or older operating systems (Win 7 / Win 8 / Win 8.1), you can find smss.exe located in C: Windows or C: Windows System32 Event Agent Bin.

If the Session Manager Subsystem executable is located in a folder other than the ones mentioned above, it is definitely a virus. Run it through a security tool or uninstall it immediately from your computer. You must do the same if the file is not digitally signed by Microsoft Windows Publisher.

How to Fix and Replace smss.exe

As mentioned earlier, your computer can malfunction, generate random errors, and crash during use if the session manager subsystem file is missing or damaged. If the smss.exe file is infected with malware, or accidentally deleted or deleted from your computer by an antivirus, you can fix (or replace) it using the tools and methods below.

1. Fix smss.exe with the System File Checker (SFC)

The Windows System File Checker (SFC) tool is a great tool for recovering corrupted files. It scans your computer and replaces corrupted system files. For effective results, Microsoft recommends running the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool before running System File Checker, especially if your computer is running Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1.

For older OS, you can run SFC directly (see Step 3 below).

1. Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the shortcut menu.

2. Paste the command below into the console and press Enter.

DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / Restorehealth

This command will prompt the DISM tool to provide the files it needs to fix and replace the corrupted files. This process can take several minutes, so wait until you get a success message before running the next command.

3. Paste the command below into the console and press Enter.

sfc / scannow

Windows will scan your system files and replace any corrupted files found. This process equally takes a few minutes; do not close the command prompt window until the scan is 100% complete.

2. Run the disk check utility

System files can be corrupted if you have a bad sector on your hard drive. The Check Disk tool will scan your hard drive for bad sectors and fix them automatically. You should run this tool if SFC does not detect system file corruption and smss.exe continues to consume excessive CPU resources.

Run Command Prompt as Administrator, paste the command below into the console and press Enter.

chkdsk C: / f / r

3. Reinstall Windows

If none of the above methods fix the problem, you might have to do a clean reinstall of Windows as a last resort.

Understanding the Windows Session Manager

At this point, we hope you now understand the importance of the Session Manager (or Windows Session Manager) subsystem on your Windows PC. If you have a legitimate version of smss.exe installed on your device, there is nothing to worry about.

Do not try to force stop, disconnect, or delete a file from your device, even if it is using CPU resources and causing other problems. Sometimes a simple restart of the device can solve the problem. If the problem persists when your computer turns on again, check the file location, digital signature and scan it with an antivirus before taking any action.

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