Task Manager shows all running OS applications and services with details. Users open task manager when they have slow system performance issue or when checking process details. Most users see a process called $ 0027smss.exe $ 0027 running in the background and wondering what this process is. Some might even consider wondering if it is a legitimate process or malware. In this article, you will find out what the smss.exe process is, what it does and if it is an important process or if you can kill it to save memory.
smss.exe in Task Manager
Smss.exe in Windows Task Manager
Smss.exe is a component of the Windows NT family that is responsible for starting and managing the user's session. The SMSS stands for Session Management Subsystem and the .exe extension indicates an executable file. This process will start running at startup by default and is responsible for various activities. No $ 0027smss.exe $ 0027 it is not a virus, it is a legitimate Windows OS process unless you see multiple of them in different places. The size of this file is very small and consumes very little system resources when running in the background. The session manager subsystem starts the user and kernel modes of the Win32 subsystem. It also starts the Windows login application $ 0027winlogon.exe $ 0027.
Is smss.exe safe?
Yes, the original smss.exe file is important to run Windows and does not pose any security threat. However, some malicious programs disguise themselves as smss.exe, what can be a threat to system security. You can check the location of the file to make sure it is legitimate. The easiest way to check the file location is to open the Task Manager and find the process in the Details tab; Right-clicking on the process, you can choose Open file location. If the smss.exe file is in folder C: WindowsSystem32, then there is nothing to worry about, since that's the true location of the file. If the file is located elsewhere on the system, it's probably a trojan. You should probably run a full system scan downloading the malware bytes for Windows.
The original location of the smss.exe application
Should I remove the smss.exe?
Now that we know that smss.exe is a legitimate Windows file developed by Microsoft. We advise users not to delete or exit this particular component, as it is one of the Windows components and helps to keep the system stable and working safely. If you disable or close it while Windows is running, the system may freeze, requiring a hard reboot. If a user deletes this file, Windows won't start.
