What Does Background Service Mean On Pc Terms

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Windows x includes built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus, formerly known as Windows Defender. The "Antimalware Service Executable" procedure is Microsoft Defender's background process. This program is likewise known as MsMpEng.exe, and is part of the Windows operating organisation.

RELATED: What Is This Process and Why Is It Running on My PC?

This article is part of our ongoing series explaining various processes institute in Chore Manager, similar Runtime Banker, svchost.exe, dwm.exe, ctfmon.exe, rundll32.exe, Adobe_Updater.exe, and many others. Don't know what those services are? Better start reading!

What Is Antimalware Service Executable?

Microsoft Defender, formerly known as Windows Defender, is part of Windows 10 and is the successor to the gratuitous Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus for Windows vii. This ensures that all Windows 10 users always have an antivirus program installed and running, even if they haven't chosen to install one. If yous have an out-of-date antivirus application installed, Windows ten will deactivate information technology and actuate Microsoft Defender for y'all. Windows 11 includes the same Microsoft Defender antivirus software, too.

The Antimalware Service Executable process is Microsoft Defender's groundwork service, and it ever remains running in the background. Information technology's responsible for checking files for malware when you admission them, performing background system scans to bank check for dangerous software, installing antivirus definition updates, and annihilation else a security application like Defender needs to do.

The Antimalware Service Executable process using CPU resources in Windows 10's Task Manager.

While the process is named Antimalware Service Executable on the Processes tab in Task Manager, its file name is MsMpEng.exe, and yous'll come across this on the Details tab.

You can configure Microsoft Defender, perform scans, and check its browse history from the Windows Security awarding included with Windows 10 and Windows 11. This application was formerly named the "Windows Defender Security Heart."

To launch it, use the "Windows Security" shortcut in the Starting time menu. Y'all can as well right-click the shield icon in the notification surface area on your taskbar and select "View Security Dashboard," or caput to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Open Windows Security.

The Windows Security application showing Microsoft Defender's status.

RELATED: How to Use the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10

Why Is It Using So Much CPU?

If you run across the Antimalware Service Executable process using a large amount of CPU or disk resources, it'southward likely scanning your figurer for malware. Like other antivirus tools, Microsoft Defender performs regular groundwork scans of the files on your reckoner.

It also scans files when you open them, and regularly installs updates with information about new malware. This CPU usage could also point that it's installing an update, or that you just opened a specially large file Microsoft Defender needs some actress time to analyze.

Microsoft Defender generally performs background scans but when your computer is idle and isn't being used. However, it may still use CPU resource performing updates or scanning files as you open them, even while you use your computer. But the groundwork scans shouldn't run while you're using your PC.

This is all normal with whatever antivirus programme, all of which demand to use some system resource to check your PC and keep you protected.

Can I Disable It?

We do not recommend disabling the Microsoft Defender antivirus tool if you don't take any other antivirus software installed. In fact, you lot can't disable it permanently. You lot can open the Windows Security awarding from your Start carte du jour, select "Virus & Threat Protection," click "Manage Settings" under Virus & Threat protection settings, and disable "Real-Time Protection." However, this is just temporary, and Microsoft Defender will re-enable itself later a brusque period of time if information technology doesn't observe other antivirus apps installed.

Despite some misleading advice you'll come across online, Defender performs its scans as a organisation maintenance task you can't disable. Disabling its tasks in the Task Scheduler won't assist. Information technology volition only permanently stop if you lot install some other antivirus program to have its place.

The "Real-time protection" option in Windows Security.

If you lot do accept another antivirus program installed (like Avira or BitDefender), Microsoft Defender will automatically disable itself and get out of your way. If you head to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection, you'll come across a message saying "You're using other antivirus providers" if yous have another antivirus program installed and activated. This means that Windows Defender is disabled. The procedure may run in the groundwork, merely information technology shouldn't use CPU or disk resources attempting to scan your system.

RELATED: How to Periodically Scan Your Computer With Windows Defender While Using Another Antivirus

Even so, there is a way to use both your antivirus program of choice and Microsoft Defender. On this same screen, y'all can expand "Microsoft Defender Antivirus options" and enable "Periodic scanning." Defender will then perform regular groundwork scans even while you're using another antivirus program, providing a second opinion and potentially catching things your main antivirus might miss.

If you meet Microsoft Defender using CPU even while you lot have other antivirus tools installed and want to stop information technology, head here and ensure the Periodic scanning characteristic is gear up to "Off." If it doesn't carp yous, feel free to enable Periodic scanning—it's another layer of protection and additional security. However, this characteristic is off by default.

The "Periodic scanning" option for Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows Security.

Is It a Virus?

We haven't seen whatever reports of viruses pretending to imitate the Antimalware Service Executable process. Microsoft Defender is itself an antivirus, then it should ideally stop whatsoever malware attempting to practice this in its tracks. As long as y'all're using Windows and have Microsoft Defender enabled, it's normal for it to be running.

If yous're really concerned, you tin can always run a scan with another antivirus awarding to confirm nothing malicious is running on your PC.