What does the dwm.exe file do?

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What you should know about dwm.exe Desktop Window Manager

dwm.exe is a Windows system file. Dwm.exe is found in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. Frequently occurring are file sizes such as 92,672 bytes (61% of all these files), 81,920 bytes as well as 9 other variants.
This file is part of the operating system. The application does not have a visible window, and does not appear on the taskbar. The original file was created by Microsoft. The file itself can therefore be considered trustworthy. For this reason, 16% of all experts consider this file to be a possible threat. The probability that it can cause harm is high.

dwm.exe is a system file used by Microsoft Windows, and appears in Windows Task Manager as a process named "Desktop Window Manager." However, some viruses or Trojans use the same file name in order to remain undetected (for example Worm:Win32/Ainslot.A (recognized by Microsoft), as well as Trojan-FakeAV.Win32.Windef.sao or, as the case may be, not-a-virus:RiskTool.Win32.BitCoinMiner.crf (recognized by Kaspersky)).
To be really safe, you should scan your computer with two different anti-virus engines. You can use a free Anti-Malware scanner for this purpose.

Objectionable files with the same file name have the following characteristics:

• A dwm.exe file has a 73% certainty of being dangerous if it is found in in a subdirectory of the Windows Temp folder. In this case, the file size is usually 913,920 bytes (56% of all these files), 318,464 bytes, 7,058,432 bytes or, as the case may be, 544,782 bytes. The dwm file does not come from Microsoft and is not part of the operating system. The program executes in the background, and can only be terminated using Windows Task Manager. It does not supply any version information or other description. Dwm.exe is capable of supervise programs.
• A dwm.exe file has a 76% certainty of being dangerous if it is found in a subdirectory of "C:\Users\USERNAME". In this case, the file size is usually 913,920 bytes (40% of all these files), 318,464 bytes or, as the case may be, 365,056 bytes. This file was developed by a so-called third party provider - and not by Microsoft. The program executes in the background, and can only be terminated using Windows Task Manager. Dwm.exe does not contain any exact product information, as would normally be expected today.
• A dwm.exe file has a 68% certainty of being dangerous if it is found in the C:\Windows directory. In this case, the file size is usually 470,016 bytes.

If you see this file on your hard drive or in Windows Task Manager, please make sure that it is not a malicious variant. It's a fact that many trojans try to cloak their true identity by calling themselves dwm.exe. With the above information or by using tools like Security Task Manager you can determine if, in your case, the file is an undesirable variant.

What do other computer users say about dwm?

Summary: 157 users judge dwm.exe to be an essential file that should not be touched. 13 users consider it harmless. However, 7 users consider this to be a suspicious process and would like to get rid of it. For this reason, 36 users have already deleted dwm.exe. source: file.net

How to uninstall the program or Système d’exploitation Microsoft Windows

To remove Desktop Window Manager from your computer, please follow the manual instructions below or use an automatic uninstaller product.

How to tell if dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager) was uninstalled cleanly

After uninstalling, restart your computer. Then start Windows Explorer and see if there is still a folder with the name of the software under C:\Program Files. Be sure to check the Registry as well for remnants of Desktop Window Manager. To do this, start "Regedit", then look under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "Software" for Desktop Window Manager or the name of the producer. Always keep in mind that only a computer professional should ever directly delete entries in the Windows Registry.

What to do if a program does not uninstall

The easiest way to remove any kind of software cleanly and accurately is to use an uninstaller tool. Because the uninstaller automatically creates a backup, there is no risk of anything going wrong.

Last but not least

If Windows not working quite right for you, or if startup is taking a long time, or dwm.exe is causing problems for you, a good Windows diagnostic tool may very well help. This is especially effective when it comes to older computers that have accumulated vast quantities of "garbage data" as the result of many software installs and uninstalls.

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