What Is conhost.exe and Why Is It Running?

conhost.exe is a legitimate Windows process that stands for Console Window Host. It is responsible for displaying console windows, such as the Command Prompt and PowerShell. conhost.exe is a critical system process and should not be deleted or disabled.

conhost.exe is a relatively new process, first introduced in Windows 7. It replaced the previous console window host process, csrss.exe. conhost.exe provides a number of improvements over csrss.exe, including:

  • Improved performance
  • Enhanced security
  • Support for new features, such as drag-and-drop and multiple tabs

If you see conhost.exe running in Task Manager, it is nothing to be concerned about. This process is essential for running console windows and should not be terminated.

Here are some additional details about conhost.exe:

  • It is a 32-bit process.
  • It is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
  • Its size is typically around 100 KB.
  • It is a signed process, which means that it was digitally signed by Microsoft.

If you are concerned about conhost.exe, you can run a virus scan to make sure that it is not infected with malware. You can also check the Microsoft website for the latest security updates for conhost.exe.