All things you need to know about “Host Process for Windows Tasks”

If you have seen Task Manager Window, you might have seen a process named ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’. Also, you might have seen its multiple instances running at the same time. You might be wondering, what is this process, why is it used and can I kill it. We will resolve all your queries as you go through the post.

What is ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’?

Basically, it’s an official Microsoft System Process. There are many system processes in windows which are very important for proper functioning of the OS. To understand it, we have to understand the two types of processes that we will look below:

1. Processes that are loaded from Executable files. For example, you start any application, you click on yourprogram.exe and then the process is started and your Program opens. These processes can be seen separately in Windows Task Manager. They run fully on their own i.e they are stand-alone processes.
2. Processes that are loaded from DLL files. These processes need other processes to run it. The process which helps these processes that are loaded from DLL is called ‘Host Process For Windows Tasks’.

These Host Process for Windows Tasks will act as hosts for other processes. As there can be multiple instances of a DLL-based process therefore there can be multiple Host Process for Windows Tasks for each of them or there can be multiple DLL-based processes attached to a single Host Process for Windows Tasks.

Why does ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’ uses so many Resources at Windows Startup?

Basically, the CPU and Memory usage depends on each instance of Host Process for Windows Tasks on which process it is attached to. Normally, a process or service will consume resources as long as it needs to do its job and then the resources will be freed. If your system hangs or slows down, then it is due to a service which is attached to Host Process for Windows Tasks as it is consuming many resources, so you will need to track down which service is consuming most resources and troubleshoot it yourself by killing it.

At Windows Startup, you may observe many instances of Host Process for Windows Tasks and it may look that they are consuming many resources but this is normal behavior and will quickly settle down.

Why your system slows down at startup for some time?

As Host Process for Windows Tasks scans all services entries in Registry and then generates the list of all DLL-based services that need to be loaded. It then loads all those services and due to this only you notice some amount of CPU being consumed during that time.

Can ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’ be Disabled?

No, you can’t disable it as its a system process it starts automatically. And you should not try to as you know its importance, it loads all DLL-based services onto your system, and if you disable it then your system could break on any number of things. That is why you won’t be able to disable it temporarily also.

 Could ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’ Process be a Virus?

No, as it’s an Official Windows Component. But it may be possible that a virus has replaced the real Host Process for Windows Tasks with its own executable process. But this is very unlikely as there is a virus known to cause this till now. However, if you want to be sure that it’s the real Host Process for Windows Tasks, then follow the steps as follows:

1. Goto Task Manager
2. Right Click ‘Host Proces for Windows Tasks’
3. Then select ‘Open File Location’ option

The file should be stored in the WindowsSystem32 folder, by this, you can be 100 percent sure that it’s a genuine process. Otherwise, its time to clean viruses on your computer. You can use any of your best Antivirus Softwares for this.

Conclusion – What exactly is ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’?

Well by now, you must have understood that ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’ is a very important process and definitely not a virus. However, if you want to look into more depth about which process is running under it you have to use Process Explorer. Using TaskManager these processes are not visible.

I hope you would have understood the importance and use of ‘Host Process for Windows Tasks’.

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