OAWrapper.exe: What is it, & How do I fix it’s Application error?

OAWrapper.exe or OpenAutomate Wrapper is an application process that is part of the software ecosystem of NVIDIA and others like Autodesk apps. To be specific, it is part of NVIDIA GeForce Experience Application Ontology software. As you know, NVIDIA is a popular tech company that is known for its product GPU products and their respective applications.

Simply put, OAWrapper.exe is the bridge between NVIDIA software and other graphics-related applications such as Autodesk. It helps NVIDIA to interpret the language of other graphic apps. If the communication between is good, the results are good software performance, optimum image qualities, user experience, and moderate power usage.

The OAWrapper.exe software files are located at C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\NvBackend\ApplicationOntology\. This file location is important because if the app has issues, you will be able to troubleshoot or scan it.

Is OAWrapper.exe a virus or malware?

OAWrapper.exe is not a virus or malware, but remember it’s an executable file and viruses can disguise themselves as such files. So, in its normal form, OAWrapper.exe is genuine software, but we cannot rule out the possibility of a virus or malware attack.

The first thing you should do if you suspect OAWrapper.exe is a virus is to locate where it is domiciled on your computer. If it’s not in the NVIDIA file directory, then you need to take action immediately. You can use Windows Defender or any other legitimate antivirus or anti-malware software to stop and eliminate the threat.

Should I remove OAWrapper.exe?

The decision to delete OAWrapper.exe on your computer depends on several factors, but the main ones are if you don’t use any software that needs this process or if it’s causing unnecessary issues like high CPU and power usage. If these factors apply to you, you can stop or remove OAWrapper.exe from your PC using the following methods:

1. Stop the OAWrapper.exe process on Task Manager

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc/Delete and select Task Manager.
2. Select the Details tab and find OAWrapper.exe; right-click on it and click on End task.

   

NOTE: This is a temporary stoppage and will restart when you restart your PC or an app that depends on the service to run.

2. Delete OAWrapper.exe on Windows Registry

1. Open the Run box, type regedit, then press Enter on your computer keyboard.
2. Go to the following path:

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

3. Look for the OAWrapper.exe key, right-click it, and select Delete. It is usually located on the right-hand side.
4. Finally, when you get the prompt to confirm your action, click OK to finish the process. You have successfully deleted OAWrapper.exe on your Windows PC.

3. Manually uninstall OAWrapper.exe-related apps

1. Press the Windows button + R, type Control in the Run dialog, and click OK or press Enter on your PC keyboard to open Control Panel.
2. Under View by, select Category from the drop-down menu.
3. Click on Uninstall a program, which is under the Programs option. This will open Programs and Features.
4. Next, locate the app that uses OAWrapper.exe like Autodesk apps, etc. Right-click it and select Uninstall.
5. Finally, select the on-screen prompts to complete the process.

NOTE: If you depend on OAWrapper.exe for various software on your PC, but the process or app is not working properly or if it has high CPU usage, you need to fix it.

How Do I Resolve the OAWrapper.exe Application Error?

If you encounter the OAWrapper.exe application error or notice that it’s using CPU memory or resources, you can fix this by removing the related app or temporarily stopping the service in the Services console or Task Manager. Also, according to NVIDIA, you can manually update the driver. If that does work, you fix the error using the following solutions:

1. Check for updates. If both NVIDIA and the operating system are outdated, you might get various issues including the OAWrapper.exe application error. To fix this, you can check for updates in the Windows Update settings, and install them.
2. Repair System files using SFC & DISM commands. Sometimes, corrupted, missing, or outdated system files can lead to application errors or high CPU usage. To fix this, you need to scan and repair your PC files using automatic inbuilt system tools or legitimate third-party software.
3. Reinstall the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app. This app might have incomplete or faulty installation files can cause the OAWrapper.exe application error or the app behaves abnormally. To resolve this, uninstall the app, reinstall it again, and see if you have fixed the issue.
4. Scan for viruses and malware. In rare cases, viruses or malware can trigger application errors or high CPU resource usage. If you have confirmed that OAWrapper.exe is a virus, run an antivirus or anti-malware software to neutralize the malicious attack or seek an expert.

1. Check for updates

1. Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Next, go to Update & Security.
3. Locate and click on Check for updates.

   

4. If there are any available pending updates, download and install them.
5. You might be required to restart your computer to affect the updates you installed.

2. Repair System files using SFC & DISM commands

1. Type cmd in the Windows search box and select Run as administrator.
2. Copy and paste the following command on the Command Prompt window and press Enter:

   Sfc /scannow

3. If the SFC scan shows an error or the problem is not resolved, run the following DISM command, one by one:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

4. Finally, restart your computer and see if you have resolved the OA wrapper application error.

3. Reinstall the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app

1. Search Control Panel in the Windows search bar and select Open.
2. Under View by, select Categories, then go to Programs and select Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features windows will open.
3. Here, right-click on the NVIDIA GeForce Experience app and select Uninstall.

   

4. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
5. After the uninstallation is complete, go to the NVIDIA website, download the software, and reinstall it.

4. Scan for viruses and malware

1. Search and open Windows Security from the Start menu button.
2. Select Virus & threat protection.
3. Next, select Scan options and click Full scan.

   

4. Finally, click Scan now and let Windows scan complete.

TIP: Alternatively, you can use a third-party antivirus or antimalware software to eliminate malicious threats.

I hope you find a solution here or something useful in this article.