Microsoft Windows is the most used operating system in the world which consists of thousands of different modules running in sync with each other. However, there may arise a case when one module/application doesn’t quite synchronize properly which may flag it as a ‘bug’. Even though it might not be doing any harm to your computer, many users are concerned with certain files or applications.
One of these files is ‘wuapihost.exe’. It stands for (W)indows (U)pdate (API)(Host). It is an executable file digitally signed by Microsoft itself. Many users reported that their firewall blocked access to this executable which led to the question is this executable safe? Is it okay to allow to access? The answer to your question is yes and no. If you can digitally verify that the publisher is Microsoft itself, it means that the file is safe and will cause no harm to your computer. Follow the instructions down below to verify the executable.
- Download and execute the ‘Sigcheck v2.60’ from Microsoft’s official website. Make sure to extract the application on your Desktop as we will be navigating there to check its digital signature.
- Once you have executed the executable once, press Windows + S to launch the search bar. Type “command prompt” in the dialogue box, right-click on the application and select “Run as administrator”.
- Once in administrator mode, you need to navigate to your Desktop. To do so, execute the following command in command prompt:
cd\
cd Users\*USERNAME*\Desktop
sigcheck.exe
- After you execute the last line, you will be shown a full preview including all the functions of the signature viewer. Type “y” in the end to make sure that you have read and accepted all the agreements.
- Now execute the following command in the same command prompt. This will show all the file details of the executable in question. If it is digitally signed by Microsoft, it means you have nothing to worry about and the file is safe.
sigcheck -v c:\windows\system32\wuapihost.exe
However, if the file isn’t digitally verified, it can be harmful to your system and computer. If it is causing high CPU/Disk usage, we advise that you perform a clean boot of your system and check if the error still persists. If it does, open your computer in safe mode and delete the file using administrator privileges. Following is the method to boot your computer into safe mode:
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run application. Type “msconfig” in the dialogue box and press Enter.
- Navigate to the Services tab present at the top of the screen. Check the line which says “Hide all Microsoft services”. Once you click this, all Microsoft related services will be disabled leaving behind all the third-party services.
- Now click the “Disable all” button present at the near bottom at the left side of the window. All the third-party services will now be disabled.
- Click Apply to save changes and exit.
- Now navigate to the Startup tab and click the option of “Open Task Manager”. You will be redirected to the task manager where all the applications/services which run when your computer starts will be listed.
- Select each service one by one and click “Disable” at the bottom right side of the window.
- Now restart your computer and check if the problem still persists. You can learn how to boot your computer into safe mode by referring to our article.
Note: Do note that all methods listed in this article are for information purposes only. Appuals doesn’t guarantee the integrity of your computer in any way. Perform all the above steps at your own risk. If you feel the executable in question is malware, perform antivirus scans as soon as possible.
