LOGO Mobile menu
Download SpyShelter

What’s WUDFHost.exe (Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Host Process)? Is it safe or a virus?

Use any external drives or devices with your PC? Well, if you want to keep using those things you probably don't want to disable this important process that's running on your PC. Here at our cybersecurity labs in Austin, Texas, we found pretty much every Windows device we have has this important Microsoft executable and it's 100% safe. So what all does this thing do?

WUDFHost.exe is a Windows User Mode Driver Framework Host Process that is responsible for managing user-mode driver processes. These processes are essential for the functioning of certain hardware components in a Windows operating system.

WUDFHost.exe allows the system to communicate with user-mode drivers and enables the smooth operation of Plug and Play devices such as USB drives, printers, and hardware sensors.

Researched by Carl @ SpyShelter Labs

Recently Detected Threats

A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.

Download SpyShelter to see detailed safety information about every .exe on your PC.

Check your PC for threats

More about WUDFHost.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes WUDFHost.exe (Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Host Process)?

We’ve found Microsoft Windows should be the publisher of WUDFHost.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: February 3, 2024

Curious about other processes on your PC?
Try SpyShelter or search below.

Or browse the process directory by name:

Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

Have any questions? Please join our free public SpyShelter PC Security Forum and talk cybersecurity with our USA-based team. We love talking about PC Security and we’d like to get to know you.

Join our PC security forum →