What is Wins.exe & Should you Remove it?

Run SFC scan to remove the wins.exe if it’s malicious

4 min. read

Updated onApril 12, 2024

updated onApril 12, 2024

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Several users in the Microsoft Community forum have recently requested to know what the wins.exe is after getting an error message with the executable file while trying to launch an application or boot up their Windows PC.

In case you have been wondering what the wins.exe is and whether toremove the executable filefrom your computer, we will explore it and how to remove it.

What is wins.exe?

The WINS software component, represented by the wins.exe file, was developed by Microsoft as an abbreviation for Windows Internet Name Service.

Initially, it functioned as a background process in early iterations of Microsoft Windows. The following are points to note about wins.exe:

Furthermore, wins.exe possesses the capability to monitor applications. As a result, 73% of experts classify wins.exe as a potential threat, carrying a high likelihood of causing harm to a computer.

Is it safe to remove wins.exe?

It is generally not recommended to remove or delete the wins.exe file. As aforementioned, in earlier versions of Windows, wins.exe is the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), which provided IP address resolution for domain names.

However, with the evolution of technology, WINS has been largely replaced by theDomain Name System (DNS).

While wins.exe is no longer actively supported by Microsoft and may not be necessary for modern systems, it is still an integral part of the operating system. Removing wins.exe couldpotentially disrupt network servicesor cause compatibility issues with certain applications that rely on it.

If you suspect that the wins.exe file is causing problems or exhibiting suspicious behavior, we recommend you run a reputable antivirus or antimalware scan to ensure your system’s security.

How can I remove wins.exe?

Before anything else, try this step:

If the scan detects any issues related to wins.exe, follow the steps below to remove them.

1. Disable the wins.exe service

Disabling the wins.exe service will prevent it from running and potentially resolve any associated problems. In case thedialog box does not have text, check here to fix it.

2. Run the SFC Scan

Running theSystem File Checkertool should repair the wins.exe file. However, this process may or may not work for this issue.

In order to ensure the file integrity and scan your Windows OS, we suggest you use multi-layered antivirus software to detect any kind of malware threats.

⇒Get ESET HOME Security Essential

However, if after attempting the above methods, wins.exe remains, it is best to seek help fromMicrosoft support.

Wins.exe is not the only exe problem that users have reported. There have been several cases of other exe issues such aswinword.exe application error,consent.exe, and so forth.

If you have any questions or know other workable methods to remove wins.exe, please let us know by using the comments section below.

What is Wins.exe & Should you Remove it?#

What is wins.exe?#

Is it safe to remove wins.exe?#

How can I remove wins.exe?#

1. Disable the wins.exe service#

2. Run the SFC Scan#