What is wmiprvse.exe?

The wmiprvse.exe process stands for Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service. It is a Microsoft Windows component that provides management information and control in an enterprise environment. Managers can use wmiprvse to query and set information on desktop systems, applications, networks and other enterprise components. Developers can use Windows Management Instrumentation to create event monitoring applications that alert users when important incidents occur.

Wmiprvse.exe or Windows Management Instrumentation Provider Service was first introduced in Windows XP platform, and later on in Windows 2003 platform. Wmiprvse is a host process related to Windows Management Instrumentation or WMI provider services. It was developed to fix a problem with WMI provider service in Windows 2000 platform where failure of a single WMI would cause total failure of all other WMI services. The wmiprvse.exe service makes sure that only a single WMI provider service is be affected in case of failure. This means that computer won’t restart automatically when WMI failure occurs in Windows XP and Windows 2003 platforms.

The wmiprvse file is placed with other services in the shared service host after the release of MS Windows XP. Providers are also loaded separately in the wmiprvse.exe file since it considers the wmiprvse.exe executable as a host process.

The wmiprvse.exe service is essential for operating system security and stability. Windows can have several wmiprvse instances running simultaneously in the LocalService, NetworkService, and the LocalSystem. The WMI core WinMgmt.exe is loaded into svchost.exe.

Wmiprvse.exe service should be located in the System32 folder and its common path is C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem\wmiprvse.exe. If you see an wmiprvse.exe instance running from a different location, it could be a virus, trojan, or worm! Scan your computer with Auslogics Antivirus to make sure it's not infected.