How To Fix Mshta Exe

What is mshta.exe?

The genuine mshta.exe file is a software component of Windows Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation .
The genuine "mshta.exe" file, if located in "C:\Windows\System32", is the Microsoft HTML Application Host program, a component of the Microsoft Windows operating system since 1999. HTML Application (.hta) files contain source code combining HTML, Dynamic HTML, and one or more scripting languages such as VBScript or Jscript. Executing these HTA files in "mshta.exe", which shares much of its code with Internet Explorer, produces apps that look like web pages but can access local resources, (e.g., the local computer's file system). Although "mshta.exe" is not malware it is often used by malware to execute rogue HTA code and store unwanted payloads.

MsHTA stands for Microsoft® HTML Application host

The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the mshta.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.

Click to Run a Free Scan for mshta.exe related errors

Mshta.exe file information

Windows Task Manager with mshta — Mshta.exe process in Windows Task Manager

The process known as Microsoft® HTML Application host or ab0bb9e3b144cac60965e5440a4ee583 or Microsoft® HTML-programvert belongs to software Internet Explorer or Windows Internet Explorer or Microsoft Windows Operating System or ab0bb9e3b144cac60965e5440a4ee583 by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) or SWIS.

Description: Mshta.exe is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. Mshta.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder or sometimes in a subfolder of C:\Windows or in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" or in a subfolder of C:\. Known file sizes on Windows 10/8/7/XP are 13,312 bytes (65% of all occurrences), 47,104 bytes and 6 more variants.
The mshta.exe file is a Windows core system file. It is a trustworthy file from Microsoft. The program is not visible. Therefore the technical security rating is 3% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify mshta.exe related errors

If mshta.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 34% dangerous. The file size is 7,293,280 bytes. Mshta.exe is a Verisign signed file. The mshta.exe file is not a Windows system file. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: Run, RunOnce, TaskScheduler, MACHINE\Run, User Shell Folders). Mshta.exe is certified by a trustworthy company. The program is not visible. Mshta.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs and monitor applications.
Uninstalling this variant: You can do the following:
- look for help on the www.teamviewer.com website
- safely remove the program using the uninstall program of TeamViewer (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program)
If mshta.exe is located in the Windows folder for temporary files, the security rating is 26% dangerous. The file size is 458,829 bytes. The program has a visible window. The mshta.exe file is not a Windows core file. The program is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: Run, RunOnce, TaskScheduler, MACHINE\Run, User Shell Folders). There is no file information. mshta.exe appears to be a compressed file.

Important: Some malware disguises itself as mshta.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the mshta.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Best practices for resolving mshta issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with mshta. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or, for Windows 8 and later versions, executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To help you analyze the mshta.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. BMalwarebytes Anti-Malware detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.

Other processes

runservice.exe scan2pc.exe plugincontainer.exe mshta.exe autodect.exe networklicenseserver.exe wermgr.exe teamviewer.exe imfsrv.exe trustedinstaller.exe mbam.exe [all]