When browsing the list of processes running on your Windows system, you may come across one named smss.exe. For many users, this unfamiliar executable prompts questions: Is it safe? What does it do? Could it be a virus in disguise? In this article, we delve into what smss.exe is, why it is important to the Windows operating system, and what to look out for if something is amiss.

What Is smss.exe?

smss.exe stands for Session Manager Subsystem. It is a critical system process that is fundamentally responsible for setting up user sessions during the Windows startup process. Developed and maintained