Windows 10 users regularly visit the Task Manager to manage and control their running applications and processes. While on the Task Manager window, you might notice a process always running in the background named YourPhone.exe that you do not remember installing.
Like many other users, you might also wonder whether it is a virus or something like that. However, that is not the case. In case you are curious about what the YourPhone.exe process is and whether or not you should disable it, here is a detailed post about it.
What is YourPhone.exe?
YourPhone.exe is a legitimate Windows 10 process that represents the execution of the Your Phone, a built-in application of Windows 10. Your Phone is a genuine Microsoft App that helps you synchronize your Android phone or iPhone to Windows 10 desktops or laptops. After linking, you can get your phones’ notifications on your PC. You can also receive and make calls and texts via Windows 10 desktops.
YourPhone.exe is an excellent feature for people who frequently need to work on both smartphones and desktops. Using the Your Phone app would restrict their device switching frequency and help them to maintain their workflow. Hence their productivity would remain intact.
Is YourPhone.exe Process a Virus?
As already mentioned in the previous section, YourPhone.exe represents the execution of a genuine Microsoft application, Your Phone. Since it is developed by Microsoft, we can indeed conclude that it is not a virus or any other malware. However, that does not mean it CANNOT be a virus.
Many cybercriminals use the name of legitimate applications to conceal their malicious codes and spread them. So, it is possible that a malware program is disguised in the name of YourPhone.exe and harming your computer. Although, this is highly unlikely, and in most cases, YourPhone.exe is a legit process.
In case if you are wondering why it is always running in the background, it is because since it requires to sync with your phone to receive and display its notification, calls, and texts, the application needs to be constantly run and refresh.
How to stop the YourPhone.exe Process from running in the background?
If you do not need to access the Your Phone app, you can disable the YourPhone.exe process from running in the background because it might unnecessarily use your system RAM and other resources.
Here are the steps for stopping YourPhone.exe process:
- 1. From the Start Menu, open Windows 10 Settings.
- 2. Choose Privacy settings.
- 3. From the left pane, scroll down and select Background apps settings.
- 4. Under Background apps, move down and toggle the button next to Your Phone to disable it from running in the background.
Your Phone app will be disabled, and along with that, the YourPhone.exe process too.
How to uninstall YourPhone App?
If you do not need to use the Your Phone app anytime in the future, you can uninstall it from the system altogether so that it never runs in the background and disturbs your system performance.
Though you cannot traditionally uninstall the Your Phone app from the windows settings, you can do that using the Windows PowerShell. Here are the steps for that:
- In the windows search box, search for PowerShell.
- Launch PowerShell with the admin rights by right-clicking on the icon and select Run as Administrator.
- On the PowerShell command window, type or copy/paste this command: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.YourPhone -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
- That’s it, the Your Phone app would be removed from the device
- Restart the system to make the uninstall effectively.
Bottom Line
Your Phone is an excellent application to interconnect your phone and PC to make the cross-device work easier.
Is YourPhone.exe a virus?
No, YourPhone.exe is a process that notifies that the Your Phone app of Microsoft is running in the background. It is a genuine application used to connect smartphones with Windows PCs.
Should I uninstall Your Phone Application?
If you do not require the Your Phone app for any of your work, you can uninstall it from your system without any hesitation.
Is the YourPhone.exe process necessary for running the system?
If you do not require to connect your smartphone with the PC, then the YourPhone.exe process running in the background is of no use. You can stop and disable it by following the steps listed in this newsletter and free up some RAM space.
Stay protected!
George Cox is the owner of Computer Diagnostics and Repair. He can be reached at 346-4217.
