You may have faced a system crash recently and in the crash report, it is showing an error that is faulting application name: dwn.exe version: 10.0.19041.662, time stamp: 0x cd97c9b is the reason for the crash.

It is normal that you are not familiar with the mentioned file and don’t know how to fix this error. But don’t take stress because we are going to discuss this error in detail and also will show you the path to get rid of this problem on your computer. Till then, stay with us.

What is the Faulting Application Name Dwm.exe error?

A core Windows 10 process named Desktop Window Manager is dwm.exe. Despite being an important process, dwm.exe can cause an issue with your computer.

For example, your computer screen may go black randomly during playing games but you still can hear the sounds. There can be more types of crashes happening to your computer because of the dwm.exe error. Here is a sample screenshot of the error:

Sometimes, the system recovers itself and prevents the crash. But if it continuously crashes your system then it can be a fatal problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible. For this, we need to know the reason and fix those to solve this issue. So, let’s investigate the reasons now.

Reasons for Dwm.exe issue on Windows 10

There can be several causes behind the faulting application name: dwn.exe error on your Windows 10 computer system. Here are some reasons behind the dwm.exe error:

• Faulty hardware components. Especially a displaced graphics card.
• The system is infected by malware or virus.
• Outdated or corrupted drivers. Especially, a bug in the Intel driver.
• Incompatible or conflictual software installed on the computer.

These can trigger the error. Now let’s see what effects the error can have on your computer:

• The computer screen may go black.
• Slow down the computer’s performance and speed as a result of CPU spike.
• Popping up DWM error on the screen randomly.

If all the symptoms match the issue on your computer, then you can easily fix it by applying the solutions given in this article. So, without wasting any time, let’s take a look at the solutions to fix the faulting application name dwn.exe error.

How to Fix Faulting Application Name dwn.exe Error?

According to the cause of faulting application name: dwn.exe error, there are several methods to fix this problem.

Here given all the effective solutions to fix the mentioned error. You are suggested to apply the solutions one by one if you do not know the exact reason for the dwm.exe issue. Although, you can choose any of these solutions that may solve the particular issue on your computer that triggered the dwm.exe issue on your computer.

Solution-1: Check the Graphics Card and other Hardware

According to many Windows users, who have faced the dwm.exe issue, the graphics card can be the main reason behind this error and they have solved this problem by reconnecting their graphics card.

So, Power off your computer, open your CPU, and detach your graphics card from your motherboard. Remove dust from the graphics card and the slot also. Then re-attach it.

You are also recommended to check other hardware too and ensure that all of them are attached correctly.

Now turn on your computer and check if the problem is shorted out or not. If not, then try the next solution.

Solution-2: Update Firmware and Check the Controller

Many gamers have complained that their computer crashes and shows faulting application name dwn.exe error after installing the Xbox controller to their computer.

It can be due to the controller being unsupported or incompatible with their computer. You can be sure that your controller is the main culprit who is causing this error by simply unplugging the controller from your computer and checking whether the error exists or not.

If the controller is the problem, then you are recommended to download the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft store.

If you that unable to fix the issue, then update your firmware and check if the issue is vanished or not. If this solution isn’t relevant to you, then try the next solution below.

Solution-3: Remove Malware from Your Computer.

As you previously learned that dwm.exe is a core system process. When your computer is attacked by a virus or malware, then the dwm.exe process will start to consume a huge amount of CPU power and memory which will cause system failure or system crash.

Windows 10 has a built-in anti-malware process which is known as the Windows Defender. But in some cases, it isn’t good enough to detect all types of malware and viruses. So, you can download and install another third-party antivirus tool to detect malware on your computer and fix the dwm.exe error.

Solution-4: Restart the ‘explorer.exe’ Process

The explorer.exe can take too much RAM which may cause the dwm.exe error. Restarting may not fix the issue permanently, but if it instantly resolves the error, then you can apply solution-5 on your computer to fix the issue permanently.

Here is the instruction about how you can restart explorer.exe:

• Right-click on the taskbar on your computer and click on the task manager.
• Then, go to the Details tab and locate explorer.exe.
• After that, right-click on it and click on End task.
• Now, click on File and select Run new task.
• On the following pop-up window, type explorer and hit Enter.

Now check if the error is disappeared or not after restarting the explorer.exe process.

Solution-5: Run DISM and SFC Scan

DISM:

• First, open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Then, copy-paste these commands one by one and press Enter after each:
• DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth 

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• It might take up to 10 minutes so, be patient until the process finishes.
• Finally, restart your computer.

SFC Scan:

• First, open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Then, type the following command and press Enter:
• sfc/scannow 

• Wait until the process finishes and restart your computer.

Solution-5: Update or Rollback Drivers

Firstly, you are suggested to update all your drivers to fix the dwm.exe issue.

• Press the Windows key + X key simultaneously and select Device Manager from the list.

• Now, expand all the drivers and right-click on them.
• Then, click on Update driver.
• On the following prompt, select Search automatically for drivers
• Wait until the process finishes and do it for all the other drivers.

If this doesn’t help fix the problem, then roll back the graphics driver on your computer. Here is the instruction:

• On the Device Manager window, right-click on the graphics driver and click on Properties.
• Then, go to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver button.

• Wait until the process finishes and restart your computer to check if the error is resolved or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dwm.exe A Virus?

No, dwm.exe is not a virus or malware. DWM stands for Desktop Windows Manager which is a core process of the Windows system. This file helps to execute the system process.

However, this file can be corrupted due to virus or malware and show an error that says faulting application name: dwn.exe version: 10.0.19041.662, time stamp: 0x cd97c9b. 

How Do I Turn Off dwm.exe on Windows 10?

You can turn off dwm.exe by the following process:

• First, open the Start bar and type services to open the Services Window.
• In the Services window, double-click on the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager.
• Then, click on Disabled in the Startup type menu, and click the Stop button.
• Finally, click OK to save and exit the prompt.

Is There Any Risk If I Turn Off dwm.exe on Windows 10?

No, there is no risk if you turn off dwm.exe. It is a Desktop Windows Manager tool that enhances the graphics on your computer. However, it is a mandatory process for Windows Vista and above which also enhances the system performance.

If you turn it off then it may help you not get any dwm.exe error but it will disable all Windows themes. So, your Window may get back to the classic look which seems dull to many users. Although, you can turn this on again from the services.

Why Is My dwm.exe Consuming too much Memory?

There can be several reasons why dwm.exe can use a high amount of memory from your RAM. The possible reasons are:

• Outdated graphics card driver.
• Multiple applications or processes are running at the same time.
• The Graphics card is damaged or displaced.

Many users have fixed this issue by re-attaching their graphics card to their motherboard. You can also try updating your graphics driver to fix this issue.

Conclusion

To conclude, an important Desktop Windows Manager file dwn.exe can be corrupted and cause an error that says faulting application name dwn.exe. But you can fix this error easily by applying the given solutions in this article.

We hope you can successfully fix the error on your computer with the help of our provided solutions. Please leave a comment below if you have any further questions or suggestions.