What Is Video.UI.exe in Windows & Should You Disable It?

Overview

What Is Video.UI.exe — The Official Windows Video Process Explained

Video.UI.exe is the executable file behind the Movies & TV application (also known as the Films & TV app), which is a built-in media player included with Windows 10 and Windows 11. The process is developed and signed by Microsoft Corporation, so under normal circumstances it is a completely legitimate part of the operating system.

The app allows users to play local video files (MP4, MKV, AVI, and more), purchase or rent movies and TV shows from the Microsoft Store, and sync watched content across devices. Whenever you open a video file, stream content, or simply have the app running in the background, you will see Video.UI.exe appear in the Windows Task Manager.

File Location

Where Is Video.UI.exe Located on Your System?

Knowing the correct file path is one of the easiest ways to verify that the Video.UI.exe process on your computer is authentic and not a disguised piece of malware. The legitimate file is stored in a protected UWP app directory under the WindowsApps folder.

Typical file path — Windows 10 / 11C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_[version]_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\Video.UI.exe

The folder name contains the app's internal package name (Microsoft.ZuneVideo — a legacy name from the Zune era) along with the version number and architecture. Because this folder is owned by the TrustedInstaller security principal, standard users cannot modify or delete files inside it without elevated permissions.

How to Check the File Path via Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Details tab (Windows 10) or expand the Processes view (Windows 11).
3. Right-click on Video.UI.exe in the list.
4. Select Open file location.
5. Verify that the opened folder is inside C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_....

Safety Assessment

Is Video.UI.exe Safe? Virus or Legitimate Windows Process?

In the vast majority of cases, Video.UI.exe is completely safe. It is a digitally signed Microsoft process and a core part of the Movies & TV UWP application. It does not run at Windows startup by default and only becomes active when the app is explicitly launched by the user or triggered by a file association.

That said, malware authors sometimes disguise malicious executables with trusted-sounding names — including Video.UI.exe. The best way to confirm legitimacy is to check the file's location and digital signature.

Performance

Why Does Video.UI.exe Consume High CPU or Memory?

Under normal operation, Video.UI.exe should consume negligible resources when no media is playing. However, there are several scenarios where you might notice elevated CPU or RAM usage:

If the process continuously consumes CPU or memory while no video is playing, possible causes include a pending Windows Update reconfiguring the app, a corrupted app installation, or in rare cases a malware impersonation. Restarting the process or resetting the Movies & TV app usually resolves the issue.

Security Check

How to Check If Video.UI.exe Is Malware — Step-by-Step

If you are uncertain about the process running on your system, follow these steps to verify its authenticity:

Method 1 — Verify the Digital Signature

1. Open Task Manager → Details tab, right-click Video.UI.exe, and choose Open file location.
2. Right-click the Video.UI.exe file in Explorer and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Digital Signatures tab.
4. Confirm that the signer is Microsoft Corporation and the signature status is Valid.

Method 2 — Scan with Windows Security

1. Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
2. Go to Virus & threat protection.
3. Click Quick scan or, for a more thorough check, Scan options → Full scan.
4. Review the results. If Video.UI.exe is flagged, follow the recommended quarantine steps.

Method 3 — Scan with VirusTotal

1. Navigate to the file location: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_...\
2. Copy Video.UI.exe to your Desktop (you may need admin privileges).
3. Visit virustotal.com and upload the copied file.
4. Examine the report — a legitimate Microsoft file will have zero detections.

Decision Guide

Should You Disable Video.UI.exe? Pros and Cons

Because Video.UI.exe is an on-demand process — meaning it only runs when Movies & TV is open — you generally do not need to disable it. It will not slow down your PC at startup or consume resources in the background under normal conditions.

However, if you never use the Movies & TV app and prefer to use a third-party media player such as VLC or PotPlayer, removing the app is entirely safe and can marginally reduce disk footprint.

How-To

How to Disable or Uninstall Video.UI.exe in Windows 10 and 11

There are two primary methods to remove or disable Video.UI.exe: uninstalling the Movies & TV app through the Settings UI, or using PowerShell for a system-wide removal. Both are reversible.

Method 1 — Uninstall via Windows Settings (Recommended)

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Apps → Installed apps.
2. Search for Movies & TV in the search bar.
3. Click the three-dot menu next to the app and select Uninstall.
4. Confirm the uninstallation. The Video.UI.exe process will no longer appear.

Method 2 — Remove via PowerShell (All Users)

PowerShell — Run as AdministratorGet-AppxPackage *ZuneVideo* | Remove-AppxPackage

To remove the app for all user accounts on the machine, use:

PowerShell — Remove for All UsersGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers *ZuneVideo* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

Reinstalling the App (If Needed)

If you change your mind, you can reinstall Movies & TV directly from the Microsoft Store at no cost. Simply search for "Movies & TV" in the Store and click Install.

PowerShell — Reinstall for Current UserGet-AppxPackage -AllUsers *ZuneVideo* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Video.UI.exe in Windows