# wininit.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called wininit, windows start-up application, windows startup application

Windows, System Component

Windows Start-up Application. In session 0 it starts Service Control Manager and LSASS.

## What you need to know

This starts services.exe and lsass.exe. It is not optional chrome.

wininit.exe runs in session 0 and launches the Service Control Manager and LSASS. Ending it takes the PC down. It is not a Startup Apps checkbox.

- **Safe?**: Yes, in System32

  **Should I end it?**: No. The machine will fail

  **User app?**: No. Session 0 system start

Feex says

I treat wininit like a load-bearing wall. If it is the name in Task Manager, I check the path and then I leave it alone.

## What is wininit.exe?

wininit.exe is the Windows Start-up Application. After Session Manager creates session 0, wininit starts services.exe and lsass.exe.

## What does it do?

It is the parent of the service stack. It does not draw the desktop and it does not host your browser tabs.

## Why is it running?

Boot created session 0. You see wininit because the kernel finished the first user-mode hand-off. It is not launched from a shortcut.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

One signed copy in System32 is expected. A second wininit.exe under a user profile is not the session 0 starter.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Windows\System32\wininit.exe`

- Expected publisher: Microsoft Corporation
- Runs in session 0
- Parent of services.exe and lsass.exe

## Can I end it?

No

Ending wininit.exe is treated as a critical system failure. Windows will not keep a usable session.

## Can I remove it?

No

Do not delete wininit.exe. The machine cannot start the service stack without it.

## Should it start with Windows?

The kernel and smss.exe start wininit. You cannot turn it off in Settings > Apps > Startup.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Idle after boot

  **Memory**: Small

  **Disk**: Low

  **Network**: None by itself

## File information

| Executable name        | wininit.exe                     |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Windows\System32\wininit.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation           |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows     |

## Common problems

### Confused with winlogon

wininit is session 0 startup. winlogon is your interactive sign-in. They are not interchangeable names.

### Critical process died

If Windows reports wininit terminated, that is a crash investigation, not a cleanup task.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Check the parent chain

smss starts wininit. wininit starts services.exe. If that chain is missing, the boot did not finish.

### Leave it out of process killers

Tools that offer to end "Windows Start-up Application" are unsafe. Close the tool.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | wininit.exe |
| ---------- | ----------- |
| Session    | Session 0   |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[services.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/services.exe)[lsass.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/lsass.exe)[smss.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/smss.exe)[Process vs service: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/process-vs-service)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Learn: Windows initialization ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-hardware/drivers/kernel/introduction-to-the-windows-subsystem)· Session startup context
- [Microsoft Learn: Windows ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows)· Primary Windows documentation
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: wininit.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\wininit.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/wininit.exe/)

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