What is root.exe?
root.exe is an executable exe file which belongs to the Phoenix Service Software process which comes along with the Microsoft Visual Studio Software developed by Nokia software developer.
If the root.exe process running in the Windows Operating system is important, then you should be careful while deleting it. Sometimes root.exe process might be using CPU or GPU too much. If it is malware or a virus, it might be running in the background.
The .exe extension of the root.exe file specifies that it is an executable file for Windows Operating Systems like Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
TIP: If you are facing System related issues on Windows like registry errors or System files being deleted by viruses or System crashes we recommend downloading Restoro software which scans your Windows PC for any issues and fixes them with a few steps.
Malware and viruses are also transmitted through exe files. So we must be sure before running any unknown executable file on our computers or laptops.
Now we will check if the root.exe file is a virus or malware. Whether it should be deleted to keep your computer safe? Read more below.
Is root.exe safe to run? Is it a virus or malware?
Let’s check the location of this exe file to determine whether this is legit software or a virus. The location of this file and dangerous rating is.
File Location / Rating: C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesNokiaTssInstrument APIbin
To check whether the exe file is legit you can start the Task Manager. Then click on the columns field and add Verified Signer as one of the columns.
Now, look at the Verified Signer value for root.exe process if it says “Unable to verify” then the file may be a virus.
File Name | root.exe |
Software Developer | Nokia |
File Type | EXE |
File Location | C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesNokiaTssInstrument APIbin |
Software | Microsoft Visual Studio |
Over All Ratings for root.exe
If the developer of the software is legitimate, then it is not a virus or malware. If the developer is not listed or seems suspicious, you can remove it using the uninstall program.
Based on our analysis of whether this root file is a virus or malware we have displayed our result below.
Is root.exe A Virus or Malware: root.exe is not a Virus.
How to check if root.exe is a security issue?
We also recommend using the Security task manager application to find which processes are unwanted in your Windows computer and can be a security issues. Here is how you can find whether root.exe is a security threat using the Security task manager application.
- Download the Security task manager application and install it on your computer.
- Run it as administrator. It will now show all the applications that are running on your computer.
- Now it will show the Rating, file location, company, and product name for each process.
- Now click on the rating column to sort based on ratings.
- You will now see which process has the worst rating easily so can decide root.exe is given a bad rating or not easily.
- You will also find whether the root.exe process is important or not with this feature.

How To Remove or Uninstall root.exe
To remove root.exe from your computer do the following steps one by one. This will uninstall root.exe if it was part of the software installed on your computer.
- If the file is part of a software program, then it will also have an uninstall program. Then you can run the Uninstaller located at directory like C:Program Files>Nokia>Microsoft Visual Studio >Phoenix Service Software> root.exe_uninstall.exe.
- Or the root.exe was installed using the Windows Installer then to uninstall it Go to System Settings and open Add Or Remove Programs Option.
- Then Search for root.exe or the software name Microsoft Visual Studio in the search bar or try out the developer name Nokia.
- Then click on it and select the Uninstall Program option to remove root.exe file from your computer. Now the software Microsoft Visual Studio program along with the file root.exe will be removed from your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop root.exe process?
In order to stop the root.exe process from running you either have to uninstall the program associated with the file or if it’s a virus or malware, remove it using a Malware and Virus removal tool.
Is root.exe a Virus or Malware?
As per the information we have the root.exe is not a Virus. But a good file might be infected with malware or a virus to disguise itself.
Is root.exe causing High Disk Usage?
You can find this by opening the Task Manager application (Right-click on Windows Taskbar and choose Task Manager) and clicking on the Disk option at the top to sort and find out the disk usage of root.exe.
Is root.exe causing High CPU Usage?
You can find this by opening the Task Manager application and finding the root process and checking the CPU usage percentage.
How to check GPU Usage of root.exe?
To check root.exe GPU usage. Open the Task Manager window and look for the root.exe process in the name column and check the GPU usage column.
I hope you were able to learn more about the root.exe file and how to remove it. Also, share this article on social media if you found it helpful.
Let us know in the comments below if you face any other root.exe related issues.

Gowtham V, the founder of howtodoninja.com is an experienced tech writer and a cybersecurity enthusiast with a passion for exploring the latest technological advancements. He has 10 years of experience in writing comprehensive how to guides, tutorials, and reviews on software, hardware, and internet services. With an interest in computer security, he strives to educate users by writing content on how to use technology, and how to also protect their smart devices and personal data from cyber threats. He currently uses a Windows computer, and a Macbook Pro, and tests hundreds of Android phones for writing his reviews and guides.