What is ACWebBrowser.exe, Location & How to Disable it?

ACWebBrowser.exe is an executable program which stands for Autodesk Chromium Web Browser. It is a part of the Maya software developed by Autodesk. Maya is a graphic editing utility used for 3D computer graphics animation. It has powerful modeling, simulation, texturing, rendering & animation tools for modelers, artists, and animators.

In plain language we can say that, ACWebBrowswer.exe facilitates a browser handler, thereby allowing the user to have access to web pages through the Maya software.

File size and location

• The location pathway of ACWebBrowser.exe is C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Desktop App\AcWebBrowser\
• The file size is approximately 485 KB.

Is it a Malware or Virus?

Usually, it’s a safe file, but if you have noticed that the ACWebBrowser.exe is consuming high CPU or Memory on task manager, then it may be a malware or a virus. In that case, a complete system scan is recommended with software like Malwarebytes.

How to disable it?

Maya software can be operated without this process in case there is no requirement for interaction with the internet. In such cases it can be disabled using the below methods:

Method 1: Using Task Manager

This is one of the simple and fast methods to disable ACWebBrowser.exe on a temporary basis, here are the steps:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc button all-together
2. Click on Details tab
3. Locate ACWebBrowser.exe, right-click and choose End Task

Method 2: Disable it using Services

This is the another best way to manually disable ACWebBrowser on your system:

1. Press Windows+R button, type services.msc and hit Enter button
2. Locate Autodesk Desktop App Service, right-click on it, and choose Properties.
3. Click on General tab and choose Disabled under Startup type 

Method 3: Deleting the folder

1. Go to C: -> Program Files -> Autodesk -> Autodesk Desktop App.
2. Select the folder named AcWebBrowser.
3. Simultaneously, go to Task Manager and verify that the Autodesk Desktop App and the Maya software are not running. Kill them in case they are running.
4. The AcWebBrowser folder can now be deleted and the Maya software can be used without it.

Method 4: Renaming the AcWebBrowser application

Instead of deleting the folder as per the previous method, renaming AcWebBrowser.exe will also prohibit the application to run

1. Go to C: > Program Files > Autodesk > Autodesk Desktop App > AcWebBrowser folder
2. Search for AcWebBrowser.exe and rename it
3. Reboot the system.

Method 5: Uninstalling the associated program

1. Go to the Start menu and type cpl
2. Select Control Panel from the list that appears and open it
3. Click on Uninstall a Program located under Program (For Windows 7: Go to Programs -> Programs & Features)
4. Search for the Autodesk desktop app and right-click on it.
5. Click on Uninstall
6. Select Yes if prompted by User Account Control box and any other warning box thereafter.

This way, you can completely remove acwebbrowser.exe from your Windows OS.

Method 6: Using the Windows Firewall

1. Go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Windows Defender Firewall -> Advanced Settings. This will open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
2. Select Inbound Rules on the left and then go to New Rule located in the rightmost panel
3. Go to Program -> This Program Path (browse to the location where acwebbrowser.exe is located) -> Block the Connection -> Checkmark all the rules -> Create a name.
4. Click on Finish.
5. The same steps can be applied to Outbound Rules as well.

Other similar processes:

mitsijm.exe, taskhostw.exe, mqsvc.exe, drwtsn32.exe