AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe – What is it, Uses, Safe or Virus?

AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe is an executable file of Apple Incorporation’s MobileMe Control Panel and Apple Mobile Device Support. It is available in the Windows Operating System. This tool basically allows the system to communicate with the mobile device.

What is it and its Uses

AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe is a Service provided by Windows to access any Apple mobile device through its interface.

This program installs itself once you install Apple’s music manager, iTunes. Its job is to detect and synchronize iOS devices if they are connected to your system. Therefore, the system will be able to identify and interact with iPhones, iPads, and iPods that are plugged into your system.

However, AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe will run in the background even if you do not have an Apple connected to your system.

It’s not an essential file of Windows operating system, however disabling or removing AppleMobileDeviceService.exe may stop Apple mobile to connect to your Windows PC.

File Size and Location

• The file size of appleMobileDeviceService.Exe is approximately 82 KB
• Its location pathway is C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\

Is it safe or virus?

AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe is a legitimate component of Apple Mobile Device Support and MobileMe Control Panel in Windows. It is safe. However, there is a chance some malware takes up a similar name and go undetected by the system. There are three ways to identify if this file is a virus:

• If the suspicious file is taking up abnormally high CPU space
• If the file is not located in the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\
• If the verified signer of the file is not Apple or Microsoft Process Explorer is unable to verify the signer. 

Errors

Common errors pertaining to this application are:

• Error starting the program: AppleMobileDeviceService.exe.
• exe is not a valid Win32 application. 

Many users have a complaint that it consumes high CPU  resources.  The Apple Support (support.apple.com) recommend using version 10.3.2 if this happens.

How to Remove It?

If the user does not own or use any Apple mobile devices, then there is no point in keeping this application in their Windows system. It will also unnecessarily waste CPU resources.

Whereas if you connect Apple mobile with Windows operating system, then it is not recommended to uninstall it. Instead, if you can kill the process if it is running in the background using Task Manager, for this follow below steps:

• Press Ctrl+ Shift + Esc button together.
• Under the Task Manager window, click on the Processes tab.
• Locate Apple / iTunes, right-click and click on End Process Tree.

You can remove AppleMobileDeviceService.Exe application by going to the Control Panel and searching for Apple / iTunes. Once you find it, uninstall the program.

There are several other similar applications like:

nvsvc.exe, AcSvc.exe, Smax4pnp.exe, Smartscreen.exe