What is Identity_Helper.exe Process Running in Task Manager in Windows 10?

Recently after upgrading to latest version of Microsoft Edge web browser, I noticed a process “identity_helper.exe” running in Task Manager in Windows 10. The process description was showing as “PWA Identity Proxy Host“.

Following screenshot shows identity_helper.exe process running in Task Manager:

If you are also worrying what is this identity_helper.exe process and why is it running in background in your computer system, this article will help you.

An AskVG reader also asked me about this suspicious process running in Windows 10. He was wondering whether identity_helper.exe is a virus or malware. He was not sure how this executable was installed in his device.

Actually identity_helper.exe is an executable installed or downloaded by Microsoft Edge web browser. If you installed new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser in your system or if Microsoft Edge was automatically installed in your Windows 10 device via Windows Update, there are high chances that you see this process running in Task Manager.

Launch Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together) and go to Details tab and look for identity_helper.exe process. If you find the process, right-click on the process and select “Open file location” option from context menu, it’ll open following folder in File Explorer:

Here “89.0.774.45” is the version number of latest Microsoft Edge web browser installed in your computer system. It might differ in different devices depending upon which version of Microsoft Edge is installed in the device.

So it makes clear that the identity_helper.exe process is related to Microsoft Edge web browser.

Now the question comes why does Microsoft Edge install this executable and why does it keep running in background? What is the use of identity_helper.exe process?

As far as I understand, identity_helper.exe process is related to “Web Apps Identity Proxy” feature introduced in Microsoft Edge web browser. This feature allows installed progressive web apps (PWA) to be created with modern Windows application identity to better integrating them with Windows shell.

With the help of this new feature, when the user installs a PWA in Microsoft Edge, it works like a regular or native UWP or store app. The installed web apps get their own names, own program windows. Also the installed web apps get their entries listed under Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features page so that users can uninstall the web apps similar to other native apps.

I think the identity_helper.exe process is used by Microsoft Edge to manage this new feature and that’s why it runs in background while using the browser.

If you want to disable or remove identity_helper.exe process from running in background, you can try to turn off “Web Apps Identity Proxy” feature in Microsoft Edge. Microsoft provides a hidden preference/flag to enable/disable this feature.

Following steps will help you in disabling “Web Apps Identity Proxy” feature in Microsoft Edge web browser:

1. Open Microsoft Edge web browser and type edge://flags/ in addressbar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration or experiments page.

2. Now type proxy in the “Search flags” box.

It’ll directly go to following option:

3. To deactivate and disable the new “Web Apps Identity Proxy” feature, set the above mentioned option to Disabled using the drop-down box.

4. Microsoft Edge will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Restart” button to restart Microsoft Edge.

It’ll permanently disable the feature and identity_helper.exe process should stop running in background.

PS: If you really want to get rid of the executable, you can try to rename or delete identity_helper.exe file present in the above mentioned folder.

Also Check:

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