Top 12 Fixes For Shell Infrastructure Host Has Stopped Working

Meaning of “Windows Shell Experience Host” Process?

The Shell Infrastructure Host process, also known as sihost.exe. It is a core Windows component Windows Operating System and not a Windows system file. It can only be terminated through Task Manager. It controls the Windows Graphical User Interface in conjunction with ShellExperienceHost.exe (GUI).

The “Windows Shell Experience Host” is in charge of displaying universal apps in a windowed environment. It also manages the appearance of numerous graphical aspects of the windows interface.

For example, the transparency of the Start menu and taskbar and the new visuals for your notification area flyouts clock, and calendar. It even has control over specific aspects, such as altering the wallpaper.

Windows 10 originally came out. Many people complained about the “Windows Shell Experience Host” using CPU and memory. In contrast, the number of problems reported has decreased. Some people are still reporting them.

Is Sihost.exe infected with a virus?

The Shell Infrastructure Host, as previously stated, is a critical Windows component that is managed by sihost.exe. In general, sihost.exe is safe and will not harm your computer. However, this does not indicate that sihost.exe is always safe. It could be a Trojan at any point and damage your computer.

In reality, other malware can use sihost.exe to disguise itself. You must determine whether the sihost.exe on your device is a Trojan or a system/trusted application at this time.

• It’s safe to run sihost.exe if it’s in the C: Windows\System32 folder.
• If you locate sihost.exe in a different location (such as a subdirectory of Program Files), delete it right away.
• Other factors, such as the degree of threat and file size, can be utilized to determine whether sihost.exe on your computer is a virus or not.

How to know Sihost.exe?

The most straightforward method is to locate the sihost.exe file.

• Right-click the taskbar and select the Task Manager option.
• In the Task Manager window, search sihost.exe in the Details tab. 
• Right-click it, then select the Open file location option.
• The genuine Shell Infrastructure Host file (sihost.exe) is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If Task Manager opens to another location, you can be sure that the file running on your PC isn’t genuine.

Methods To Solve Shell Infrastructure Host Error

1. Run The SFC Scan
2. Update Your System
3. Disable Windows Background Slideshow Feature
4. Run The DISM Tool on Windows 10
5. Microsoft C++ Redistributable Packages Reinstallation
6. Reduce Taskbar Transparency Effects
7. Fix Registry Errors
8. Disable Automatic Color Changing
9. Perform Full Virus Scan on PC
10. Create New Guest Account
11. Change Windows Startup Type
12. Run Windows Operating System Maintenance Troubleshooter

1. Run The SFC Scan

An important Windows component is the Shell Infrastructure Host. If it’s corrupted, you’ll almost certainly get the problem messages anytime you log in to your guest account.

As a result, running a system file checker scan may be beneficial in resolving the problem.

• Type command prompt in the “Start” box.
• Right-click the top result, which should run “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
• Type in the Command Prompt(Admin) window “SFC/scannow” directly after the cursor, and then hit “Enter.”

• The sfc.exe operation will locate and replace missing or corrupted system files, which may take some time. Log in to your account after restarting your computer.

• If the error message “Shell Infrastructure Host has stopped operating” still appears.

2. Update Your System

Ensure your PC is up to date, as each update brings with it a slew of bug fixes and patches that may come in handy. Follow the procedures below to ensure your system is up to date:

• Type in the Windows search bar for “Check For Updates” in the search bar near the Start menu.
• Click to choose it from the search results list.
• Select “Check For Updates” in the right panel of the pop-up Windows Update tab.
• Windows will begin to look for updates. If updates are discovered, they will be automatically downloaded and installed on your computer.

• Once deployed, check to see if the shell infrastructure host CPU error remains.

3. Disable Windows Background Slideshow Feature

Sihost.exe might waste a lot of CPU if you have a slideshow set as your Windows background. You can try turning off your slide show to see if the problem goes away. Follow this process to turn off the slideshow.

• Press the “Window + X” keys together on your keyboard, then select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.
• Select “Personalization” from the “Settings” panel.
• Choose “Picture” instead of “SlideShow” from the “Background” choice.

• Close all of the windows and check to see whether the problem has gone away.

4. Run The DISM Tool in Windows 10

The potential to repair all Windows components with the DISM command is a unique new feature of Windows 8 or higher. It will spare you the difficulty of having to reinstall Windows. You may simply check your computer’s health if you use the /ScanHealth parameter instead of /Restorehealth.

• Press the “Window + X” keys on your keyboard at the same time.
• Select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the pop-up menu.

• Type the following command into the new PowerShell window and press “Enter.
  • DISM.Exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

5. Microsoft C++ Redistributable Packages Reinstallation

• Search for “Control Panel” in the search bar near the Start menu and click to choose it from the results.
• Move down to the bottom of the control panel window to find and click on the “Programs” option, then pick “Programs And Features.”
• Scroll through the record of programs and features until you find the “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package.”
• Click it to select the “Uninstall” button.
• After you’ve completed the uninstallation, follow the below step. 
• Go to the Microsoft website and download and install the most recent versions of “vcredist x64” and “vcredist x86.”
• Finally, double-check that the shell infrastructure host CPU problem has been resolved.

6. Reduce Taskbar Transparency Effects

For a large number of people, turning off transparency effects solved the problem. To adjust your system’s transparency effects, perform the following:

• To access “Settings,” hit the “Window + I” buttons on your keyboard together.
• Click “Personalization” from the Settings menu, then “Colors” from the left panel.
• Proceed to the bottom of the page to find the option for “Transparency Effects” and make sure it is turned “OFF.”
• Finally, save your changes, dismiss all windows, and check to see if you could solve the problem.

7. Fix Registry Errors

Issues with your Windows Registry might also cause high CPU usage from “sihost.exe.” As a result, you can use any Registry Cleaner to fix your registry mistakes. They manually select registry issues that are complex and can harm your operating system.

Check out the 14 Best Free Registry Cleaner For Windows

8. Disable Automatic Color Changing

• To access “Settings,” hit the “Window + I” buttons on your keyboard together.
• Then, in the Settings panel, select “Personalization.”
• In the left vertical panel, select “Colors.”
• Select “Choose Your Accent Color” from the menu, then uncheck the “Automatically Pick An Accent Color From My Background” box.
• To resolve the sihost.exe shell infrastructure host issue, save all changes and shut the window.

9. Perform a Full Virus Scan on the PC

Malware on your computer can cause a slew of issues, so take the methods below to scan your machine for viruses.

• Search for “Virus and Threat Protection” in the search box near the Start menu and choose it from the results.
• Here, click “Scan Options” and then “Full Scan” from the menu.
• Select the “Scan Now” option at the bottom of the page.
• Wait for the scan to finish before taking action to remove any malware that has been discovered.

10. Create New Guest Account

When you need to share your Windows device with someone else but don’t want them to have administrative access, a Guest Account comes in handy. Because of the restricted access, they cannot make modifications to the system, such as installing and uninstalling apps.

However, while the Guest Account feature is no longer available in Windows 10, you can still create one by following the steps below:

• Go to “Start” and select “Settings.”
• Click Accounts > Family & other users (in some Windows versions, “Other Users”).
• Select “Add someone else to this PC” and then “I don’t know this person’s sign-in information” from the drop-down menu.
• Select the “Add a user without a Microsoft account” link.
• Fill in a suitable username and password.
• “Next” should be selected. This procedure generates a new guest account, which should function normally.

11. Change Windows Startup Type

• Write “MSConfig” into the Run prompt window and click “Enter.”
• Select the “Selective Startup” option in the “General” tab of the pop-up “System Configuration” window.
• Uncheck the checkmark from the “Load Startup Items” box and check the “Load System Services.” Use “Original Boot Configuration” choices.

• Next, go to the top of the window and select the “Services” tab, then check the box next to “Hide All Microsoft Services” at the bottom.
• Then click “Disable All,” then “Apply” all of the settings, and then click “OK.”
• After that, reboot your system to see if the problem has been resolved.

12. Run Windows Operating System Maintenance Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooting tool that can help you find and fix errors. Follow the below-given procedure to run the troubleshooter on your computer:

• To open a “Run” dialogue box, hit the “Window + R” keys on your keyboard together.
• Type “msdt.exe -id MaintenanceDiagnostic” into the Run dialogue box and hit “Enter.”

• Click on the “Advanced” option in the new pop-up box, then on “Run As Administrator.”
• To complete the process, click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Once you’ve finished, double-check to see if the mistake has been resolved.

Conclusion

Windows “Shell Infrastructure Host Process” is a critical component. It is essential to resolve the Shell Infrastructure Host that has ceased operating issue. Assess whether the sihost.exe file on your computer is safe or not. All the methods explained above are well proven to solve “Shell infrastructure host” issues.