Svchost Viewer review

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 29, 2008
Updated • Oct 14, 2019
Software, Windows tips
|
12

Svchost Viewer is a Windows program that has been designed to reveal the services behind specific svchost.exe processes on machines running Windows.

The software program of choice to analyze processes is Process Explorer from Sysinternals (usually), and while it is the go-to program for many, its feature richness and functionality can be quite intimidating at first.

Yes, there are other applications that do the same but Process Explorer is probably the application that most professionals and tech-savvy Windows users use for that purpose.

Note: Microsoft changed how svchost processes are displayed on Windows 10. The operating system lists one process for each svchost item, and reveals what it is so that it is a lot easier to find out what a process does.

Svchost Viewer

The Open Source program Svchost viewer limits itself to the scvhost service which makes it somewhat of a specialized program that may be useful to users who want to know more about the services that run under svchost processes.

It does not provide additional information that a user could not get out of Process Explorer, but it provides the advantage that it is not overladen with additional features and other services so that it is a lot easier to use.

It answers the question why multiple svchost processes are running on the system, and may even provide you with information on how to reduce the number of different processes.

The software program scans all svchost processes that are currently running on the system and displays them in a tree view that can be expanded to show additional information like the services that are run under each svchost entry.

The svchost process caused lots of confusion in the past as users did not know why why several svchost.exe processes were running on the system when they opened the Windows Task Manager or another process viewer.

The services under each svchost process are listed in the left pane, a click opens detailed information about each service on the right larger pane of the application.

It details the amount of computer memory a svchost process is using as well as a description and program path of the services it has spawned.

While it won't provide you with any recommendations, you can use the information it provides to research these services, and turn off those that you don't require.

The svchost viewer application is portable and should run under Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The Microsoft .net Framework 2.0 or higher is required to run it. The application itself takes up only 40 Kilobyte on the hard drive.

Update: The last compatible version of Svchost Viewer is listed as Windows 7. While that is the case, it runs fine on newer versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 10.

The latest version of the program, released in 2010, features a couple of additional options that may make live easier for you.

First, you can click on service control in the menu bar at the top to stop selected services right from within the interface.

Second, an option to generate a plain text report is available which lists each process and the services running under it.

Last but not least, you may also open the Windows Services Manager straight from the application.

Summary
software image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1stargray
2.5 based on 34 votes
Software Name
Svchost Viewer
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
System
Landing Page
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. zzong said on October 14, 2019 at 2:51 pm
    Reply

    There is no exe file in zip file… is anything wrong?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on October 14, 2019 at 2:53 pm
      Reply

      I changed the download page to a page on Major Geeks, please use this link.

      1. Cigologic said on October 16, 2019 at 9:54 pm
        Reply

        > Martin Brinkmann: “I changed the download page to a page on Major Geeks”

        The version listed at MajorGeeks is the older v0.3.0.0 RC1 (released: Feb 2009).

        Softpedia has the last available v0.5.0.1 (20 May 2010):
        https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/SVChost-Viewer.shtml

  2. lotin said on May 13, 2015 at 5:45 pm
    Reply

    that’s a great software.

  3. NNK lee said on December 8, 2009 at 2:08 pm
    Reply

    i like this app

  4. Proxy.my said on April 19, 2009 at 9:04 pm
    Reply

    Just wanna add something here. Need a fast and clean proxy? Try proxy.my

    Unblock friendster, facebook, myspace and even youtube!

  5. Nomad said on April 11, 2009 at 7:06 am
    Reply

    My Bad. re-downloaded and it works perfectly.. Nice!

  6. Nomad said on April 11, 2009 at 6:44 am
    Reply

    oops, I do have .net (1.1 2.0 3.0 & 3.5 ) so that’s not it.

  7. Nomad said on April 11, 2009 at 6:39 am
    Reply

    Erroneously states I have 0 svchost processes running. Suspect I may not have the proper .net version required, (running xp sp3). Author may wish to add some sort of requirement checking upon launch.

  8. topcool said on April 4, 2009 at 8:31 am
    Reply

    i like this app

  9. eRIZ said on August 29, 2008 at 9:50 pm
    Reply

    Just point on svchost.exe in Process Explorer, you will get the same result as in this external program. The only difference is displaying data in tooltip (@procexp).

  10. -=Ben=- said on August 29, 2008 at 9:34 pm
    Reply

    Hey, I suggest using PRIO, a priority watcher extension for Windows Task Manager, you can see it here:
    http://www.prnwatch.com/prio.html
    (yes, I know, horrible domain name!, but it is a safe site!)

    With this addon you can make your priorities of the processes always what you selected – remember. You can also hover your mouse over a process (svchost) and see what it actually runs inside.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.