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What is Wlrmdr.exe & What Does It Do?

Here’s why you need a password expiration reminder

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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If you’re a Windows user, you know the importance of passwords in securing your privacy. Well, the wlrmdr.exe file is an important process. It plays the role of reminding you tochange your passwordbefore it expires.

It may not look like a necessary process, but once your password expires, you’ll have difficulty logging into your device. If you’ve seen the wlrmdr.exe file in your system, we unpack it in this article.

What does the wlrmdr.exe file do?

What does the wlrmdr.exe file do?

The wlrmdr.exe process can be found in theC:\Windows\System32folder. It is part of the Winlogon service and should not be terminated or disabled unless you know what you’re doing.

When you start a computer, Windows loads several programs automatically and silently in the background. One of these programs is wlrmdr.exe. It belongs to Windows Logon Reminder Service, which helps users remember to change their passwords regularly.

If you have everforgotten your password or lost your login credentials, getting back into your system can be a real pain.

Usually, when you forget your password, you can reset it using an alternative method. However, if you don’t remember your username, it becomes impossible to log on to Windows.

This is where Windows Logon Reminder comes into play. Aside from reminders, other roles it plays include:

Is the wlrmdr.exe file necessary in Windows?

Although the wlrmdr.exe file is not essential for Windows, it is important nonetheless. Still, it should be removed if known to cause problems.

If yourPC is running slower than usualor yourcomputer freezesfor no apparent reason, this may be due to wlrmdr.exe. The wlrmdr.exe process is not a virus or malware. But it can be an indicator that your computer is infected with malware.

In some cases, malicious programs can use this process to gain access to your computer and steal data from it.

If you suspect your computer might be infected with malware, we recommend scanning it. You can use Windows Defender orother third-party antiviruses.

Once you have successfully removed all traces of the wlrmdr.exe file, we recommenddisabling your device’s password expirationif you forget to change it.

In case you’re interested innotifying users of password expiration in Active Directory, we have an interesting article that details how to go about it.

As an application, wlrmdr.exe is harmless. It can be deleted at your convenience and will not cause problems with your PC’s function.

Let us know if you have encountered any issues with this file in the comment section below.

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Claire Moraa

Windows Software Expert

Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She’s driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to learn more about Microsoft’s products. With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11, errors, and software.

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Claire Moraa

Windows Software Expert

With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11 errors.