Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Darkside\UI\darkside-ui-exe.exe
Warning
Multiple processes may be normal
Darkside UI may spawn renderer or overlay subprocesses for widgets
Can I Disable?
YES
Close the UI from the system tray or disable startup
What is darkside-ui-exe?
darkside-ui-exe is the executable that powers the Darkside UI suite, delivering a dark-themed interface, desktop widgets, and theme controls. It runs as a lightweight background service and displays UI elements within Windows sessions.
Darkside UI uses a modular architecture with a launcher, renderer, and background workers to render themes, icons, and widgets. It communicates with Windows shell components and persists settings in AppData.
Quick Fact: Darkside UI was designed to provide a cohesive dark-light theming layer, with isolated processes to minimize crashes affecting the desktop.
Types of Darkside Processes
- Launcher Process: Starts the Darkside UI components and handles user interactions
- Renderer Process: Renders the UI panels and widgets
- Overlay Process: Manages on-screen overlays and notifications
- Background Service: Keeps theme settings synchronized across sessions
- Plugin/Extension Process: Plugins for custom widgets run in separate processes
- Utility Process: Background tasks like data syncing and telemetry
Is darkside-ui-exe Safe?
Yes, darkside-ui-exe is safe when it originates from trusted Darkside Software builds downloaded from official sources or packaged by device manufacturers.
Is darkside-ui-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real darkside-ui-exe is NOT a virus. Malware may disguise itself with similar names; always verify the path and signature.
How to Tell if darkside-ui-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Darkside\UI\darkside-ui-exe.exe or a legitimate component in C:\Program Files\Darkside\UI\. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from "Darkside Software".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-12% CPU and 20-150 MB memory. Constant high usage outside active UI indicates possible tampering.
- Behavior: Should only run when Darkside UI is active or a background service is enabled. Unusual auto-launch without user action may indicate malware.
Red Flags: If darkside-ui.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when you haven't opened the UI, has no signature, or uses resources constantly, scan with reputable antivirus. Look for similarly named files from untrusted sources.
Why Is darkside-ui-exe Running on My PC?
darkside-ui-exe runs to provide the themed UI, widgets, and theme synchronization. It may run in background to support system-wide theming.
Reasons it's running:
- Active UI Use: When the Darkside UI is active or widgets are visible, the launcher and renderers run to present the interface.
- Background Widgets: Widgets and notifications operate in background to update live tiles, clocks, and theme state.
- Startup Program: Darkside UI may be configured to launch on Windows startup to apply themes immediately.
- Theme Sync: Live syncing of themes, colors, and wallpaper across apps requires background processing.
- System Tray App: "Continue running in background" may be enabled, keeping the UI responsive from the tray.
Can I Disable or Remove darkside-ui-exe?
Yes, you can disable darkside-ui-exe. You can prevent its UI from showing and remove the software if you no longer need it.
How to Stop darkside-ui-exe
- End UI Sessions: Right-click the system tray icon and choose Exit or Quit, or use Task Manager to end the process for the UI components.
- Close UI Windows: Close all open UI panels to reduce activity
- End Background Tasks: Open Task Manager, locate any darkside-ui-exe-related processes, and End Task
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager -> Startup tab -> Disable Darkside UI
- Stop Background Services: Services.msc -> find Darkside UI Service -> Stop and set Startup type to Manual
How to Uninstall Darkside UI
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Darkside UI -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Darkside UI -> Uninstall
- ✔ Restart computer after uninstall and ensure no residual files remain in C:\Program Files\Darkside\ and AppData
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If darkside-ui-exe uses excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Active Widgets: Reduce the number of visible widgets or hide rarely used panels.
- Misbehaving Theme Components: Disable or revert to a stable theme; update to latest patch.
- Background Sync Traffic: Temporarily disable sync or adjust update frequency in settings.
- Outdated Version: Update Darkside UI to the latest version via Settings -> Check for updates.
- Conflicting Programs: Disable conflicting UI overlays or buttons from other software.
- Corrupted Cache: Clear cache for Darkside UI in AppData\Local\Darkside\UI\Cache or reinstall.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager to identify heavy widgets and close them
2. Reset to default theme in Darkside UI settings
3. Clear cache and user data: delete AppData\Local\Darkside\UI\Cache
4. Check for updates and install
5. Disable background sync temporarily
Frequently Asked Questions
Is darkside-ui-exe a virus?
No, the legitimate darkside-ui-exe is a desktop UI component from Darkside Software. Verify path at C:\Program Files\Darkside\UI\darkside-ui-exe.exe and confirm signatures.
Why is darkside-ui-exe running at startup?
It can be configured to launch on login to apply themes immediately. Disable it in Task Manager -> Startup if you don't need it auto-starting.
How do I disable or remove darkside UI?
You can disable it from the system tray, in Task Manager for startup, or uninstall via Settings -> Apps. Restart after uninstall.
Can I reduce CPU usage by darkside UI?
Yes, reduce active widgets, disable background sync, update to latest version, or switch to a lighter theme. Use Task Manager to identify culprits.
Where is darkside-ui-exe located on disk?
Default path is C:\Program Files\Darkside\UI\darkside-ui-exe.exe. Some builds may install under C:\Program Files (x86)\Darkside\UI for 32-bit systems.
How do I update darkside-ui-exe?
Open Darkside UI settings and choose Check for updates, or download the latest installer from the official Darkside website.