If you see a process named UNCServer.exe in the Task Manager of your Windows 11/10 computer you ask what it is and if it is safe, then this post will definitely interest you.
What is UNCServer.exe and Why Is It Running?
UNC is an abbreviation of Universal naming convention and is present on your Lenovo computer to check for updates. If you can see the process running on your computer, that means the module is active and working to update your system.
It runs in the background to allow automatic installation of system updates. It is a real process created by Lenovo for Windows computers that ensures your computer is always up-to-date. However, it’s not supposed to work and certainly doesn’t take much of your resources. Once your system is updated, the process should automatically disable itself. It is his nature.
To find out where this is stored on your computer, you need to right-click on the process and select Open File Location. If you can’t process it, go to the Details tab and probe. For me it was the following:
C:Program Files (x86)LenovoSystem Update
So, if your process is in this folder, it is the legit Lenovo file. if not, it could be malware.
Is UNCServer.exe safe?
As mentioned earlier, the process is there to make sure that your computer is always updated and it is a genuine process. However, a virus can hide UNCServer and run on your computer. That’s why you need to check if a file is malicious or not and then run an antivirus if necessary. If you don’t have antivirus, try using Windows Security to scan your computer for viruses and malware. Follow the given steps to do the same.
- Open Windows Security by looking for it in the start menu.
- Go to Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
- To select Microsoft Defender Offline Scan > Scan Now.
Wait for the process to complete and you will have your results. You can do the same with any third-party antivirus you might have. If you conclude that the process is a virus, it is best to remove it.
How do I stop or remove UNCServer?
You shouldn’t stop UNCServer in general, but if you don’t want your computer to update automatically, then be my guest and stop or kill the process. However, we recommend that you do so, if you find that the process is running all the time, try restarting your computer and see if the problem persists. If the process still appears in Task Manager, continue.
Here is the method to stop or remove UNCServer.
- Final task
- Stop TVSU update task
- Uninstall Lenovo System Update
Let’s talk about it in detail.
1]End of task
First, let’s take the safer approach, you want to shut down UNCServer, do it. Open Task Manager through Ctrl + Shift + Esc, then right-click the process and click End Task. This will suspend the task and if everything is working perfectly, you will be stopped for now and only launched when Lenovo needs to update your computer. This is a perfect solution for someone who wants to disable the feature and doesn’t necessarily want to disallow the system from auto-updating. Once you have stopped the task, restart your computer and check if UNCServer is still there or not. But if you want to remove the tool then use the following solution.
2]Stop the TVSU update task
TVSUUpdateTask is what makes your computer update automatically and if you stop the task you won’t see UNCServer in your task manager. TVSUUpdate is the ThinkVantage System Update program and is present on most Lenovo computers. Follow the given steps to do the same.
- Open Task scheduler.
- To expand Task Scheduler Library and click TVT.
- Right-click TVSUUpdateTask and select Disable.
The process will take a few seconds and it will be disabled.
3]Uninstall Lenovo System Update
Finally, you can try removing Lenovo System Update as it will remove UNCServer once and for all. So open Windows Settings, go to Applications, find “Lenovo System Update”. If you’re on Windows 11, click the three vertical dots and select Uninstall, and for Windows 10, select the app and click Uninstall. In both cases, you will need to confirm your actions.
UNCServer.exe not responding
If you constantly see the UNCServer.exe not responding error box, you should either try uninstalling and reinstalling Lenovo System Update, or uninstall it completely because you don’t really need it. Once the app is removed, restart your computer and you’ll be good to go.
Hope you now know what UNCServer is, if you remove it and how to remove it.
Also check: Missing drivers for Lenovo ThinkPad? Download and install them correctly!
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