Even when you have no visible programs running on your desktop or laptop, you may still see some strange programs that are running in the background like hkcmd.exe that may leave you with a big question mark. But if you use an advanced program like Process Explorer or take a closer look at the hkcmd.exe file located on the system32 folder, you will realize that hkcmd.exe has an explanation of its own.
About the hkcmd.exe Process
The hkcmd.exe filename is a shortened name of the program which is known as Hotkey command interpreter. Any systems that have an Intel graphics card will most likely have this program running by default alongside the igfxtray.exe which serves as the main application for controlling the main features of the Intel graphics card. The hkcmd.exe controls the hotkey aspects of the graphics card allowing users to manipulate certain graphics card settings without opening the igfxtray.exe.
Malware Status
This particular process does nothing else other than allow hotkey functionality so hkcmd.exe is completely and not a malware by any means. It does not connect to the Internet or fetch data from other areas of the system making it completely safe.
When Not Running
It is completely safe to disable hkcmd.exe as it won’t affect the operations of the main graphics card application. You will free up a little bit of resources when exiting at the expense of the inability to use hotkeys. If your RAM is high, it is recommended to leave it running unless it interferes with hotkeys used by other applications.
When Problems Arise
The hkcmd.exe file is a small application and doesn’t really do much harm. It is very unlikely for this application to be the culprit of any Windows related problems. But it is still safe to disable anyway for troubleshooting purposes.
When Memory Consumption is High
If the memory consumption gets high, it is possible that the hotkeys are overused. In most cases though, it is also highly unlikely for hkcmd.exe to consume heavy amounts of memory. The best solution for this is to simply restart your computer and see if the problem persists. If it does, simply disable it from ever starting up especially if you have low RAM installed.
Fixing Problems using Registry Scanners
The Intel graphics chip has several entries stored in the Windows registry. If these entries are corrupted, a reinstallation of the driver should fix the problem. If it doesn’t solve the problem, consider scanning your entire registry using the best commercial Windows registry scanners. Using an anti-malware scanner helps as well and may solve other problems related to the Intel graphics chip.
There may be some spyware or virus that has a name similar to hkcmd.exe so be on the look out for those as some viruses or other scanners may not detect them right away. It could be a lot easier to recognize if you don’t have the Intel graphics chip in your hardware.
Generally this process isn’t much of a big deal and can only turn into a problem if it is a virus in disguise. If you want to play safe, disable it by all means, but if you love hotkeys, leave it open.