How to remove an Mixer error

The free file information forum can help you determine if Mixer.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

Click to Run a Free Scan for Mixer.exe related errors

Mixer.exe file information

The process known as Mixer or mixer belongs to software PCI Audio Applications by C-Media Electronic Inc. (www.cmedia.com.tw) (www.cmedia.com.tw) or C-Media Electronic or MS.

Description: Mixer.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows (mostly c:\windows\ or C:\Program Files\PCI Audio Applications\). Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 1,818,624 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 1,581,056 bytes and 10 more variants.
There is no file information. It is not a Windows core file. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run). The program is not visible. Mixer.exe is able to record inputs. Therefore the technical security rating is 36% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.

Recommended: Identify Mixer.exe related errors

If Mixer.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 35% dangerous. The file size is 98,304 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 655,360 bytes, 1,216,512 bytes or 1,077,248 bytes. There is no description of the program. The file is not a Windows system file. Mixer.exe is able to record inputs.
If there are any problems with Mixer.exe, you can completely remove PCI Audio Applications (Control Panel⇒Add/Remove programs).

If Mixer.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 70% dangerous. The file size is 452,608 bytes. There is no information about the author of the file. The program has no visible window. Mixer.exe is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The application starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run). It is not a Windows system file.

External information from Paul Collins:
There are different files with the same name:

"C-Media Mixer" is not required to run at start up. C-Media produce audio chipsets that are often found on popular motherboards with on-board audio. Provides System Tray access to change audio settings. Available via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel or Start -> Programs
"Mixer" is not required to run at start up. C-Media Mixer - C-Media produce audio chipsets that are often found on popular motherboards with on-board audio. Provides System Tray access to change audio settings. Available via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel or Start -> Programs

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as Mixer.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the Mixer.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

nothing it apears on my startup but cannot find it in pc anywhere
mcclarke

it is a sound manager of some kind.. you can set up volumes and such
WebPsycho

It comes with c-media sound devices as far as im aware
JB

it keeps taking up about half of my cpu making my computer slow, when i end the task explorer crashes and i have to reboot
kurt

One copy under c:\winnt runs automatically and triggers my attention. This mixer.exe has 1776 KB while my computer search comes up with 3 other mixer.exe all with 1544 KB. I don't know what it does but seems very strange indeed.
HW

C-Media sound properties - hangs sometimes win XP if left after change to another sound hardware
kolczan

When this app is running for long periods of time it seems to sap resources heavily (memory leak?)
CEB

Substitute audio mixer for Windows volume control. Extremely annoying self-loading prog that is in fact quite useless. Installed itself against my wishes when installing a new sound card. I'm here looking for a way to get rid of it once and for all!! I've rated it as dangerous because of its invasive and pervasive behaviour.
Moonman

It was taking up over 200k kb of memory, so I just right-clicked -- end process, and it ended without anything bad happening. So I just assumed it was malware or a trojan or something.
Stan

Popped up a week later after I put in a new sound card. doesn't seem to be doing anything yet. Sneaky little thing though... is not revealed when I run a search for it . Says it found 1 file , but doesn't show it. Has staged itself in the Startup rooster. Ironically, I was already having trouble with the sound drivers ... no sound for it to mix...
G-child

Belongs with C-media soundchip driver package
AS

Mixer.exe is taking up 1 gig of my memory and i cant delete it. I'm not even using the onboard sound card anymore so I don't need it at all.
brent skinner

It is a C media file, I believe for your sound to work, you have to leave it running in the background. But run a scan just to check.
Kevin (further information)

As my PC run 5 days mixer.exe used over 750 Mbyte of Ram. This tool is realy buggy
A. Erber

Mixer.exe is a royal P.O.S. and has a memory leak when it has been running for over a certain amount of time. Thus I know bc it should use about 5 mb of memory but instead the other day it was using around 267mb! lol I would just delete the file and revert back to the basic windows mixer. Much more stable.
Gosh darn I hate Mixer.exe

I had a mixer.exe that was using 400MB of RAM. It was in a non-existent directory off my desktop. Yah - I been pwnzed.
ElgeeC

I was using 2.0gb of ram! When i ended the procces my ram Usage came down from 2.55gb to 259mb. Its not dangerous but It Hogs up the RAM!
john P.

rc in task manager and ended process and nothing bad happened, sound still works and now i have 1.6 Gig of memory back to use elsewhere now lol
mikeman

You think 1GB is much? try having it use 2,3GB....And I don't even have a C-Media soundcard on my MOBO (780I FTW)
Blazing-Studios

it showed up with my old c-media sound card which i long longer use and i cant get rid of it its in add/remove programs but cant be removed im totally lost as to getting it off my pc i may try putting the old sound card in to remove it (if i can find it...) it starts every time i restart and it runs for hardware thats no longer in my desktop
Matt

Finally was able to get rid of it thanks to the post at the top of this page. I was about to search my registry, and googled mixer.exe. I found this page, went to the registry key mentioned, and there it was. I deleted it and got a warning from ZoneAlarm telling me that the registry was trying to prevent subsequent calls for this "dangerous" P.O.S. I just hope no app needs it. I'll find out soon.
John

has memory leak, disable startup with msconfig - use standard audio mixer
mugge

i have found mixer on my pc many times and have tried to end it, but it shows up running again months later. I know that it coincides with muting my microphone, deep in the audio software. coincidently, i havent been able to chat on yahoo chat since it showed up a week ago. I have since stopped it under msconfig.exe startup and now i can chat on my mic again.
freewriterguy

C-media mixer comes with an uninstaller named "CMUninst". The default location is C:\Windows\Program Files\C-Media\Win_ME\CMUninst. Run the uninstaller. Reboot. Gone.
Mud

Summary: Average user rating of Mixer.exe: based on 31 votes with 24 reviews.

9 users think Mixer.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users think it's probably harmless. 13 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 4 users suspect danger. 3 users think Mixer.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 4 users doesn't grade Mixer.exe ("not sure about it").

Mixer scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

Spyware Doctor detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

Other processes