HydraDM.exe: What is It & Should I Remove It?

Many of our readers have seen HydraDM.exe running in the Task Manager and are wondering what it is and whether they should keep or delete it. If you are one of them, this guide can help!

What is HydraDM.exe?

The HydraDM.exe or HydraVision file is a software component of AMD HydraVision Desktop Manager by AMD.

Is HydraDM.exe safe?

Yes, HydraDM.exe is a legit file if it is present in the official installation directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\HydraVision\ 
C:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\ATI HYDRAVISION

However, if the file is not located on your computer, it could be a virus or malware disguised as a legitimate process.

Should I delete HydraDM.exe?

 ✅Keep it if:

• Your device has an ATI or AMD graphics card
• The file is stored in C:\Program Files (x86)
• A legitimate digital certificate signed by AMD

❌ Remove it if:

• The file is not in the system drive
• Your machine shows unusual behavior like crashes, high CPU usage, or malware-related pop-ups.
• A reliable antivirus app flagged it as malicious.

Read more about this topic

• Plugin-container.exe: What is it & Should I Remove it?
• Conhost.exe: What is it & how to Fix Its High CPU Usage

How can I check if HydraDM.exe is a virus?

1. Check the file location

1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
2. Go to Processes and search for HydraDM.exe.
3. Once located, right-click it and select Open file location from the context menu.
4. The File Explorer will open with the HydraDM.exe in the Program Files (x86) subfolder; make sure the file is in the default location.

2. Run a full system scan

1. Press the Windows key, type security in the search box, choose Windows Security, and select Open from the list of options.
2. Select Virus & threat protection, then click Scan options.
3. Choose Full scan, and click Scan now.

Once the scan is done, you can review the results. If a file is flagged as malware, you should quarantine or remove it. Next, press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Windows update> Check for updates, and install them if available.

However, if you have a reliable third-party antivirus tool, we recommend you to run a full system scan to ensure there are no threats on your computer.

Read more about this topic

• Plugin-container.exe: What is it & Should I Remove it?
• Conhost.exe: What is it & how to Fix Its High CPU Usage
• HsMgr64.exe: What is It & Should I Delete It?

How can I fix issues related to HydraDM.exe?

1. Disable the service

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console.
2. Type services.msc and click OK to open Services.
3. Double-click HydraDM.exe to open the Properties window.
4. Select Disabled from the drop-down for Startup type and click the Stop button for Service Status.
5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

2. Update or reinstall the AMD driver

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
3. From the list of system components, click Display adapters to expand, right-click the AMD graphics driver, and choose Update driver from the context menu.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers.
5. Windows will try to install the suitable driver version and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If Windows fails, you can manually install the latest driver version from the device manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can use a third-party driver updater tool to ensure all the device drivers stays up to date.

If you still see issues because of HydraDM.exe, follow these steps to reinstall the AMD driver:

1. Relaunch the Device Manager app, Click Display adapters to expand the category, right-click the AMD driver, and choose Uninstall device from the context menu.
2. Go to Action, then select Scan for hardware changes from the drop-down menu.

3. Restore your PC to an older version

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console.
2. Type rstrui and click OK to open the System Restore window
3. Select Choose a different restore point and click Next.
4. Select the oldest point or the one created before the issues related to HyrdaDM.exe started from the list of available restore points, then click Next.
5. Click Finish.

Windows will try to restart and restore the system settings to the selected point. If it fails, you might see the System Restore did not Complete Successfully message after restart, it could be due to conflicting drivers or corrupted system files; read this guide to learn more.

4. Uninstall the app

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK to open the Programs and Features window.
3. Locate the AMD HydraVision Desktop Manager app, then select Uninstall.
4. Click Uninstall again.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

In conclusion, HydraDM.exe is a legit file associated with an AMD HydraVision Desktop Manager. However, if you are facing issues because of it, run a full scan using Windows security or a third-party antivirus tool, disable the service, update/reinstall the graphics driver, or perform a system restore.

Furthermore, you can reboot your computer in a clean boot environment to identify any conflicting startup app or service causing problems or run a system file checker utility tool to recover corrupted system files.

If you have questions about HydraDM.exe, feel free to mention them in the comments section below. We will be happy to answer.