WDAGUtilityAccount: What It Is and How to Delete?

After you run a command in Command Prompt, suddenly an item called WDAGUtilityAccount pops up in the CMD. What does this strange thing do on Windows 10? Will it pose dangers to your PC?

The first thing occurs to some people is to disable the WDAGUtilityAccount in case it hacks the system. Some people started noting the presence of the WDAGUtilityAccount after Windows update.

Without knowing about the meaning and usages of this so-called account, you find that WDAGUtilityAccount seems to own all of you files. So you are wondering whether it has been taken over by malware of viruses.

It is worth mentioning that WDAGUtilityAccount is safe and needed in some cases on Windows systems. This post will walk you through this account so that you can then determine whether to delete it.

Overview:

• What is WDAGUtilityAccount?
• Can I delete WDAGUtilityAccount?
• How to Disable WDAGUtilityAccount?

What is WDAGUtilityAccount?

WDAGUtilityAccount is a component of Windows Defender Applicable Guard, so it has appeared along with the Windows Defender application ever since Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Normally, it is not until when you turn on the Windows Defender on your PC that the WDAGUtilityAccount will start working.

Hence, more often than not, this account is by default disabled since users tend to download a third-party antivirus program to protect the PC from viruses and malware. As a part of the Windows Defender program, of course, WDAGUtilityAccount is also based on Windows systems instead of any third-party developers.

Whenever the WDAGUtilityAccount is enabled, Windows 10 will prompt you to create a new account for the PC. Sometimes, if you do not follow the instructions and do not create a user account, a permission error will show you, saying “access is denied, administrator permission is necessary” and prevent you from executing any operations on Windows 10, for example, opening a Windows-based program or deleting a system file.

While the system will remind you of another message that you need to permission of the WDAGUtilityAccount if you are to the last operation. In this way, this account of Windows Defender application should be enabled.

Can I delete WDAGUtilityAccount?

Being a Windows-based account, WDAGUtilityAccount is not a virus, and it will not threaten your system in normal cases. And it should be enabled when Windows Defender program is required to run.

Hence, you should not delete, or in other words, disable it from running since it is managed by the system and required by the system.

However, once you noticed any problems with this account, for instance, it takes control of all the files on your PC, it is viable that you try to disable WDAGUtilityAccount temporarily to fix the issues. Or when you delete a file or accomplish any operations with the default account, this account error may also be likely to show up in Command Prompt.

How to Disable WDAGUtilityAccount?

If you are determined to turn off the WDAGUtilityAccount since it leads to permission issue, or this account occurs to your PC all of a sudden, you can follow steps below. Actually, users can disable the WDAGUtilityAccount in Computer Management.

Disable WDAGUtilityAccount from Computer Management:

1. Search computer management in the search box and then press Enter to get into this program.

2. In Computer Management, find out Local Users and Groups > Users.

3. On the right pane, locate and double click WDAGUtilityAccount.

4. Check the box of Account is disabled.

5. Click Apply and OK to save changes.

In so doing, you can see that WDAGUtilityAccount will not be working on your PC. Hence, there will not be problems caused by WDAGUtilityAccount on Windows 10.

To summarize, WDAGUtilityAccount is a Windows-based account and works when Windows Defender Application Guard is enabled on Windows 10. Normally, it is not recommended that you delete this account unless it results in file or any other system issues.