The csrss.exe file, which appears in Task Manager as the Client Server Runtime Process, is an essential part of Windows. You, as a user, never interact with it directly. However, it performs a number of essential functions in the background, whether you're using Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7.
What is “csrss.exe” explained!
Under normal circumstances, the csrss.exe file is not a malware or virus, which means that you cannot safely delete or quarantine it. However, there is an easy way to verify whether you are dealing with the real csrss.exe or an imposter. If your system is infected with malware that pretends to be csrss.exe, then the best way is to remove it.
When you open Task Manager on a Windows computer, you'll find at least one instance, and often multiple instances, of something called the Client Server Runtime Process. This is the display name Windows uses for csrss.exe, which stands for client server runtime subsystem.
The Client Server Runtime Process has been around since the early days of Windows. Before 1996, it was responsible for the graphics subsystem. That usage has changed over the years, but it is still responsible for a number of crucial tasks behind the scenes in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.