How to Download Atchost.exe and Fix Runtime Error Messages

Last Updated: 11/24/2023
[Average Article Time to Read: 4.7 minutes]

atchost.exe, also known as a Bitdefender Active Threat Control Host Process file, was created by Bitdefender for the development of Bitdefender® ATC. EXE files fall under under the Win64 EXE (Dynamic link library) file type category.

atchost.exe was initially released with Adaware Antivirus 12.4.930.11587 on 06/27/2018 for the Windows 10 Operating System. The most recent release for BitDefender 1.0.14.74 launched on 12/03/2018 [version 1.28.222.0 0x3790f9f release].

In this short article, you will discover detailed file information, steps for troubleshooting EXE file problems with atchost.exe, and list of free downloads for every version that exists in our comprehensive file directory.

File Analysis Provided by Jason Geater (Author)

File Overview

General Information ^✻
File Name:	atchost.exe
File Extension:	EXE file extension
Description:	Bitdefender Active Threat Control Host Process
Object File Type:	Dynamic link library
File Operating System:	Windows NT 32-bit
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
User Popularity Rating:

Developer and Software Information
Software Developer:	Bitdefender S.R.L. Bucharest, ROMANIA
Software Program:	Bitdefender® ATC
Legal Copyright:	© Bitdefender S.R.L. All rights reserved.

File Details
Character Set:	Unicode
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
File Flags:	(none)
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
Entry Point:	0x41870
Code Size:	1007616

View Other atchost.exe Information

File Info	Description
File Size:	1441 kB
File Modification Date/Time:	2020:01:23 07:39:13+00:00
File Type:	Win64 EXE
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
Machine Type:	AMD AMD64
Time Stamp:	2019:09:22 10:52:42+00:00
PE Type:	PE32+
Linker Version:	14.0
Code Size:	1007616
Initialized Data Size:	439296
Uninitialized Data Size:	0
Entry Point:	0x41870
OS Version:	6.0
Image Version:	0.0
Subsystem Version:	6.0
Subsystem:	Windows command line
File Version Number:	1.28.222.0
Product Version Number:	13.0.0.0
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
File Flags:	(none)
File OS:	Windows NT 32-bit
Object File Type:	Dynamic link library
File Subtype:	0
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
Character Set:	Unicode
Company Name:	Bitdefender S.R.L. Bucharest, ROMANIA
File Description:	Bitdefender Active Threat Control Host Process
File Version:	1.28.222.0 0x3790f9f
Internal Name:	ATCHOST.EXE
Legal Copyright:	© Bitdefender S.R.L. All rights reserved.
Product Name:	Bitdefender® ATC
Product Version:	13

^✻ Portions of file data provided by Exiftool (Phil Harvey) distributed under the Perl Artistic License.

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

What are atchost.exe Error Messages?

atchost.exe Runtime Errors

Runtime errors are BitDefender errors that occur during "runtime". Runtime is pretty self-explanatory; it means that these EXE errors are triggered when atchost.exe is attempted to be loaded either when BitDefender is starting up, or in some cases already running. Runtime errors are the most common form of EXE error you will encounter using BitDefender.

In most cases, atchost.exe runtime errors occurring while the program is running will result in the program terminating abnormally. Most of these atchost.exe error messages mean that BitDefender was either unable to locate this file on startup, or the file is corrupt, resulting in a prematurely-aborted startup process. Generally, BitDefender will be unable to start without resolving these errors.

Some of the most common atchost.exe errors include:

atchost.exe - Bad Image.
atchost.exe Application Error.
atchost.exe could not be found.
atchost.exe could not be installed.
atchost.exe could not be launched. Class not registered.
atchost.exe could not be started.
atchost.exe failed to initialize properly.
atchost.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
atchost.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
atchost.exe is not running.
Cannot find atchost.exe.
Error starting program: atchost.exe.
Faulting Application Path: atchost.exe.
The file atchost.exe is missing or corrupt.
Windows failed to start - atchost.exe.

System Error

The program can’t start because atchost.exe is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

Finding the source of the atchost.exe error is key to properly resolving these errors. Although most of these EXE errors affecting atchost.exe will happen during startup, occasionally you will encounter a runtime error while using Bitdefender® ATC. This can occur due to poor programming on behalf of Bitdefender S.R.L. Bucharest, ROMANIA, conflicts with other software or 3rd-party plug-ins, or caused by damaged and outdated hardware. Also, these types of atchost.exe errors can occur if it has been accidentally moved, deleted, or corrupted by a malware infection. Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

How to Fix atchost.exe Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your atchost.exe issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

Step 1: Restore your PC back to the latest restore point, "snapshot", or backup image before error occurred.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
In the search results, find and click System Restore.
Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the atchost.exe error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

Step 2: If recently installed BitDefender (or related software), uninstall then try reinstalling BitDefender software.

You can uninstall BitDefender software by following these instructions (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "Uninstall" and press "ENTER".
In the search results, find and click "Add or Remove Programs"
Find the entry for BitDefender 1.0.14.74 and click "Uninstall"
Follow the prompts for uninstallation.

After the software has been fully uninstalled, restart your PC and reinstall BitDefender software.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

BitDefender 1.0.14.74

Bitdefender

Step 3: Perform a Windows Update.

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many atchost.exe error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the atchost.exe error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your atchost.exe File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate atchost.exe file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free atchost.exe files for every applicable version of BitDefender. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download atchost.exe Files".
Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
Copy this file to the appropriate BitDefender folder location:

Windows 10: C:\Program Files\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\
Windows 10: C:\Program Files\adaware\adaware antivirus\AVC Engine\3.22.183.0\
Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

GEEK TIP : We must emphasize that reinstalling Windows will be a very time-consuming and advanced task to resolve atchost.exe problems. To avoid data loss, you must be sure that you have backed-up all of your important documents, pictures, software installers, and other personal data before beginning the process. If you are not currently backing up your data, you need to do so immediately.

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

Download atchost.exe Files (Malware-Tested 100% Clean)

CAUTION : We strongly advise against downloading and copying atchost.exe to your appropriate Windows system directory. Bitdefender typically does not release BitDefender EXE files for download because they are bundled together inside of a software installer. The installer's task is to ensure that all correct verifications have been made before installing and placing atchost.exe and all other EXE files for BitDefender. An incorrectly installed EXE file may create system instability and could cause your program or operating system to stop functioning altogether. Proceed with caution.

BitDefender 1.0.14.74

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

atchost.exe

13.0.0.0

1.28.222.0 0x3790f9f

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 10
Software:	Bitdefender® ATC
Software Version:	13.0.0.0
File Version:	1.28.222.0 0x3790f9f
File Size:	1475272
File Date:	01/23/2020
MD5 Checksum:	56e52ff603e1e0f67eb234e425517ce0
SHA1 Checksum:	b548f0422848b30a8afb9fd0e89e5d494964e7e1
SHA256 Checksum:	14d604b34e9a02d00ee86de65b33cbed300e155bfe42f95bf25b6319efa128a1
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Program Files\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win64 EXE
Image Version:	0.0
Initialized Data Size:	439296
Linker Version:	14.0
Machine Type:	AMD AMD64
PE Type:	PE32+
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.0
File Modification Date/Time:	01/23/2020

Adaware Antivirus 12.4.930.11587

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

atchost.exe

13.0.0.0

1.22.183.0 0xb6f6bd5

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 10
Software:	BitDefender® AntiVirus
Software Version:	13.0.0.0
File Version:	1.22.183.0 0xb6f6bd5
File Size:	1389872
File Date:	09/30/2019
MD5 Checksum:	e8f2dadb4048d0003972b3e47abbbd7e
SHA1 Checksum:	261bbab16912656cf467c980e2e6b8159882d74d
SHA256 Checksum:	f7bc737fa23f4daf2b59098cdf9560d522aa1feb687232c97c904849a63899cc
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Program Files\adaware\adaware antivirus\AVC ...

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win64 EXE
Image Version:	0.0
Initialized Data Size:	415744
Linker Version:	14.0
Machine Type:	AMD AMD64
PE Type:	PE32+
Subsystem:	Windows command line
Subsystem Version:	6.0
File Modification Date/Time:	09/30/2019

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

Files Related to atchost.exe

EXE Files Related to atchost.exe

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
pretrain.exe	Windows Executable	BitDefender 1.0.14.74	27039544	C:\Windows\Temp\527D94AF-D053-4381-B105-0D815D5...
vsserv.exe	Bitdefender Security Service	Bitdefender Antivirus Free (1.0.16.148)	290360	C:\Windows\System32\
antiphishing_bddci.exe	Windows Executable	BitDefender 1.0.14.74	5274776	C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modu...
ProductAgentService.exe	Bitdefender Agent	Bitdefender ConnectAgent (24.0.1.142)	1291888	C:\Windows\Temp\527D94AF-D053-4381-B105-0D815D5...
BPInstaller.exe	Bitdefender AVFree Installer	Bitdefender Antivirus Free (1.0.16.148)	1430008	C:\Windows\Temp\527D94AF-D053-4381-B105-0D815D5...

Other Files Related to atchost.exe

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
setupact.log	Log	BitDefender 1.0.14.74	62521	C:\Windows\Panther\UnattendGC\
setupact.log	Log	BitDefender 1.0.14.74	14252	C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther\
api-ms-win-core-heap-l...	ApiSet Stub DLL	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (10.0.17134.12)	11112	C:\Users\Tester\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDriv...
api-ms-win-core-heap-l...	ApiSet Stub DLL	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (10.0.17134.12)	19208	C:\Program Files\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\
api-ms-win-core-sysinf...	ApiSet Stub DLL	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (10.0.17134.12)	19720	C:\Program Files\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\

Optional Offer for WinThruster by Solvusoft | EULA | Privacy Policy | Terms | Uninstall

Browse Other File Extensions in Alphabetical Order : # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

You are downloading trial software. The purchase of a one-year software subscription at the price of $29.97 USD is required to unlock all software features. Subscription auto-renews at the end of the term (Learn more). By clicking the "Start Download" button above and installing "Software", I acknowledge I have read and agree to the Solvusoft End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy.