If you are a gamer, you might have installed EA Desktop, a platform that lets you access and play EA games on your PC. But have you noticed a process called EABackgroundService.exe running in the background of your system? What is this process and what does it do? Should you uninstall it or keep it? Is it malware or a legitimate program? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and help you decide what to do with EABackgroundService.exe.
How do I check if EABackgroundService.exe is running on my PC?
To check if EABackgroundService.exe is running on your PC, you can use the Task Manager, a tool that shows you the processes and applications that are currently active on your system. To open the Task Manager, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard and select Task Manager from the options. Alternatively, you can right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu. Once the Task Manager is open, click on the Processes tab and look for EABackgroundService.exe in the list. If you see it, it means that the process is running on your PC.
What Is EABackgroundService.exe?
EABackgroundService.exe is a process that belongs to EA Desktop, an app developed by Electronic Arts, a leading video game company. EA Desktop is a successor to EA Origin, a platform that allows you to buy, download, and play EA games on your PC. EABackgroundService.exe is responsible for managing the updates and notifications of EA Desktop and the games you have installed through it. It also enables some features such as cloud saves, achievements, and social interactions with other players.
Can I disable EABackgroundService.exe from starting automatically?
If you want to prevent EABackgroundService.exe from starting automatically when you turn on your PC, you can disable it from the Startup tab of the Task Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
Open the Task Manager as explained above.
Click on the Startup tab and look for EABackgroundService.exe in the list.
Right-click on it and select Disable from the menu.
Restart your PC to apply the changes.
By disabling EABackgroundService.exe from starting automatically, you can save some CPU and memory resources and speed up your PC boot time. However, this also means that you will not receive any updates or notifications from EA Desktop or any EA game unless you manually start the process or launch EA Desktop or any EA game.
Should I Remove EABackgroundService.exe?
EABackgroundService.exe is not essential for the Windows operating system and does not affect its performance or stability. However, it may consume some CPU and memory resources, especially when EA Desktop or any EA game is running. If you are not using EA Desktop or any EA game, you can safely end the process from the Task Manager. However, if you want to use EA Desktop or any EA game, you will need to keep the process running or restart it manually.
Alternatively, you can uninstall EA Desktop from your PC if you do not want to use it anymore. This will also remove EABackgroundService.exe and any other related files from your system. To uninstall EA Desktop, follow these steps:
Open the Control Panel and select Programs and Features.
Find EA Desktop in the list of installed programs and click on Uninstall.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.
Restart your PC to apply the changes.
Is EABackgroundService.exe Malware?
EABackgroundService.exe is not malware and does not pose any security threat to your PC. It is a legitimate process that belongs to EA Desktop, a trusted app developed by Electronic Arts. However, some malware may disguise themselves as EABackgroundService.exe or use a similar name to trick you into thinking they are harmless. To make sure that the process you see in the Task Manager is the genuine one, you can check its location and properties.
The genuine EABackgroundService.exe file is located in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop\EA Desktop. You can right-click on the process in the Task Manager and select Open File Location to verify its location. You can also right-click on the file and select Properties to check its details such as size, version, digital signature, etc. If the file is located in a different folder or has different properties than the ones mentioned above, it may be malware and you should scan your PC with Malwarebytes Free.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Conclusion
EABackgroundService.exe is a process that belongs to EA Desktop, an app that lets you access and play EA games on your PC. It is not essential for the Windows operating system and does not affect its performance or stability. However, it may consume some CPU and memory resources when EA Desktop or any EA game is running. You can end the process from the Task Manager if you are not using EA Desktop or any EA game, or uninstall EA Desktop from your PC if you do not want to use it anymore. EABackgroundService.exe is not malware and does not pose any security threat to your PC, but you should check its location and properties to make sure it is the genuine one.
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
