Apple Mobile Device Support – Should I Remove It?

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Apple Mobile Device Support

What is Apple Mobile Device Support?

Apple Mobile Device Support is required and used for the synchronisation between an Apple mobile iOS devices (iPod, iPhone or iPad) and a PC through iTunes. If uninstalled, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch may not appear under Devices in iTunes after you connect it to your Windows PC. Apple Mobile Device Service runs as a Windows service (Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS)) regardless if the user is running a connected Apple application. If you ever need to reinstall or update thsi software, simply download and install the latest version of iTunes.

About

 (from Apple)

In rare circumstances, an iOS device may not be recognized in iTunes on Windows. If you reinstall iTunes, your device may be recognized.

Overview

The most used version is 6.1.0.13, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The main program executable is AppleMobileDeviceService.exe. The software installer includes 53 files and is usually about 24.14 MB (25,314,371 bytes).

Program detailsProgram details

URL:

www.apple.com

Help link:

www.apple.com/support

Installation folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\

Uninstaller:

MsiExec.exe /I{7446FE8D-C1F9-4D42-AAAE-5DBCE58605A6}

(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)

Estimated size:

24.14 MB

Language:

English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Apple Mobile Device Support

Program executable:

AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

Name:Apple Mobile Device Service
YSLoader.exe
Path:C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
MD5:7e94e567c1aa5abe6174032b3dab6c23
This is the service portion of the Apple MobileDeviceHelper iTunes sync. AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe is installed along with the latest version of Apple iTunes and is used to sync your iOS devices such as the iPhone, iPod or iPad with…

Additional files:

  • AppleMobileDeviceService_main.dll

    – Apple Mobile Device Service

  • OutlookChangeNotifierAddIn.dll

    – OutlookChangeNotifier

  • libcurl.dll

    – libcurl ver: 7.16.2 (Open Source libcurl ver: 7.16.2)

  • iTunesMobileDevice.dll

    – iTunesMobileDevice

  • MobileDevice.dll
  • AirTrafficHost.dll

    – AirTrafficHost

  • ATH.dll
  • ATH_main.dll
  • AOSUtils.dll

    – MobileMe (AOSUtils)

  • AppleSyncNotifier.exe

    – AppleSyncNotifier

  • AppleSyncPref.exe

    – MobileMe Preferences

  • MapiHelper.dll

    – MapiHelper

  • AppleMobileBackup.exe

    – YSLoader.exe

  • AppleMobileBackup_main.dll

    – MobileBackup_Main

  • AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe
  • AppleMobileDeviceHelper_main.dll

    – MobileDeviceHelper_Main

  • AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
  • AppleMobileSync.exe
  • AppleMobileSync_main.dll

    – MobileSync_Main

  • AppleSyncMapiInterface.dll

    – SyncMapiInterface

  • AppleSyncMapiInterfaceHelper_x64.exe

    – SyncMapiInterfaceHelper

  • ATH.exe
  • com.apple.IE.client.exe
  • com.apple.IE.client_main.dll
  • com.apple.Outlook.client.exe
  • com.apple.Outlook.client_main.dll
  • com.apple.Safari.client.exe
  • com.apple.Safari.client_main.dll
  • com.apple.WindowsContacts.client.exe
  • com.apple.WindowsContacts.client_main.dll
  • com.apple.WindowsMail.client.exe
  • com.apple.WindowsMail.client_main.dll
  • com.google.ContactSync.client.exe

    – Google Contact Sync Client

  • com.google.ContactSync.client_main.dll

    – Google Contact Sync Client_Main

  • com.yahoo.go.sync.client.exe

    – Yahoo Go Sync Client

  • com.yahoo.go.sync.client_main.dll

    – Yahoo Go Sync Client_Main

  • DeviceLink.dll

    – DeviceLink

  • iSyncConduit.dll

    – ISyncConduit

  • MDCrashReportTool.exe
  • MDCrashReportTool_main.dll

    – MDCrashReportTool_Main

  • Mingler.exe
  • Mingler_main.dll
  • SyncDiagnostics.exe
  • SyncDiagnostics_main.dll
  • syncli.exe
  • syncli_main.dll
  • SyncPlanObserver.exe
  • SyncPlanObserver_main.dll
  • SyncServer.exe
  • libeay32.dll (by The OpenSSL Project, http://www.openssl.org/)

    – The OpenSSL Toolkit (OpenSSL Shared Library)

  • ssleay32.dll (by The OpenSSL Project, http://www.openssl.org/)

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

Scheduled Task

  • SyncServer.exe is scheduled as a task with the class ‘{18CD2B73-EB79-414A-9C0F-A86527628680}’

    (runs on registration)

    .

Service

  • AppleMobileDeviceService.exe runs as a service named ‘Apple Mobile Device Service’ (Apple Mobile Device Service)

    “Provides the interface to Apple mobile devices.”

    .

Startup File (All Users Run)

  • AppleSyncNotifier.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name ‘(default)’ which loads as

    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleSyncNotifier.exe

    .

14 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs

  • AppleMobileDeviceService.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe’.
  • SyncServer.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\SyncServer.exe’.
  • com.apple.Outlook.client.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\com.apple.Outlook.client.exe’.
  • syncli.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\syncli.exe’.
  • Mingler.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Mingler.exe’.
  • com.google.ContactSync.client.exe is added as a firewall exception for ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\com.google.ContactSync.client.exe’.
  • Plus 8 more

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

Show technical details

AppleMobileDeviceService.exe

Memory:1.87 MB

21.09 MB average

Total CPU:0.0000429869%

0.031193% average

Kernel CPU:0.00001731%

0.016088% average

User CPU:0.00002568%

0.015104% average

I/O reads/min:105 Bytes

435.61 KB average

I/O writes/min:0 Bytes

105.02 KB average

AppleSyncNotifier.exe

Memory:4.26 MB

Total CPU:0.0000163136%

Kernel CPU:0.00000975%

User CPU:0.00000657%

AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe

Memory:3.23 MB

Total CPU:0.0102409225%

Kernel CPU:0.00240419%

User CPU:0.00783673%

CPU cycles/sec:13,634

I/O reads/min:83 Bytes

I/O writes/min:14 Bytes

How do I remove Apple Mobile Device Support?

You can uninstall Apple Mobile Device Support from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window’s Control Panel.

  1. On the

    Start

    menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen’s bottom-left corner), click

    Control Panel

    , and then, under

    Programs

    , do one of the following:

  • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click

    Uninstall a Program

    .

  • Windows XP: Click

    Add or Remove Programs

    .

  • When you find the program

    Apple Mobile Device Support

    , click it, and then do one of the following:

    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click

      Uninstall

      .

    • Windows XP: Click the

      Remove

      or

      Change/Remove

      tab (to the right of the program).

  • Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Apple Mobile Device Support.
  • OS VERSIONS

    Win 7 (SP1) 

    50%

    Win 8.1 0%

     

    HOW IT STARTS

    Automatically starts? 

    Yes

    (Found in the run registry)

     

    USER ACTIONS

    Uninstall it 

    8%

    Keep it 

    92%

    Windows OS versionsWindows

    Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

    Windows 7
    53.38%

    Windows 10
    36.77%

    Windows Vista
    6.18%

    Windows XP
    3.66%

    Windows Server 2003
    0.00%

    Which OS releases does it run on?

    Windows 7 Home Premium
    32.28%

    Windows 10 Home
    11.14%

    Windows 8.1
    10.47%

    Windows 7 Professional
    9.51%

    Windows 7 Ultimate
    9.16%

    Windows Vista Home Premiu…
    4.93%

    Distribution by countryGeography

    55.46% of installs come from the United States

    Which countries install it?

      United States
    55.46%

      United Kingdom
    5.70%

      Germany
    4.50%

      Canada
    4.03%

      France
    3.37%

      Italy
    3.34%

      Australia
    2.43%

      Netherlands
    1.56%

      Brazil
    1.32%

      Spain
    0.97%

      Belgium
    0.92%

      Sweden
    0.89%

      Japan
    0.79%

      Mexico
    0.74%

    OEM distributionPC manufacturers

    What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

    Hewlett-Packard
    29.20%

    Dell
    22.61%

    Acer
    15.21%

    ASUS
    10.57%

    Toshiba
    8.62%

    Lenovo
    4.50%

    Samsung
    3.82%

    GIGABYTE
    3.76%

    Intel
    1.09%

    MSI
    0.62%

    Common models

    HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook …
    7.61%

    HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P…
    5.87%

    HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook …
    5.23%

    ASUS All Series
    3.88%

    HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P…
    2.96%

    HP 2000 Notebook PC
    2.56%

    About Apple

    Apple designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer programs, and personal computers.

    Publisher URL:

    www.apple.com