Quick Answer
clementine.exe is safe. It's the official Clementine Music Player executable that loads the UI, library, and playback components.
Is it a Virus?
8 NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Clementine\Clementine.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Clementine\Clementine.exe
Warning
Several Clementine components can run in the background
Indexing, metadata fetch, and playback threads may appear as separate tasks
Can I Disable?
8 YES
Close Clementine or disable startup and background scanning from settings
What is clementine.exe?
clementine.exe is the executable for the Clementine Music Player on Windows. Clementine opens a cross‑platform, open‑source music player that organizes your local library, plays playlists, and streams from online services. It indexes metadata and supports tag editing and cover art.
Clementine is a Qt‑based desktop app that uses backends for codecs and metadata. It runs as a single main process with modular components for UI, library indexing, playback, and streaming, leveraging plugins and a local database to manage tracks.
Quick Fact: Clementine mirrors Amarok’s approach to library management and streaming, while focusing on a lightweight, portable design across platforms.
Types of Clementine Processes
- UI & Main Window: User interface and control logic (main thread)
- Library Scanner: Background indexing of the music library
- Audio Decoder: Codec decoding for playback
- Metadata Fetcher: Fetching/Updating track metadata from online sources
- Playlist Manager: Queue and playlist handling
- Plugin Module: Support for optional features via plugins
Is clementine.exe Safe?
Yes, clementine.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the Clementine project downloaded from official sources (SourceForge or Clementine official site).
Is clementine.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real clementine.exe is NOT a Virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names to mislead users.
How to Tell if clementine.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Clementine\Clementine.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Clementine\Clementine.exe. Any clementine.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click Clementine.exe in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "The Clementine Team" or similar signing.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-8% CPU per process, 80-250 MB total memory for typical libraries.
- Behavior: Clementine should run when you open the app. Extra background processes when closed may indicate malware.
Red Flags: If clementine.exe appears outside the official install folder, runs without launching the app, lacks a valid signature, or uses resources constantly in idle mode, scan with antivirus. Watch for similarly named files like "clementine1.exe".
Why Is clementine.exe Running on My PC?
clementine.exe runs when you launch Clementine or when the app is configured to stay resident for quick music access and background indexing.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Playback: You're actively listening; Clementine loads the player engine and decodes audio in real time.
- Library Scanning: Background indexing or scanning new folders updates the media library.
- Background Sync and Metadata: Clementine fetches metadata and cover art from online sources and synchronizes playlists.
- Startup Launch: Clementine is configured to start on login or system boot.
- Offline Cache and Preloading: Cached album art and recent playlists may keep some activity after startup.
Can I Disable or Remove clementine.exe?
Yes, you can disable clementine.exe. It’s safe to close Clementine when not in use, and you can uninstall it if you prefer another player.
How to Stop clementine.exe
- Exit Clementine: Close the Clementine window from the UI or choose File > Exit
- End the Process: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate clementine.exe, right-click → End Task
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Clementine
- Disable Background Features: Clementine Settings → Preferences → General or Library → Turn off auto‑indexing or background fetch
- Quit Background Services: If you use a launcher, ensure Clementine is not set as a background service
How to Uninstall Clementine
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Clementine → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Clementine → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative players: VLC, MusicBee, AIMP
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If clementine.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large music library: Indexing a big collection can spike CPU and memory; pause indexing or limit watched folders in Preferences
- Active playback with heavy files: Switch to a different track or reduce simultaneous streams; update codecs
- Background metadata fetch: Disable or adjust metadata fetch frequency in Preferences → Online/Metadata
- Outdated Clementine version: Update to the latest release from official site
- Corrupt cache: Clear cache and refresh library cache in Preferences
- Third-party plugins: Disable or remove plugins from Settings → Plugins
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Windows Task Manager and identify Clementine processes
2. Close unused tabs/playlists and pause indexing in Preferences
3. Clear Clementine cache and restart the app
4. Update Clementine to the latest version
5. Disable unnecessary plugins in Preferences → Plugins
Frequently Asked Questions
Is clementine.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate clementine.exe from the Clementine project is not a virus. Make sure the file is in C:\Program Files\Clementine\Clementine.exe and has a valid signature from the Clementine Team.
Why is clementine.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usually comes from active playback of heavy files, a large library being indexed, or a problematic plugin. Use Clementine Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) or Preferences to identify culprits, update, and disable plugins if needed.
Can I delete or uninstall Clementine?
Yes. Uninstall Clementine from Windows Settings → Apps. Your library and preferences may be preserved if you enable cloud sync; otherwise they are removed with the app.
Can I disable Clementine from starting at login?
Yes. Disable Clementine in Task Manager > Startup, or remove the app from your system startup list. It will no longer launch automatically.
Why are there multiple Clementine processes?
Clementine uses modular components (UI, library indexing, decoding, metadata) that can appear as separate threads/processes. They help with responsiveness and stability.
How do I fix missing codecs in Clementine?
Install or configure a suitable codec pack and ensure Clementine uses the correct backend (GStreamer/FFmpeg) through Preferences → Playback → Codecs.