Quick Answer
FSCapture.exe is safe. It’s the legitimate FastStone Capture process that drives screen grabbing, annotation, and export tasks.
What is FSCapture.exe?
FSCapture.exe is the main executable for FastStone Capture, a compact screen capture utility. It handles region selection, window capture, and annotations, then saves images or videos using integrated export options and hotkey support.
FSCapture.exe hosts the capture engine and UI, coordinating region selection, clipboard transfer, image processing, and export. It uses Windows screen capture APIs and supports PNG/JPG/BMP outputs with built-in annotation tools.
Quick Fact: FastStone Capture pioneered efficient region-based capture with lightweight annotations since early Windows API integrations.
Types of FastStone Capture Processes
- Capture Engine Process: Main FSCapture.exe handling captures and exports
- Annotation Subprocess: Handles on-image drawing and text overlays
- Clipboard Helper: Manages clipboard transfers of captured images
- Background Watcher: Monitors hotkeys and region selections in the background
- Update and Helper Components: Auxiliary modules for updates and UI helpers
Is FSCapture.exe Safe?
Yes, FSCapture.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from FastStone Soft downloaded from official sources (faststone.org or the official installer).
Is FSCapture.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real FSCapture.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may use similar names; verify location and signature to confirm authenticity.
How to Tell if FSCapture.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\FastStone\FastStone Capture\FSCapture.exe (or C:\Program Files (x86)\FastStone\FastStone Capture\FSCapture.exe). Any FSCapture.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click FSCapture.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "FastStone Soft".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-8% CPU per capture, 15-120 MB memory. Extreme values or unknown binaries warrant scan.
- Behavior: The capture tool should run when you invoke a capture action, not constantly in all users.
Red Flags: If FSCapture.exe is located outside the FastStone directory, lacks a valid signature, or launches without user action, scan with antivirus and verify with official FastStone sources.
Why Is FSCapture.exe Running on My PC?
FSCapture.exe runs when you start FastStone Capture or have background capture features enabled. It may also run for hotkey handling and region-based capture readiness.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Capture or Preview: You are actively capturing, annotating, or previewing a region; the engine starts to process the request.
- Background Tray and Hotkeys: The installer enables a tray icon and global hotkeys; the process remains resident to respond instantly.
- Startup or Scheduling: FastStone Capture can be configured to start with Windows for quick access.
- Clipboard and Auto-Save: Captures can be copied to clipboard or saved automatically, keeping the process active for recent items.
- Repair or Update Checks: Update checks or background repair routines may spawn FSCapture.exe briefly during startup or maintenance.
Can I Disable or Remove FSCapture.exe?
Yes, you can disable FSCapture.exe. It's safe to close the application when not in use, and you can uninstall FastStone Capture if you prefer another tool.
How to Stop FSCapture.exe
- End Capture or Close UI: Use the tray icon to exit or select Exit; or close the main window.
- Disable Startup: In Windows Task Manager → Startup, disable FastStone Capture to prevent auto-launch.
- End Background Tasks: In Task Manager, end FSCapture.exe or related helper processes.
- Disable Background Features: In FastStone Capture settings, turn off background wake or auto-save features.
- Uninstall: Control Panel → Programs and Features → FastStone Capture → Uninstall
How to Uninstall FastStone Capture
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → FastStone Capture → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → FastStone Capture → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternatives: ShareX, Greenshot, or Greenshot-based tools
Common Problems: Screen Capture Fails or Slows
If FSCapture.exe is not responding or captures slow down your system, try these checks and fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too many simultaneous captures: Limit active captures; restart the app and clear the clipboard.
- Background annotation overlay: Disable or simplify annotation; update to latest build.
- Outdated version: Update FastStone Capture to the latest version from faststone.org.
- Conflicting hotkeys: Change global hotkeys in settings to avoid conflicts with other apps.
- Permission issues: Run FSCapture.exe as Administrator or adjust folder permissions for export paths.
- Antivirus false positives: Add FSCapture.exe to antivirus exclusions to prevent blocking.
Quick Fixes:
1. Run FSCapture as Administrator if needed for capture permissions
2. Update to the latest version
3. Restart FastStone Capture
4. Check export destination permissions
5. Reset to default hotkeys in Settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FSCapture.exe a virus?
No, FSCapture.exe is the legitimate FastStone Capture executable. Verify it is located at C:\Program Files\FastStone\FastStone Capture\FSCapture.exe and signed by FastStone Soft.
Can FSCapture.exe record video or scrolling pages?
FastStone Capture primarily records still screenshots with optional basic annotations; newer builds may support region-based scrolling captures but are mostly image-focused.
Where is FSCapture.exe located?
Typically: C:\Program Files\FastStone\FastStone Capture\FSCapture.exe (or C:\Program Files (x86)\FastStone\FastStone Capture\FSCapture.exe).
How do I stop FSCapture.exe from starting with Windows?
Disable the startup entry in Task Manager → Startup or uninstall from Programs and Features.
How do I uninstall FastStone Capture?
Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → FastStone Capture → Uninstall. You can also use Control Panel → Programs and Features.
What export formats does FastStone Capture support?
Exports include PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, and PDF depending on build; check the Export options in the capture UI.