Quick Answer
foxit-reader-exe is safe. It's Foxit's official PDF viewer executable that renders PDFs, handles annotations, and coordinates updates and plugins.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe
Warning
Multiple processes expected
Foxit may use separate processes for rendering, annotations, and plugins; high counts may occur during intensive tasks
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Foxit Reader when not in use; disable background updater in Foxit preferences
What is FoxitReader.exe?
foxit-reader-exe is the executable for Foxit Reader, the lightweight PDF viewer. It starts when you launch Foxit Reader and may spawn additional processes for rendering, annotations, and plug-ins. It helps speed up rendering and keeps features modular.
Foxit Reader uses a modular, multi-threaded architecture where FoxitReader.exe coordinates rendering, UI, and background tasks. The app loads PDFs, handles annotations, and communicates with the updater and plug-ins through separate processes for stability.
Quick Fact: Foxit pioneered fast PDF rendering with a lightweight process model that splits UI, rendering, and plugins for smoother performance.
Types of Foxit Processes
- Main GUI Process: User interface and control center
- Renderer Process: PDF rendering for open documents
- Annotation/Comment Process: Handles annotations and markups
- Updater/Background Process: Checks for updates and downloads patches
- Plugin/Helper Process: Plugins and font rendering helpers
- Utility/Background Task: Background tasks like OCR or search indexing
Is foxit-reader-exe Safe?
Yes, foxit-reader-exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Foxit Software downloaded from official sources (foxitsoftware.com or the bundled OEM installer).
Is foxit-reader-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real foxit-reader-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Verify location and signature.
How to Tell if foxit-reader-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe. Other locations are suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click FoxitReader.exe in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from "Foxit Software Corporation".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is ~1-8% CPU per document and 40-150 MB memory overall; consistently higher usage may indicate issue.
- Behavior: Foxit Reader should launch when opened by user or by the updater; unexpected background launches may be malware.
Red Flags: If foxit-reader-exe is in an unusual folder (like Temp or AppData), runs without cause, lacks a digital signature, or shows constant high resource usage, scan with antivirus. Be wary of similarly-named files such as 'foxitreader.exe' in other folders.
Why Is foxit-reader-exe Running on My PC?
foxit-reader-exe runs when Foxit Reader is opened or when background features like updates or cloud sync are enabled.
Reasons it's running:
- Active PDF Viewing: You're viewing or editing a PDF; Foxit uses a renderer process for the document.
- Background Updater: Foxit checks for updates or downloads plugin updates in the background.
- Document Printing or Export: Printing or exporting PDFs may spawn processes to manage output.
- Cloud/Sync Features: Foxit may run to sync with Foxit Cloud or installed services.
- Startup Launch: Foxit may be configured to start on system boot, preparing for use.
Can I Disable or Remove foxit-reader-exe?
Yes, you can disable foxit-reader-exe. It's safe to close Foxit Reader when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different PDF viewer.
How to Stop foxit-reader-exe
- Close Documents: Close all open PDFs and exit Foxit Reader via File → Exit
- End Process in Task Manager: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate FoxitReader.exe and End Task
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Foxit Reader
- Disable Background Updater: In Foxit Reader settings, disable automatic updates or background tasks
- Uninstall Foxit Reader: Windows Settings → Apps → Foxit Reader → Uninstall
How to Uninstall Foxit Reader
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Foxit Reader → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Foxit Reader → Uninstall
- ✔ If you need PDFs, consider using a different viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Edge's built-in PDF viewer
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If foxit-reader-exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large or complex PDFs: Open smaller or simpler PDFs or use page rendering settings; update to latest Foxit version to improve rendering efficiency.
- Background services or plugins: Disable unnecessary plugins from the Plugins or Add-ons settings; remove unused connectors.
- Outdated Foxit Version: Update Foxit Reader to the latest version via Help → Check for Updates.
- Antivirus or Windows Defender interference: Ensure Foxit is whitelisted, and run a malware scan to rule out impersonating files.
- Hardware acceleration issues: Disable hardware acceleration in Settings → General → Performance (or similar path) and retry.
- Corrupted PDF or fonts: Try opening a different PDF; reinstall fonts if needed; repair Foxit profile.
Quick Fixes:
1. Use Task Manager to identify heavy processes
2. Close large or unnecessary PDFs
3. Disable unnecessary plugins
4. Update Foxit Reader to the latest version
5. Reset Foxit Reader preferences or reinstall
Frequently Asked Questions
Is foxit-reader-exe a virus?
No, the legitimate foxit-reader-exe from Foxit Software is not a virus. Verify the file path and digital signature to be sure.
Why is foxit-reader-exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can occur with complex PDFs, active features like OCR or redaction, or outdated plugins. Use Task Manager to identify the culprit and update or disable it.
Can I delete foxit-reader-exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Foxit Reader via Windows Settings → Apps if you no longer need it. Your PDFs stay unless you delete them separately.
Can I disable foxit-reader-exe?
Yes, you can close Foxit Reader or disable startup and background updater settings to prevent it from running automatically.
Where is Foxit Reader installed?
Typical locations are: C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe or, on some 64-bit systems, C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe
How do I update Foxit Reader?
Open Foxit Reader and choose Help → Check for Updates, or download the latest installer from foxitsoftware.com.