Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\GitKraken\gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\GitKraken\gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe
Warning
Crash reporter activity is expected during crashes
If GitKraken crashes frequently, the reporter may trigger multiple reports
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Settings → Privacy → Crash Reports to toggle sharing
What is gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe?
gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe is the dedicated crash-reporting utility for GitKraken. It runs in the background to collect anonymized diagnostic data when GitKraken crashes or experiences errors, then sends reports to help developers diagnose issues and improve stability. It respects user preferences and can be disabled or re-enabled from within GitKraken.
GitKraken Crash Reporter captures crash dumps, logs, and environment context from the Electron-based app and submits anonymized data to Axosoft's analytics service to assist developers in diagnosing failures and improving reliability.
Quick Fact: The crash reporter is designed to minimize impact and can be managed via GitKraken's privacy settings.
Types of Crash Reporter Processes
- Main Reporter: Orchestrates crash data collection when GitKraken encounters an unhandled error
- Background Monitor: Keeps watch for crash events and queues reports for upload
- Upload Service: Handles transmission of anonymized crash data to Axosoft servers
- Log Collector: Gathers relevant diagnostic logs from the GitKraken runtime
Is gitkraken-crash-reporter Safe?
Yes, gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe is safe when it is the legitimate binary from the official GitKraken distribution downloaded from gitkraken.com or via the official installer.
Is gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe a Virus or Malware?
The legitimate file is not a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Always verify the file location and signature.
How to Tell if gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\GitKraken\gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\GitKraken\gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should list signer as 'Axosoft, Inc.' or the official GitKraken publisher.
- Verification via Properties:: Open Properties → Details; ensure Product name matches 'GitKraken Crash Reporter' and the file version aligns with your GitKraken installation.
- Resource and Network Behavior:: Normal usage: 1-6% CPU per load, 20-60 MB memory; unexpected persistent activity or outbound traffic to unknown domains is suspicious and warrants a security scan.
Red Flags: If gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe appears outside the GitKraken installation directory, has no valid digital signature, or runs continuously without GitKraken being active, run a security scan and verify the integrity of your GitKraken installation.
Why Is gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe Running on My PC?
The crash reporter runs to gather diagnostic data when GitKraken crashes or when a user triggers a manual crash report, helping developers improve stability and fix issues.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Crash Occurrence: A crash in GitKraken triggers the reporter to collect data for analysis.
- User-Initiated Reports: Users can manually trigger a crash report from GitKraken or the crash reporter UI.
- Background Diagnostics: The reporter runs in the background to capture non-crash diagnostic data for improvements.
- Post-Update Telemetry: After updates, the reporter may collect data to ensure the new version runs reliably.
- Error Context Aggregation: Aggregates environment and stack context to provide actionable insights for developers.
Can I Disable or Remove gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe?
Yes, you can disable gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe. You can turn off crash reporting in GitKraken settings or uninstall GitKraken entirely if you no longer want the crash reporter.
How to Stop gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe
- Disable Crash Reporting: Open GitKraken → Settings → Privacy → Crash Reports, then toggle off the option to send crash data.
- End the Reporter Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe, and End Task.
- Prevent Startup (if applicable): In Task Manager → Startup, disable GitKraken components that may relaunch the reporter.
- Remove Crash Reporter Binary: If you truly want to remove it, uninstall GitKraken via Settings → Apps or Control Panel → Programs and Features.
How to Uninstall GitKraken (and its Crash Reporter)
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → GitKraken → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → GitKraken → Uninstall
- ✔ After uninstall, consider alternatives for Git workflow (e.g., SourceTree, GitHub Desktop)
Common Problems: Crash Reporter Behavior
If gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe seems to behave unexpectedly, review these common scenarios and fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Startup or background activity after crashes: Ensure crash reporting is disabled if undesired; verify settings in GitKraken after restart.
- High CPU or memory while idle: Check for stuck crash reports; clear any pending reports via GitKraken or delete local logs under AppData\Local\GitKraken\logs.
- Reports failing to upload due to network blocks: Check firewall/antivirus rules; allow outbound connections to crash-analytics.gitkraken.com (example domain).
- Frequent false positives after update: Update to the latest GitKraken build; review release notes for changes to crash reporting.
- Privacy concerns or data sharing: Disable crash reporting in settings or adjust privacy options to limit data collection.
- Logs consuming disk space: Rotate or purge old crash logs in the GitKraken log folder and consider setting a retention limit.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open GitKraken Task Manager or Windows Task Manager to identify and end related processes
3. Disable crash reporting in GitKraken Settings → Privacy → Crash Reports
4. Update GitKraken to the latest version
5. Clear crash report logs under AppData\Local\GitKraken\logs
6. Ensure firewall allows crash report upload if you opt-in
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe?
It is the dedicated crash reporting utility for GitKraken that collects anonymized diagnostic data when the app crashes to help developers diagnose and fix issues.
Is gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe safe to keep on my PC?
Yes, when it comes from the official GitKraken distribution and is located in the GitKraken installation folder or AppData path. Always verify the digital signature.
Will gitkraken-crash-reporter.exe send my personal data?
By default it sends anonymized crash data to improve stability. You can disable crash reporting in GitKraken settings if you have privacy concerns.
How do I disable crash reporting?
In GitKraken, go to Settings → Privacy → Crash Reports and toggle off sharing crash data. You can also uninstall GitKraken to remove all related components.
Where are crash reports stored on my computer?
Crash data is stored in the GitKraken data directories, often under C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\GitKraken\logs or C:\Program Files\GitKraken. Deleting logs is generally safe but may remove diagnostic context.
Can I uninstall the crash reporter without removing GitKraken?
In most cases you cannot separate the crash reporter from GitKraken; you typically uninstall the entire GitKraken application to remove all related components.