greenshot.exe

Greenshot Screenshot Tool

Application ProcessSafeScreen Capture

CPU Usage

1-5%

Memory

15-60 MB

Location

Program Files

Publisher

Greenshot Team

Quick Answer

greenshot.exe is safe. Greenshot is a lightweight, open-source screenshot tool; the executable is typically signed and located in the official installation directory. The process runs in the background to support hotkeys and tray actions.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe

Warning

Many processes normal

Each capture or hotkey may spawn a separate thread; verify legitimate location if unusual activity is observed

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

You can disable Greenshot from auto-start and/or exit via the tray icon when not in use

What is greenshot.exe?

greenshot.exe is the executable for Greenshot, a lightweight open-source screenshot utility for Windows. It runs in the system tray and offers quick capture options (full screen, region, window) with built-in annotation, obfuscation, and easy export. It stays resident in the background to respond to global hotkeys and provide fast capture workflows.

Greenshot uses a compact, multi-threaded process to handle capture requests, annotations, and saving images to disk or clipboard. It integrates with Windows shell and global hotkeys, delivering fast, lightweight screenshots with minimal resource impact.

Quick Fact: Greenshot has long been a popular, lean screenshot tool known for its keyboard shortcuts and straightforward annotation features.

Types of Greenshot Processes

Tray/Service Process: Runs in the system tray to respond to hotkeys and manage captures
Capture/UI Process: Handles the capture window, region selection, and annotations
Exporter/Clipboard: Saves images to disk or copies to clipboard
Background Tasks: Performs update checks and background exports

Is greenshot.exe Safe?

Yes, greenshot.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Greenshot downloaded from official sources.

Is greenshot.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real greenshot.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade as Greenshot; verify signature and location.

How to Tell if greenshot.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe. Any greenshot.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: In Explorer, right-click Greenshot.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "Greenshot Team" or "Greenshot Project".
Resource Usage: Normal idle usage is 1-5% CPU, 15-60 MB memory. Abnormally high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: Greenshot should launch from its installed path and respond to tray hotkeys. If it runs unexpectedly from an odd folder, run antivirus scan.

Red Flags: If greenshot.exe is located in unusual folders (AppData, Temp, System32), runs when not expected, has no valid digital signature, or shows unexpected permission prompts, scan your system with antivirus software. Beware of similarly named files.

Why Is greenshot.exe Running on My PC?

greenshot.exe runs when Greenshot is installed and configured to start on login or when you actively use the app. It also stays resident in the system tray to respond to global hotkeys.

Reasons it's running:

Active Capture or Editing: You are taking a screenshot or editing an annotation; Greenshot will run to manage the capture window and export options.
System Tray and Global Hotkeys: Greenshot runs in the background to listen for hotkeys (e.g., Print Screen variants) for quick captures.
Startup or Shell Integration: Greenshot can start with Windows or integrate with shell actions, keeping a background resident process.
Clipboard or File Export: Greenshot may run to export captures to clipboard or a file path as configured.
Background Tasks: Update checks, cleanup tasks, or scheduled exports may keep Greenshot active briefly.

Can I Disable or Remove greenshot.exe?

Yes, you can disable greenshot.exe. You can exit the tray icon, disable startup, or uninstall Greenshot if you prefer another screenshot tool.

How to Stop greenshot.exe

Exit from Tray: Right-click the Greenshot tray icon and select Exit.
Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Greenshot → Disable.
End Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate Greenshot.exe, right-click → End Task.
Disable Background Features: In Greenshot settings, disable 'Start with Windows' or 'Run in background' options.
Uninstall: Windows Settings → Apps → Greenshot → Uninstall. Reboot if prompted.

How to Uninstall Greenshot

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Greenshot → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Greenshot → Uninstall
✔ Optionally remove residual folders: C:\Program Files\Greenshot and C:\Program Files (x86)\Greenshot

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If greenshot.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Too Many Captures or Large Regions: Limit regions, close unnecessary captures, and consider exporting to file rather than clipboard during busy sessions.
Resource-Heavy Annotations or Plugins: Disable unnecessary annotations or plugins; update Greenshot to latest version.
Background Export or Clipboard Slowness: Configure a default export path and reduce the frequency of background exports in Settings.
Outdated Version: Update Greenshot to the latest version from greenshot.org.
Conflicts with Antivirus or Screen Capture Tools: Temporarily disable competing capture tools or add Greenshot to antivirus exclusions.
Hardware Acceleration or Display Drivers: Update display drivers; disable hardware acceleration in Greenshot settings if present.

Quick Fixes:
1. Use the Greenshot tray menu to end heavy captures or reset annotations
2. Restart Greenshot from the tray icon
3. Update to the latest version from greenshot.org
4. Clear temporary export caches and verify default export path
5. Disable non-essential features in Settings

Frequently Asked Questions

Is greenshot.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate greenshot.exe from Greenshot is not a virus. Verify it is located at C:\Program Files\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Greenshot\Greenshot.exe and has a valid digital signature from Greenshot Team.

Why is Greenshot using CPU?

CPU usage usually spikes during active captures or when annotations are being applied. If idle usage remains high, check for background exports, misconfigured hotkeys, or potential third-party conflicts.

Can I delete greenshot.exe?

Yes, you can uninstall Greenshot via Windows Settings → Apps → Greenshot → Uninstall. Your saved screenshots remain in the export location unless you delete them separately.

Can I disable greenshot.exe?

Yes. Exit the tray icon, disable startup in Task Manager, or uninstall Greenshot to stop it from running automatically.

Why is greenshot.exe running at startup?

If Greenshot is configured to start with Windows, greenshot.exe will run on login to enable hotkeys and tray availability. Disable startup in Task Manager if undesired.

How do I capture a region with Greenshot?

Install Greenshot, press the configured hotkey (default Print Screen), then drag to select a region. Use the annotation tools and save/export as needed.

Does Greenshot support annotations and uploading?

Yes. Greenshot includes built-in annotation tools (arrows, text, shapes) and can export to files, clipboard, or upload to configured destinations.