krita.exe

What is krita.exe?

krita.exe is the main Windows executable for Krita, a free, open-source digital painting application. It launches Krita's painting workspace, loads brush engines, resources, and the document model to enable layers, tools, and export workflows.

Krita uses a Qt-based GUI with a modular architecture. krita.exe starts the application, initializes the document model, loads brushes and plugins, and renders the canvas using CPU or GPU acceleration based on settings.

Types of Krita Processes

• Main GUI Process: Handles the user interface, canvas rendering, and tool interactions in Krita.
• Python Plugin Host: Runs Python-based plugins and scripts loaded from Krita's plugin directory.
• Resource Loader: Loads brushes, textures, palettes, and assets on-demand as you work.
• Autosave/Background Tasks: Performs periodic autosave, thumbnail generation, and export-related background work.
• GPU/Rendering Bridge: Interfaces with GPU contexts to accelerate previews and brush rendering where supported.

Is krita.exe Safe?

Yes, krita.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Krita Foundation downloaded from krita.org or official distributors.

Is krita.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real krita.exe is NOT a virus. Malware can disguise itself with similar names; always verify location and signature.

How to Tell if krita.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Krita\bin\krita.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Krita\bin\krita.exe. Any krita.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click the executable in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signature from "The Krita Foundation".
3. Resource Usage: Typical usage when idle is modest; sudden spikes with no task running is suspicious.
4. Behavior: Krita should only run when you launch the app. Unexpected background activity warrants a malware scan.

Why Is krita.exe Running on My PC?

krita.exe runs when you start Krita or when Krita is configured to keep certain tasks active (autosave, plugin operations, or background rendering).

Reasons it's running:

• Active Painting Session: You have Krita open and actively painting, with the UI and canvas rendering in use.
• Background Autosave and Thumbnails: Krita autosaves projects and generates thumbnails in the background to speed up later loads.
• Python Plugins and Extensions: Installed plugins or scripts run under krita.exe, which can start additional subprocesses or threads.
• Startup or Session Restoration: Krita may restore the previous session on startup, re-opening documents and resources.
• Bulk Export or Batch Tasks: Background export queues or batch processing tasks can keep the process busy even after editing.

Can I Disable or Remove krita.exe?

Yes, you can disable krita.exe. You can quit Krita to stop its processes, disable startup, or uninstall Krita if you no longer need it.

How to Stop krita.exe

• Close All Krita Windows: Close the app from the UI or use Alt+F4 to terminate the main window
• End Background Tasks: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Processes → end any krita.exe or pluginhost.exe entries
• Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → right-click Krita → Disable
• Disable Background Autosave: Krita Settings → Configure Krita → Save & Load → turn off autosave if desired

How to Uninstall Krita

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Krita → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Krita → Uninstall
• ✔ Optionally remove remaining Krita folders in C:\Program Files\Krita and C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\krita

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If krita.exe is consuming excessive resources during painting or exporting:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Large canvas or high zoom levels: Close unnecessary layers, reduce canvas resolution, or use lower brush opacity to lighten rendering load.
• Resource-Heavy brushes or tools: Disable or replace heavy brushes; try flat brush presets and reduce brush density in brush presets.
• Active Python plugins: Temporarily disable plugins via Settings → Configure Krita → Python Plugins; remove unneeded scripts.
• Outdated Krita version: Update Krita to the latest stable release from krita.org or the Windows store if available.
• GPU/Driver issues: Update graphics drivers and try enabling/disabling GPU acceleration in Settings → Performance.
• Corrupted cache or workspace data: Reset Krita configuration or clear caches from C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\krita and rebuild the workspace.

Related Processes