lumberyard.exe

What is lumberyard.exe?

lumberyard.exe is the launcher and runtime for Amazon Lumberyard. It starts the editor, loads the current project, handles assets, and boots the game runtime. You may see lumberyard.exe spawn with asset tools while you work on a project.

lumberyard.exe boots the engine and editor, loads assets, and initializes subsystems like rendering, scripting, and physics. It coordinates multiple modules to provide an integrated game-development environment.

Types of Lumberyard Processes

• Launcher Process: Initial loader that starts editor and engine components (lumberyard.exe)
• Editor Process: Lumberyard Editor UI and project management
• Asset Processor: Background tool compiling assets for the project
• Game Runtime: Runs the built game or preview
• Shader Compiler: Compiles shader and material assets
• Build Tools: Scripts and utilities used during development

Is lumberyard.exe Safe?

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

Is lumberyard.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real lumberyard.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if lumberyard.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Amazon Lumberyard\lumberyard.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Lumberyard\lumberyard.exe. Any lumberyard.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click lumberyard.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures -> Signer should show "Amazon.com, Inc."
3. Resource Usage: Normal usage when launching editor is typically 5-25% CPU and 300-1200 MB RAM. Constant, extreme usage outside active work is suspicious.
4. Behavior: Lumberyard should run when you open the Editor or a game. If lumberyard.exe runs in the background without user action, scan for malware.

Why Is lumberyard.exe Running on My PC?

lumberyard.exe runs when you open the Lumberyard Editor, build a project, or run a game preview. It may also keep asset tools alive in the background during development.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Project Open: You're editing or running a Lumberyard project; the editor and runtime spawn multiple processes per task.
• Editor or Game Run: The Lumberyard Editor or a game preview is active, which starts helper processes for rendering, scripting, and assets.
• Asset Processor Active: Asset Processor runs to compile assets and check for updates as you work.
• Build Tools or Scripts: Custom build steps or Python/C++ scripts launch lumberyard.exe components to perform tasks.
• IDE/Launcher Integration: IDE integrations or launchers may start lumberyard.exe automatically when opening a project.

Can I Disable or Remove lumberyard.exe?

Yes, you can disable lumberyard.exe. It's safe to close Lumberyard when not in use, and you can uninstall or disable startup if you no longer need the engine.

How to Stop lumberyard.exe

• End Active Projects: In Lumberyard Editor, close all open projects and exit the editor (File > Exit).
• Close Editor: Close the Lumberyard Editor window to stop the launcher.
• End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate lumberyard.exe, and End Task.
• Prevent Startup: Task Manager -> Startup tab -> Disable Lumberyard Launcher
• Stop Background Tools: In Lumberyard settings, disable asset processor or background tooling if available.

How to Uninstall Lumberyard

• ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Amazon Lumberyard -> Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Lumberyard -> Uninstall
• ✔ Remove remaining folders: C:\Program Files\Amazon Lumberyard and C:\Users\Public\Documents\Lumberyard

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If lumberyard.exe is consuming excessive resources during development:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Too Many Assets or Large Scenes: Large scenes or many assets can drive CPU and memory up. Optimize assets, disable unnecessary previews, and use streaming where possible.
• Background Asset Processing: Asset Processor runs in the background; limit simultaneous processes in the Asset Processor settings.
• Compiler/Shader Jobs: Shader compilation or script builds can spike CPU. Build incremental changes and ensure drivers are up to date.
• Outdated Lumberyard Version: Update to the latest Lumberyard build from the official site to fix known performance issues.
• Graphics Driver Conflicts: Update GPU drivers and verify compatibility with Lumberyard rendering features.
• Antivirus Interference: Some antivirus software scans Lumberyard files heavily; exclude Lumberyard directories or temporarily disable during development.

Related Processes