Quick Answer
pdf-xchange-exe is safe. It's the main executable for PDF-XChange Editor by Tracker Software. It renders PDFs, handles annotations, and supports editing features. Run from an official source and verify digital signatures.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe
Warning
Multiple processes possible
PDF-XChange Editor may spawn separate processes or threads for rendering, OCR, and plugins.
Can I Disable?
YES
Close the editor to stop its processes; adjust startup and background settings to reduce background activity.
What is PDFXCView.exe?
PDFXCView.exe is the main executable for Tracker Software's PDF-XChange Editor. It launches the editor UI, renders PDF documents, supports annotations, form filling, printing, and exporting. The process may spawn helper threads or subprocesses to manage rendering and plugins.
It uses a multi-threaded architecture with a dedicated renderer, UI thread, and plugin host to isolate tasks, improving stability and responsiveness while editing and rendering complex PDFs.
Quick Fact: PDF-XChange Editor supports on-the-fly OCR and form tooling, often leveraging separate worker threads to keep the UI responsive.
Types of PDF-XChange Editor Processes
- Main UI Process: The primary window and user interface for the editor
- Renderer Process: Renders the PDF pages and annotations for the active document
- OCR/Content Processing: Optional subprocess handling OCR, text extraction, and search indexing
- Plugin Host: Runs optional plugins like form tools or barcode utilities
- Updater/Background Tasks: Checks for updates and performs background maintenance
- Printer/Export Helper: Manages printing and exporting to images or other formats
Is pdf-xchange-exe Safe?
Yes, pdf-xchange-exe is safe when obtained from official sources (tracker-software.com) and located in the Program Files folder.
Is pdf-xchange-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real pdf-xchange-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware may disguise itself with similar names.
How to Tell if pdf-xchange-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the executable in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Tracker Software Products Ltd." and a valid signature.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-10% CPU and 100-600 MB memory during editing. Constant high resource usage with no editor window is suspicious.
- Behavior: PDF-XChange Editor should run when you launch the app. If pdf-xchange-exe runs with no editor UI, run a full malware scan.
Red Flags: If pdf-xchange-exe appears outside C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\, lacks a valid digital signature, or runs at startup without you launching the app, scan your system with reputable antivirus software. Be wary of similarly named files like 'pdfxchange.exe' from untrusted sources.
Why Is pdf-xchange-exe Running on My PC?
pdf-xchange-exe runs when you open PDF-XChange Editor or when its background tasks are enabled. Some features may run in background to speed up actions like OCR, form filling, and indexing.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Editor Use: You're actively viewing or editing a PDF; rendering and annotation tasks run in real time.
- Background Features: OCR, form auto-fill, or real-time text search may operate in the background.
- Startup Configuration: The editor may be configured to start with Windows or to resume last session automatically.
- Update Checks: The updater component periodically checks for new versions and security patches.
- Plugin/Tool Integration: Installed plugins or tool integrations can spawn separate processes for specialized tasks.
Can I Disable or Remove pdf-xchange-exe?
Yes, you can disable pdf-xchange-exe. It's safe to close the editor when not in use, and you can uninstall PDF-XChange Editor if you prefer another tool.
How to Stop pdf-xchange-exe
- End The Editor Session: Close all PDF-XChange Editor windows or use File → Exit to shut down the application
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable PDF-XChange Editor
- Stop Background Tasks: Settings → General → Performance → Disable background tasks if available
- End Processes: Open Task Manager, locate PDFXCView.exe, right-click → End Task
- Disable Plugins: In Editor, disable optional plugins or extensions that may spawn extra processes
How to Uninstall PDF-XChange Editor
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → PDF-XChange Editor → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → PDF-XChange Editor → Uninstall
- ✔ Remove residual data: delete the PDF-XChange Editor folder in AppData if you want a clean removal
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If pdf-xchange-exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large or complex PDFs: Close large files or disable real-time rendering features for heavy documents
- Background OCR or indexing: Disable OCR or indexing in Settings to reduce background activity
- Active plugins or tools: Disable or remove unnecessary plugins in Preferences
- Outdated software: Update PDF-XChange Editor to the latest version
- Hardware acceleration issues: Toggle hardware acceleration off in Settings → Performance
- Memory leaks with long sessions: Restart the editor periodically and monitor for updates addressing memory usage
Quick Fixes:
1. Use Task Manager to identify heavy processes related to PDF-XChange Editor
2. Close or suspend large PDFs and unnecessary tabs/tools
3. Disable non-essential plugins in Preferences
4. Update to the latest version of PDF-XChange Editor
5. Disable hardware acceleration and clear cache if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pdf-xchange-exe a virus?
No, the legitimate pdf-xchange-exe from Tracker Software is not a virus. Verify the path is C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe and ensure a valid digital signature from 'Tracker Software Products Ltd.'.
Where is pdf-xchange-exe located on Windows?
Typically in C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXCView.exe. If found elsewhere, investigate for tampering.
Can I disable pdf-xchange-exe at startup?
Yes. Use Task Manager → Startup to disable PDF-XChange Editor startup, and adjust Editor settings to prevent background launches when closed.
How do I update PDF-XChange Editor?
Open the editor and go to Help or Settings to check for updates, or download the latest installer from tracker-software.com and run it to upgrade.
Does PDF-XChange Editor collect user data?
PDF-XChange Editor may collect anonymous usage data if you opt in to telemetry. Review Privacy settings in the application and the installer prompts during setup.
What should I do if pdf-xchange-exe crashes?
Update to the latest version, disable problematic plugins, run a repair install, and check for conflicting software. If problems persist, contact Tracker Software support with crash details.