Quick Answer
pdfxchange.exe is safe. It's the main executable for Tracker Software's PDF-XChange Editor, using multiple processes to render, view, and manage PDFs with stability.
What is pdfxchange.exe?
pdfxchange.exe is the main executable for Tracker Software's PDF-XChange Editor. The editor uses a multi-process architecture to separate the user interface, document rendering, and plug-in components. This design helps isolate crashes, manages large PDFs, and supports features like annotations, OCR, and form filling.
This process handles UI rendering, the PDF rendering pipeline, and OCR/annotation tasks. It may spawn renderer or utility subprocesses per document, utilizes GPU acceleration where available, and coordinates plugins for printing, exporting, and signatures.
Quick Fact: PDF-XChange Editor pioneered efficient multi-process rendering to keep UI responsive while handling heavy PDF tasks.
Types of PDF-XChange Editor Processes
- Main UI Process: Handles the window chrome, menus, and user interactions (single instance)
- Document Rendering Process: Renders the PDF content for viewing and interaction (per document)
- GPU/Renderer Process: Graphics acceleration and image rendering
- Plugin/Extension Process: Isolated plugin components (OCR, forms, annotations)
- Printer/Export Process: Printing, exporting, and digital signature tasks
- Utility Process: Background tasks like updates, indexing, and network services
Is pdfxchange.exe Safe?
Yes, pdfxchange.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Tracker Software downloaded from official sources (tracker-software.com or official distribution).
Is pdfxchange.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real pdfxchange.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if pdfxchange.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXEdit.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXEdit.exe. Any pdfxchange.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer > Properties > Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from "Tracker Software Products" or the publisher listed on Tracker's site.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 3-25% CPU per process; 120-600 MB total memory during active work. Idle or constant high usage outside of Editor operation is suspicious.
- Behavior: PDF-XChange Editor should run when you open the app; a background process with no UI can indicate malware.
Red Flags: If pdfxchange.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\\Roaming, or System32), runs when the editor isn't open, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "pdfxchg.exe" or "pdfxchangeviewer.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is pdfxchange.exe Running on My PC?
pdfxchange.exe runs when you open PDF-XChange Editor or when the editor is configured to run background tasks.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Editor Use: You're currently editing or viewing a PDF—each document may leverage separate rendering threads or processes.
- Background Tasks: OCR, text extraction, indexing, or form processing can run in the background to keep features responsive.
- Auto-Update: The editor checks for updates on startup or periodically, which may spawn background processes.
- Printing/Export: Printing, exporting to images or PDFs, or applying digital signatures may create dedicated helper processes.
- Startup Configuration: PDF-XChange Editor may be configured to resume last session or launch at Windows startup, triggering the process at login.
Can I Disable or Remove pdfxchange.exe?
Yes, you can disable pdfxchange.exe. It's safe to close the Editor when not in use, and you can uninstall PDF-XChange Editor if you prefer another solution.
How to Stop pdfxchange.exe
- Close Active Documents: Close all open PDFs or use File > Exit to shut down the editor cleanly.
- End Editor Process: Open Task Manager, locate pdfxchange.exe, and select End Task.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager -> Startup tab -> Disable PDF-XChange Editor
- Disable Background Tasks: In PDF-XChange Editor settings: Edit > Preferences > General > uncheck 'Continue running background tasks when PDF-XChange Editor is closed'.
- Uninstall: Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> PDF-XChange Editor -> Uninstall
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
- ✔ Restart your PC after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If pdfxchange.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Documents Open: Close unused PDFs or enable document management to suspend idle documents.
- Resource-Heavy Features: Disable OCR, save to compressed formats, or turn off live indexing in Preferences.
- Outdated Software: Update to the latest PDF-XChange Editor version from the official site.
- Background Tasks Enabled: In Editor settings, disable 'Continue running background tasks when PDF-XChange Editor is closed'.
- Problematic Plugins: Disable or remove third-party plugins from the editor.
- Corrupted User Profile: Reset preferences or create a new user profile in the editor.
Quick Fixes:
1. Use File > Exit to close PDFs and shut down the editor
2. Update to the latest version
3. Disable unnecessary features in Preferences
4. Limit open documents
5. Check for suspicious background tasks with Task Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pdfxchange.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate pdfxchange.exe from Tracker Software is not a virus. However, verify the file path to C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Editor\PDFXEdit.exe and ensure a valid digital signature from the publisher.
Why is pdfxchange.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usage is usually caused by large or complex PDFs, OCR tasks, or a misbehaving plugin. Use Task Manager to identify the exact process and close or disable the culprit.
Can I delete pdfxchange.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall PDF-XChange Editor via Windows Settings or Control Panel. Your documents remain if not synced; otherwise, back up data first.
Can I disable pdfxchange.exe?
Yes, you can disable startup in Task Manager and stop background tasks in Editor settings. You can also close the editor to stop its processes.
Why is pdfxchange.exe running at startup?
If PDF-XChange Editor is configured to launch on Windows startup, pdfxchange.exe may start automatically. Disable it in Task Manager > Startup tab.
Why are there so many pdfxchange.exe processes?
PDF-XChange Editor uses a multi-process architecture for stability. Each document, plugin, and background task can spawn separate processes; you can view them in Task Manager.