Quick Answer
snagit.exe is safe. It's TechSmith's official screen capture tool that runs a capture engine, editor, and background helpers to enable quick screenshots, annotations, and sharing.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\TechSmith\Snagit or C:\Program Files (x86)\TechSmith\Snagit
Warning
Some Snagit components run in separate background processes
Capture engine, editor, and tray helper may run concurrently
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Snagit from the tray icon or UI; disable Startup if desired
What is snagit.exe?
snagit.exe is the primary executable for TechSmith Snagit, the screen capture and image editing suite. It launches capture tools, image editor, and background services that manage profiles, presets, and cloud sync. You may see multiple Snagit-related processes; they work together to provide fast, reliable captures.
Snagit uses a modular, multi-process design where snagit.exe coordinates capture requests, UI, and worker components. The capture engine communicates with the editor and tray agent to render screenshots, scrolling captures, and annotations.
Quick Fact: Snagit pioneered modular capture components to separate the UI from capture and editing tasks, improving stability.
Types of Snagit Processes
- Main Capture Process: Coordinates capture requests and UI interactions
- Editor Process: Handles image editing and annotations
- Tray/Helper Process: Maintains the system tray icon and background tasks
- Capture Engine: Performs screen capture, scrolling capture, and region capture
- Update/License Service: Checks for updates and validates license status
- Cloud Sync Service: Syncs captures and profiles to TechSmith account (optional)
Is snagit.exe Safe?
Yes, snagit.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from TechSmith downloaded from official sources.
Is snagit.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real snagit.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if snagit.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\TechSmith\Snagit\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\TechSmith\Snagit\. Any snagit.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "TechSmith" as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-12% CPU and 50-200 MB memory when idle. Higher usage during capture is expected but unusual patterns warrant inspection.
- Behavior: Snagit should run when capturing or editing. Continuous background activity without user interaction may indicate software issues.
Red Flags: If snagit.exe appears outside the TechSmith directories, lacks a valid digital signature, or consumes resources constantly when idle, scan your system and reinstall Snagit from official sources.
Why Is snagit.exe Running on My PC?
snagit.exe runs to support capturing, editing, and syncing tasks. It may stay active in memory to provide fast captures and background services.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Capture Session: A capture operation or editor session is in progress, so related processes stay active.
- Background Tray/Helper: The Snagit tray icon and background helpers keep capture options accessible and syncing ready.
- Automatic Updates: Snagit checks for updates and license status, which may briefly spawn processes.
- Cloud Sync: If you use TechSmith accounts, snippet uploads or cloud sync may run in the background.
- Startup/Preload: Snagit may be configured to preload components at Windows startup for faster launches.
Can I Disable or Remove snagit.exe?
Yes, you can disable snagit.exe. It's safe to close Snagit when not in use; you can uninstall it if you no longer require screen capture features.
How to Stop snagit.exe
- Close Snagit Editor: Close the editor window and click the tray icon to exit Snagit.
- Exit from Tray: Right-click the Snagit tray icon and choose Exit or Quit.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable TechSmith Snagit
- Stop Background Services: Settings → General → Disable 'Run at startup' or background tasks if available
- Pause Cloud Sync: In Snagit, sign out or disable cloud sync to prevent background uploads.
How to Uninstall Snagit
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → TechSmith Snagit → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → TechSmith Snagit → Uninstall
- ✔ Restart your computer after uninstall if prompted
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If snagit.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large or numerous captures: Full-screen or scrolling captures can spike CPU; reduce number of active captures or end editing tasks.
- Background tasks or cloud sync: Pause cloud sync and disable redundant background tasks in Snagit settings.
- Outdated Snagit: Update to the latest Snagit version via Help → Check for updates.
- Conflicting extensions or plugins: Disable or remove problematic plugins within Snagit if applicable.
- Corrupted profile: Reset Snagit preferences or create a new profile.
- Insufficient system resources: Close other heavy applications; consider increasing RAM or disk speed.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Snagit Task Manager (within Snagit) to identify heavy captures
2. Pause or end active captures, then try again
3. Check for updates and install
4. Clear Snagit cache if available
5. Disable startup background services if not needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is snagit.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate snagit.exe from TechSmith is not a virus. Ensure it resides in C:\Program Files\TechSmith\Snagit and has a valid Digital Signature from TechSmith.
Why is snagit.exe using CPU?
During captures or video scrolling, capture engine runs, editor interactions can increase CPU. Check Snagit Task Manager to identify heavy components and close unnecessary captures.
Can I delete snagit.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Snagit from Windows Settings → Apps. Your captures may be kept if you choose to retain them; otherwise backup first.
Can I disable snagit.exe?
Yes, you can disable background tasks or startup; Snagit only runs when needed. To prevent startup, disable TechSmith Snagit in Task Manager → Startup.
Why does Snagit start with Windows?
If set to start with Windows, Snagit will preload and provide ready-to-use capture shortcuts. Disable from Task Manager or Snagit settings.
How do I reduce Snagit memory usage?
Limit captures, close editor after use, disable cloud sync, and keep Snagit updated; consider reducing image resolution if saving large captures.