sourcetree.exe

SourceTree Git/Mercurial Client

Application ProcessSafeGit/Mercurial GUI

CPU Usage

1-10%

Memory

100-350 MB

Location

Program Files\Sourcetree

Publisher

Atlassian Pty Ltd

Quick Answer

sourcetree.exe is safe. Atlassian SourceTree’s graphical interface launches to manage Git and Mercurial repositories and delegates operations to the underlying Git/Hg tooling.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe

Warning

Several processes possible

Sourcetree may spawn git.exe or hg.exe for repository operations

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close SourceTree or disable startup in Windows Task Manager

What is sourcetree.exe?

sourcetree.exe is the launcher and main user interface for Atlassian SourceTree. It provides a graphical frontend for Git and Mercurial repositories, showing commits, branches, remotes, and status. Sourcetree delegates actual VCS operations to Git or Mercurial commands and may spawn child processes for fetch, push, or log operations.

Sourcetree is a GUI client that uses Git/Mercurial beneath the hood. sourcetree.exe starts the app and may launch git.exe or hg.exe for operations, caching metadata and communicating with remotes. It primarily serves as a frontend, not the VCS engine itself.

Quick Fact: SourceTree provides a visual workflow for Git/Mercurial, spawning helper processes for commands while keeping the repository state in the UI.

Types of SourceTree Processes

Main UI Process: SourceTree's primary user interface and control flow (1 instance)
Git Command Process: Executes Git operations like fetch, pull, push (per action)
Mercurial Command Process: Executes Mercurial operations if HG is used (per action)
Helper/Credential Process: Credential helpers or SSH agents used by Git/Hg
Background Update Process: Auto-checks for updates or repository index maintenance
UI Background Tasks: Background indexing or status polling for repos

Is sourcetree.exe Safe?

Yes, sourcetree.exe is safe when downloaded from Atlassian's official site or installed via verified distribution channels.

Is sourcetree.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real sourcetree.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names.

How to Tell if sourcetree.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe. Any sourcetree.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click SourceTree.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Atlassian Pty Ltd".
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-10% CPU per process, 100-350 MB memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: SourceTree should not run background tasks or display activity when you have not opened the app.

Red Flags: If sourcetree.exe is located in Temp, AppData, or System folders, runs without user action, lacks a valid signature, or uses constant high resources, scan with antivirus immediately. Be wary of similarly named files.

Why Is sourcetree.exe Running on My PC?

sourcetree.exe runs when you launch SourceTree or when the app performs scheduled background tasks related to repository operations.

Reasons it's running:

Active SourceTree Session: You have SourceTree open and actively managing one or more repositories; the UI spawns Git/Mercurial commands as needed.
Background Repository Fetch/Refresh: SourceTree may perform background fetches or status checks to keep repo data up to date.
Startup or Background Launch: SourceTree may be configured to start on system boot or run background helper components.
Credential Helper Operations: Git credential helpers or SSH agents may run behind the scenes to manage authentication with remotes.
Large Repositories or Hooks: Operations on large repos or pre/post-commit hooks can temporarily spawn processes to complete tasks.

Can I Disable or Remove sourcetree.exe?

Yes, you can disable SourceTree. You can stop it from running at startup and uninstall it if you no longer need the tool.

How to Stop sourcetree.exe

End UI and Tabs: Close SourceTree windows or use Task Manager to end SourceTree.exe processes
Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable SourceTree
Stop Background Helpers: Within SourceTree, check Settings → Git (or Hg) integrations and disable background helpers if available
Sign Out and Exit: Sign out of any connected Git hosting services and exit the application
Uninstall SourceTree: Settings > Apps > SourceTree > Uninstall (or use Control Panel) to remove the application

How to Uninstall Sourcetree

✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> SourceTree -> Uninstall
✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> SourceTree -> Uninstall
✔ Optionally remove Git for Windows or Mercurial components if you no longer need them

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If sourcetree.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Large repository with many submodules: Limit background refresh, exclude unnecessary repos from auto-fetch, and close unused submodules.
Heavy Git operations: Monitor with Git operations only when needed; use Task Manager to terminate long-running git.exe processes.
Background credential helpers: Disable or reconfigure credential helpers to reduce background activity.
Outdated SourceTree: Update SourceTree to the latest version to benefit from performance improvements.
Antivirus scanning: Exclude SourceTree and Git executable paths from real-time scanning to reduce overhead.
Indexing of many repos: Disable automatic indexing or limit to active repositories; run indexing on demand.

Quick Fixes:
1. Close unneeded repositories in SourceTree to reduce per-repo processes
2. Check for updates and install the latest SourceTree release
3. Disable auto-fetch in Settings if not required
4. Limit background indexing via Settings
5. If necessary, restart SourceTree or the system to clear stuck processes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sourcetree.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate sourcetree.exe from Atlassian is not a virus. Verify the file path is C:\Program Files\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe and that it’s digitally signed by Atlassian.

Where is sourcetree.exe located on Windows?

Typically: C:\Program Files\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Sourcetree\SourceTree.exe. If installed via the Microsoft Store or a different package, the path may vary.

Can Sourcetree run without Git installed?

SourceTree relies on Git (and optionally Mercurial) for VCS operations. It requires a Git/Mercurial backend to perform version control tasks; otherwise features won't work.

How do I uninstall Sourcetree?

Use Windows Settings -> Apps -> SourceTree -> Uninstall, or Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> SourceTree. You can choose to keep Git or Mercurial if desired.

Why does Sourcetree open at startup?

SourceTree may be configured to launch on Windows startup or to run background helpers. Disable startup in Task Manager -> Startup tab or adjust SourceTree’s own startup options.

How can I reduce Sourcetree’s resource usage?

Close unused repositories, disable automatic fetch, update to latest version, and consider adjusting repository settings to limit background tasks. Also ensure antivirus exclusions for SourceTree and Git executables.