Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Tox\tox.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tox\tox.exe
Warning
Multiple environments create many processes
Each defined interpreter/environment may spawn a separate process during a tox run
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can disable or limit tox runs by adjusting tox.ini, CI configurations, or removing tox from your PATH
What is tox.exe?
tox.exe is the Windows launcher for the Tox test automation framework. It coordinates the creation of isolated Python virtual environments and runs the commands defined in tox.ini across multiple interpreters. When invoked, tox.exe helps reproduce consistent environments for reliable, repeatable test results.
Tox uses a multi-environment model: tox.exe boots per-environment virtual environments and executes configured test commands. It relies on Python's virtualenv and the tox.ini file to manage dependencies, interpreter versions, and test matrices across platforms.
Quick Fact: Tox pioneered per-environment test automation in Python. Each environment runs its own set of dependencies and tests for reproducible results.
Types of Tox Processes
- Launcher Process: The tox.exe wrapper that orchestrates environment creation and test execution
- Environment Runner: Per-environment virtual environment created by tox to run tests
- Dependency Installer: Pip/installer steps executed inside each venv to install requirements
- Test Command Executor: Runs the commands specified in tox.ini for each environment
- Result Collector: Aggregates test results across environments for reporting
- Hook/Utility Process: Pre/post-test hooks or utilities defined in tox.ini
Is tox.exe Safe?
Yes, tox.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the tox-dev project downloaded from official sources.
Is tox.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real tox.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can mimic names. Always verify the file location and signature.
How to Tell if tox.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Tox\tox.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Tox\tox.exe. Any tox.exe outside these folders is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click tox.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from "tox-dev" or the official project vendor.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is modest; extremely high CPU/memory when idle is suspicious and warrants scanning.
- Behavior: Tox.exe should only run when invoked by tox-related commands or CI pipelines.
Red Flags: If tox.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when not invoked, has no digital signature, or uses constant high resources, scan with antivirus and verify with the project developers. Beware of similarly-named files.
Why Is tox.exe Running on My PC?
tox.exe runs because tests are being executed via Tox, which creates isolated environments and runs the configured commands across interpreters. It may stay active during a test matrix or CI job.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Test Runs: Tests are being executed across one or more environments; each environment runs its own subprocesses.
- Parallel Environments: tox can run environments in parallel, increasing resource usage while speeding up overall test coverage.
- CI/CD Integration: In continuous integration, tox.exe is invoked by the build script to initialize venvs and run tests in a controlled matrix.
- Custom Commands: tox.ini may include pre/post commands or hooks that launch additional tasks during a run.
- Hooked Executors: Linters, reporters, or supplementary tools triggered by tox can keep processes busy beyond test execution.
Can I Disable or Remove tox.exe?
Yes, you can disable tox.exe. You can stop it from running by adjusting your tox.ini, disabling it in your CI, or uninstalling tox from your Python environment.
How to Stop tox.exe
- Cancel Running Tests: Terminate the tox process in Task Manager or use CTRL+C in the command prompt where tox was started.
- Adjust Tox.ini: Modify or prune envlist to reduce active environments; use -e to limit environments when running locally.
- Disable Startup: If tox is invoked by a startup script, remove or disable the script from startup tasks.
- CI Configuration: Update your CI workflow to stop triggering tox on every build or adjust test matrices.
- Stop Background Apps: If you enabled pre/post-test watchers, disable them in tox.ini or your test harness.
How to Uninstall Tox
- ✔ Open a command prompt and run: pip uninstall tox
- ✔ If you installed via a Python distribution, remove the tox package and delete the tox.exe wrapper from the Scripts directory
- ✔ Optionally remove the project-by-project tox.ini and related test configurations
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If tox.exe is consuming excessive resources during test runs:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Environments Defined: Limit envlist in tox.ini or run a subset of environments with -e to reduce load.
- Dependency Installation Delays: Check network access; ensure PyPI is reachable and caches are available. Consider using a local mirror.
- Virtual Environment Re-Creation: Clean caches and recreate venvs; verify Python and virtualenv installations.
- Resource-Heavy Tests: Optimize tests, parallelize where possible, and skip long-running tests during local iteration.
- Outdated Toolchain: Update tox and Python to supported versions; re-run to pick up improvements.
- Antivirus Interference: Add tox.exe and the project directory to antivirus exclusions and ensure real-time protection isn’t blocking IO.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open a project with tox.ini; run tox -q to reduce output and focus on errors
2. Use -e to run a subset of environments (e.g., tox -e py39,py38)
3. Update tox to the latest version: pip install --upgrade tox
4. Clean and recreate virtual environments if issues persist
5. Check for and apply any available updates to Python and dependencies
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tox.exe a virus?
No. The legitimate tox.exe from the tox-dev project is a launcher used to create isolated environments and run tests as defined in tox.ini.
Why does tox.exe run many processes?
Tox creates separate virtual environments for each interpreter and test matrix. Each environment may spawn its own processes to install dependencies and run tests.
How do I install tox on Windows?
Install Python, add Python to PATH, then run 'pip install tox' in a command prompt. The tox.exe wrapper will be placed in the Python Scripts folder.
Can I disable tox.exe from starting at startup?
Yes. If tox is invoked by CI or startup scripts, modify those configurations to stop automatic runs or disable the startup entry.
Where are tox configuration files located?
The project root should contain tox.ini defining environments and commands. Some setups may also use setup.cfg or other config files.
How do I uninstall tox?
Run 'pip uninstall tox' from your Python environment or remove the tox.exe wrapper and related files from the Scripts folder.