zbrush.exe

What is zbrush.exe?

zbrush.exe is the main executable for Pixologic ZBrush, the professional digital sculpting and painting application. It launches the sculpting workspace, loads brushes, Dynamesh, SubTools, textures, and the GoZ bridge for interoperability with other 3D apps. It coordinates rendering, tool pipelines, and export tasks as you model.

zbrush.exe runs as a multi-threaded process that handles the UI, sculpting math, dynamic tessellation, and viewport rendering. It communicates with GPU drivers for shading, brush displacement, and manages GoZ/export pipelines to external software.

Types of ZBrush Processes

• Main UI Process: Controls the user interface, brush palette, and tool settings (1 instance)
• GoZ Bridge Process: Handles data transfer to external apps like Maya, 3ds Max, Blender
• Viewport Rendering: GPU-accelerated shading and live preview of sculpted meshes
• Dynamesh/Remeshing: Dynamic tessellation and remeshing during sculpting sessions
• SubTool / Export Helpers: Manages SubTools, textures, and export pipelines (OBJ/FBX)
• Utility/Background Tasks: Autosave, backup, and plugin initializations

Is zbrush.exe Safe?

Yes, zbrush.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Pixologic downloaded from pixologic.com or installed via a trusted installer.

Is zbrush.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real zbrush.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names. Always verify location and signature.

How to Tell if zbrush.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Pixologic\ZBrush 2024\ZBrush.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Pixologic\ZBrush 2024\ZBrush.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click ZBrush.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show signer as Pixologic, Inc.
3. Resource Usage: Normal startup uses modest CPU and memory. Abnormal, constant spikes when idle are suspicious.
4. Behavior: ZBrush should run when you start the program. Multiple hidden instances or background activity without launching ZBrush is a red flag.

Why Is zbrush.exe Running on My PC?

zbrush.exe runs when you start Pixologic ZBrush or when certain features and background tasks are active, such as GoZ transfers, autosave, or live sculpting sessions.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Sculpting Session: You're actively sculpting; brush calculations, dynamic tessellation, and viewport updates run in real time, consuming CPU/GPU resources.
• GoZ and Inter-Application Workflows: GoZ connections with Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender can spawn processes or threads to transfer geometry and textures in the background.
• Autosave and Recovery: ZBrush periodically saves your work to protect changes, which may briefly spike disk I/O and memory usage.
• Plugin and Tool Initialization: Installed plugins or custom brushes initialize on startup or project load, contributing to initial CPU/memory load.
• Export/Render Preparations: Preparing large exports (OBJ/FBX textures) or viewport renders can temporarily increase resource use.

Can I Disable or Remove zbrush.exe?

Yes, you can disable zbrush.exe. Exiting ZBrush stops the main process; you can uninstall ZBrush via the Pixologic installer or Windows Settings if you no longer need it.

How to Stop zbrush.exe

• End Active Session: Save your work and close ZBrush using File > Exit or the window close button
• Close Background Tasks: In ZBrush, disable nonessential background features like autosave if available
• Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable Pixologic ZBrush
• End Processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate zbrush.exe, and End Task
• Stop GoZ Transits: In ZBrush preferences, disable or remove GoZ connections to other apps

How to Uninstall ZBrush

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Pixologic ZBrush → Uninstall
• ✔ Run the Pixologic installer again and choose Uninstall, or use the dedicated uninstaller provided by Pixologic
• ✔ Optionally remove leftover user data from C:\Users\<YourUser>\Documents\ZBrush, and consider reinstalling if you plan to re‑install later

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If zbrush.exe is consuming excessive resources during sculpting or exporting:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Too many active SubTools or extremely dense meshes: Reduce SubTools, use Merge Visible, or decimate meshes with Decimation Master before heavy editing
• Heavy Dynamesh or ZRemesher operations: Lower resolution for Dynamesh, or perform remesh with smaller targets; increase RAM if possible
• Resource-heavy brushes or textures: Disable unnecessary brushes/textures; use smaller brush sizes and lower texture resolutions during initial sculpt
• Outdated GPU drivers: Update graphics drivers from the GPU vendor (NVIDIA/AMD) to support ZBrush viewport shading
• Background GoZ transfers: Pause or disable GoZ when not actively transferring data to other apps
• Background autosave: If available, adjust autosave frequency or temporarily disable autosave during heavy sessions

Related Processes