What is CCXProcess.exe on startup?

Creative Cloud Experience Process (CCXProcess) is a background process that starts automatically each time the Windows and macOS operating system is started. It is used by Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, Illustrator, etc.) to provide a range of functionality, including templates, filters, and even tutorials.

Some users, especially novice users, think CCXProcess or CCXProcess.exe is a system file or malware, but don’t worry it’s not malware at all. It is a background process that has the function of supporting Adobe apps and features.

However, if CCXProcess is  consuming a lot of resources on your PC , it is totally safe and easy to disable. The fastest way to disable it in Windows is through the task manager. The Mac takes a few more steps, but you can read all the details about it in our guide below.

The topics of the post [ hide ]

• 1Do I need CCXProcess at startup?
• 2Can I disable CCXProcess at startup?
• 3How to disable CcxProcess at startup in Windows (Steps)
  • 1Disable automatic startup from Task Manager
  • 2Disable from Adobe Creative Cloud
  • 3Disable from Windows Registry
  • 4Uninstall Adobe CC
• 4How to disable CCXProcess at startup in Mac?
  • 1Is CCXProcess a virus or malware? How do i remove it?
  • 2Where can I find the CCXProcess.exe file?
• 5Conclusion

Do I need CCXProcess on startup?

CCXProcess is not a system process and CCXProcess.exe is not a system file. It is simply a background process used by Adobe applications to provide extra support and functionality for tasks such as photo editing, video editing, web design, and so on. Hence, CCXProcess is not needed for startups.

Can I disable CCXProcess on startup?

Yes, disabling CCXProcess at startup will have no negative effect on the system as it is just a minor background process related to Adobe CC. If you need CCXProcess services at a later time, it will automatically start when you open any Adobe Creative Cloud application. So you don’t even have to worry about not having access to extra features in Adobe apps. 

How to disable CcxProcess at startup in Windows (Steps)

The simplest way to disable CCXProcess at startup is via task manager (also known as task manager). You can also disable it directly from the Adobe Creative Cloud interface. If these methods don’t work, you can try the Windows registry method .

Disable automatic startup from Task Manager

1. Press  CTRL + Shift + Escto start Task Manager.
2. Switch to the Startuptab  .
3. Select  CCXProcessand click  Disable  .
4. Restart your PC and check if CCXProcess starts at boot now.

Disable from Adobe Creative Cloud

1. Launch the  Adobe Creative Cloud app.
2. Log into the app and accept the license agreement.
3. Click the  Settingsbutton  in the upper right corner.
4. Go to  Preferencesand select the  General tab.
5. Click on  Settings.
6. Uncheck the  Start on loginoption  .
7. Try restarting your PC to check if the program is disabled at startup.

Disable from the Windows registry

1. Press  Windows + Rto open Run.
2. Type  regeditand press Enter.
3. In the registry editor, go to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Adobe
4. Right-click the Adobe folder and select  New> Key.
5. Renamethe key as  CCXNew  .
6. Select  CCXNew, then right-click on an empty space on the right side of the window.
7. Select  New> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
8. Renamethe DWORD value as  Disabled  .
9. Double-clickDisabled  to  launch the Edit window.
10. Go to the  Value data field and set its value to  0  .
11. Press  OKto save changes and exit.

Uninstall Adobe CC

If you don’t use or don’t need Adobe CC, you can permanently delete CCXProcess by uninstalling the program. To do so,

1. Press  Windows + Rto start Run.
2. Type  controland press Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. Open  Programs and Features. Click on Adobe CC and press  Uninstall / Change  .
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to remove Adobe CC from your computer.

How to disable CCXProcess at startup in Mac?

On Mac, you should first check if the process is active and if so, end it via the activity monitor. After that, you can disable CCXProcess from startup to startup via System Preferences. To do so,

1. Open  Finder.
2. Go to  Applications> Utilities. Right-click on  Activity Monitor  and start it.
3. Search for  CCXProcessin the search bar (top right corner).
4. Double-click CCXProcess.app, select  Exit, then  press Exit again  .
5. Now hit the  Apple icon> System Preferencesfrom the menu bar.
6. Go to  Users and Groups> Login Items.
7. From the list of login items, select  CCXProcess.
8. Unlock the lockin the lower left corner and press the  minus button  at the bottom.
9. Close the login window.

Is CCXProcess a virus or malware? How do i remove it?

No, the actual CCXProcess.exe file is not a virus.  However,   malicious programs like Trojans or malware can hide behind a fake file using the name CCXProcess.exe. Copying the name of a legitimate file / process is a common practice for viruses.

If CCXProcess is running even if you don’t have Adobe Creative Cloud, it is likely a virus. You should start to suspect that CCXProcess is a virus when it uses a lot of memory, takes up considerable space or slows down your PC. In such cases, use Windows Defender or antivirus to scan the file.

How to check the CPU / GPU / Disk / network usage of CCXProcess?

Press  CTRL + Shift + Esc  to open Task Manager . You can check CCXProcess CPU, GPU, disk and network usage by checking their respective sections in Task Manager.

Where can I find the CCXProcess.exe file?

On Windows, the CCXProcess.exe executable file is usually stored in the following location:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud Experience\

On Mac, it can be found in:

/Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud Experience/CCXProcess

Conclusion

CCXProcess is a background process used to enhance the functionality of Adobe CC products and make them work seamlessly together. It is NOT a system file and you can disable / remove it without worry.