What is CCXProcess? – Is it Safe? How to disable it?

If you use any program that is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, you must have noticed the CCXProcess running in the background the minute you boot up your system.

This startup process is often misinterpreted as malicious spyware or a virus, leading users to want to get rid of it. If this sounds like your current situation, you have landed on the right page.

Below, we will cover CCXProcess in detail, from what it is to all the different ways you may disable the service. So, let’s get going!

What is CCXProcess? What is its purpose?

The CCXProcess is a background service of the Adobe Creative Cloud that launches at startup. Its primary function is to create a single workspace for numerous projects you create using different Adobe programs.

It also focuses on ensuring the efficient performance of all Adobe software by managing features such as automatic updates, user interface elements, syncing, etc., and providing templates, filters, and even tutorials to the users.

However, all these functions cause the service to consume slightly more resources than usual. This issue is more common in weaker PCs, where the service struggles to smoothly synchronize the activities of several Adobe programs running simultaneously.

For better efficiency, the service creates multiple instances of cscript.exe and conhost.exe processes. This usually occurs when your antivirus program conflicts with the service and prevents its smooth operation.

Should You Disable CCXProcess on Startup?

It depends. If it is using an excessive amount of CPU or resources, then you can simply disable it to free up resources. This is because, whenever you open Adobe programs, the service starts up again and everything runs and functions smoothly as intended.

It’s best to disable CCXProcess on startup if you don’t heavily rely on Adobe programs for daily use. This won’t harm your computer in any way, as the service will automatically start running again right when you launch any of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

If the process isn’t using many resources, then you can keep it enabled, as disabling it might slow down the start-up process of Adobe programs. This is because if the CCXProcess is disabled, Adobe programs will forcefully open it again, causing a delay in the startup speed of Adobe programs.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to disable CCXProcess is up to you. Consider your own computer’s specifications and how often you use Adobe Creative Cloud applications before making a decision.

Is CCXProcess a virus?

If you have any of the Adobe programs installed on your computer, then the CCXProcess.exe should be a genuine file. It is typically located in the following directory and ranges from 144 to 680 bytes in size:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud Experience

However, many viruses and malware tend to hide behind the names of legitimate files or processes. Some of these common malicious programs include Trojans and crypto-miners. Hence, you should be extra careful with such services running on your PC, especially if you’re not part of the Adobe Creative Cloud.

For your safety, watch out for these red signals as potential CCXProcess virus threats:

• You have CCXProcess.exe running on your computer even though you don’t have any Adobe software installed.
• Go to the file location of the CCXProcess.exe service and run a malware scan if the destination has nothing to do with the Adobe directory.
• If the heavy CPU usage started occurring after the recent installation of a torrent or crack, etc.
• Your system has slowed down ever since the process started appearing on startup services.

How to Disable the CCXProcess on Startup?

The steps to do so may differ for Windows and Mac systems, and also for the method you choose. Let’s take a look at all the possible ways to perform this task.

Methods to Disable the CCXProcess in Windows

Let’s start with disabling this process on Windows then we can move to MacOS.

There are three methods to disable CCXProcess:

1. Disable CCXProcess Auto-Start From Task Manager
2. Disable From Adobe Creative Cloud Settings
3. Disable Startup Entry from Windows Registry
4. Uninstall the Adobe App

1. Disable CCXProcess Auto-Start From Task Manager

The most straightforward way to disable running programs, startup apps, background services, and analyze CPU performance, among other tasks, is through the Task Manager. Follow the steps below to disable CCXProcess using it:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys from your keyboard to launch the Task Manager. Alternatively, you may right-click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.

2. Then, switch to the Startup apps tab.
3. Choose CCXProcess and click Disable.

4. Restart your PC to effectively apply the changes and ensure the service doesn’t launch at startup.

2. Disable From Adobe Creative Cloud 

You can also directly disable the entire Creative Cloud app from launching on startup by adjusting the preferences within its settings. Here’s how:

1. To begin, launch the Adobe Creative Cloud app on your desktop.
2. If prompted, sign in and accept the license agreement.
3. At the top right corner, click on Settings.
4. Go to Preferences > General tab.
5. Under the Settings section, toggle off Launch Creative Cloud at login.
6. Click on Done to apply the changes.

3. Disable From Windows Registry

You may also perform this task by modifying Windows Registry. However, you’ll need to be extra careful when following this method as any mistake may corrupt your entire system. It’s also recommended to backup your Registry before following this method.

Afterward, use the instructions below to disable CCXProcess:

1. Press the Win key + R to launch the Run dialog box. 
2. Type regedit in the given field and hit Enter.
3. When it launches, navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Adobe

4. Now, right-click on Adobe to view its context menu. Hover your cursor over New and select Key.

5. Rename the key to CCXNew and select it. On the right pane, right-click and choose New and click on DWORD (32-bit) value.

6. Then, rename it to Disabled.
7. Lastly, double-click on Disabled and set the Value data to 0. Click OK to save these changes.

4. Uninstall the Adobe app

If you no longer need the Adobe application, you can uninstall it to get rid of the CCXProcess once and for all. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Press the Win key + S on your keyboard.
2. Type control panel and hit Enter to launch it.
3. Set View by: Category and click on the Uninstall a program link under Programs.

4. Select the Adobe app from the list and click Uninstall/Change.

5. Confirm your action and follow on-screen instructions to finish uninstalling the program.

Steps to Disable the CCXProcess on MacOS

Now let’s disable this process on MacOS, this process is fairly straightforward. Follow these steps:

Mac users need to first kill the CCXProcess from Activity Monitor and then disable the service from launching at startup via System Preferences. Here’s how:

1. First, launch Finder on your Mac.
2. Then, go to the Applications tab.
3. On the right side, choose Utilities and launch Activity Monitor.
4. Search for CCXProcess from the search bar at the top-right corner. Click on it and hit the x icon to end the service.

5. Confirm your action by choosing Quit.
6. Now, go to System Preferences from the Apple menu.
7. From there, go to Users & Groups.

8. Next, go to the Login Items tab.
9. Unlock the padlock located at the bottom left corner. 
10. Then, choose CCXProcess and click the – icon to remove it.
11. Restart your Mac to apply the changes.