The genuine python.exe file is a software component of Python by Python Software Foundation. Python is a high-level programming language which supports object-oriented, imperative and functional programming or procedural programming styles. Python.exe launches the Python application. This is not a critical Windows component and should be removed if known to cause problems.
Python was developed in the late 1980s by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch computer programmer. It was built around a core philosophy of being easy to read and implement. Python was first released in 1991 and was named after Monty Python. Python is currently developed and maintained by the Python Software Foundation, a non-profit organization launched on March 6, 2001.
The Python Software Foundation (PSF) is an American non-profit corporation that owns the intellectual property rights to the Python programming language. PSF manages the open source licensing and protects the trademarks associated with Python. "The mission of the Python Software Foundation is to promote, protect, and advance the Python programming language, and to support and facilitate the growth of a diverse and international community of Python programmers." - the PSF Mission Statement
Python stands for Python Launcher
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may in some cases harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the python.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Since 2005, file.net has researched facts about Windows processes and files, analyzed user experiences, and examined files using its own analysis tools. Around 10,000 users rely on it every day.
Description: Python.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. Python.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder or sometimes in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files (mostly C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Extension_game\python\ or C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\YoutubeDownloader\python\).
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 97,296 bytes (42% of all occurrences), 97,440 bytes and 13 more variants.
Python.exe is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. The file has a digital signature.
python.exe appears to be a compressed file.
Therefore the technical security rating is 70% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
The developer Meetlima provides a website for help and for updates. There is also an uninstaller (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program ⇒ Lima or MarketAdvior).
If python.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 57% dangerous. The file size is 97,296 bytes (44% of all occurrences), 26,624 bytes and 14 more variants.
The program is not visible. It is not a Windows system file. It is digitally signed. The application listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
Uninstalling this variant:
The developer GOG provides an update site and an uninstaller (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program ⇒ GOG GALAXY or Dump Truck).
If python.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 40% dangerous. The file size is 28,160 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 26,624 bytes or 27,136 bytes.
The program has no file description. The program has no visible window. You can uninstall this program in the Control Panel. The python.exe file is not a Windows system file. The program listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet.
Uninstalling this variant:
If you encounter difficulties with python.exe, you can uninstall the program using the Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program ⇒ Python.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as python.exe. Therefore, you should check the python.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
This is Python's interpreter execuble. This file runs other Python programs, which may, or may not, be harmful. David G. (further information)
i had task manager open and noticed it was running and taking up 86% of my comps performance steven hewitt
its a spyware was using most of my resources, i used task manager to shut it off then my PC was restored to its normal speed Vishi
nonessential. find it, back it up, delete it. Whatever tries to use it will pop up an error message. In my case, it was being used incorrectly by a windows tweaking program. MKM
is programing langulange Gaspery
used for openoffice, so its not spyware G.
I cannot re-install my Webshots without it jane K.
Python is a great programming language, like Dave says: Python can be used to program whatever. Mark Stanley (further information)
This is a script interpreter for the Python programming language. It may do anything, depending on the specific Python program that it runs. A Python script, like any other program, can basically do anything, and may be either useful or dangeous. If you see this process running, you should use a program like Process Explorer to inspec the specific command line using which it was started, which contains the specific script that it executes. You should then inspect that script (which usually has a .py, .pyc, .pyo or .pyw extension) rather than the python.exe process itself to see what it does. Dan (further information)
i got a virrus and it broke python now it does not work SO GET VIRRUS PROTECTION ASAP!
Python is a programming language. Python.exe allows you to run python scripts and programs, which themselves may or may not be useful to you. Mac OS X and Linux typically have python installed by default. Windows (sadly) does not. Kim Bruning (further information)
Runs on my works network PC on Monday mornings, and seems to be connected (in my system) to ibmmessages.exe and ucgather.exe. This is an IBM machine and i suspect these routines enable the PC to'Call Home' to IBM. They hog memory initially but then settle down. I usually kill them off in Task Manager for the fun of it! Not Spyware in the usual sense of the term but still 'snooping' i believe. Tony
This is the python interpreter. It should be in C:\pythonxx\python.exe. If you've installed the python language, its fine. I am nobody... (further information)
It is an interpreter for the Python programming language. It's not malicious by itself, however its exact behavior is determined by the actual Python program that it is running, which can theoretically be malicious (though I haven't encountered such a case yet). Recommendation is to determine the program that it actually runs and check that program. In most cases, you're using some program written in Python so it's required. Dan (further information)
Completely harmless! KJ
Virus scan just deleted it. But its part of Glassfish. Ooops codegirl
Its a programming language, so its danger depends entirely on what someone runs in it. Also, many programs will not work without it, and may come with it included. Mack
A programming language, if you have programs that use Python installed then you will see high CPU usage for it. It's safe! Cheezey (further information)
python is a language (as i hope you guys know) however it is not at all unheard of for a virus to hide itself as a benign application. python does not come automatically installed on a windows system. a virus could also be dependent on python (that is very unlikely as it could use py2exe) viruses will often add false dependencies into other programs to make them hard to delete. Unless you installed python or a program with a python dependency, it is dangerous. considering the fact that if it is has gotten on your computer by itself, it can certainly run itself, so you may actually consider running it and seeing if it is python, as it couldn't get worse.
if you use QNAP NAS and install QSIRCH, python is a part of the system. Anyway be careful if you use hard and software of chinese companies !!!
Right click on the process in Task Manager and choose open file location. This should tell you what program's folder the process is running under. I have four Python process threads and they all point to my Plex Media Server which is harmless and safe. Salvatore Apodaca (further information)
Python is an interpreter for python driven programs. Like Java, python reads bytecode from source files and runs them. If it's the authentic python.exe shipped for that purpose, it's not spyware. Some applications are required for it. So if you delete it and then realize that some programs stopped working, you then will have screwed the pooch. Anonymoose (further information)
my python is part of Plex
Software running .py files in the Python Coding Language Jonas
Also used by GOG Galaxy 2.0 beta and located at C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\python GOG Galaxy is a game launcher that supports multiple platforms; Steam, Origin, Uplay, Xbox lbat (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of python.exe:
based on 47 votes with 32 user comments.
25 users think python.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
6 users think it's probably harmless.
10 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
5 users suspect danger.
One user thinks python.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
4 users don't grade python.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving python issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with python. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the python.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
David G. (further information)
steven hewitt
guy (further information)
Vishi
MKM
Gaspery
G.
jane K.
Ron Laukaitis
MasterLee (further information)
aubd
Mark Stanley (further information)
Dan (further information)
Karen G. (further information)
Kim Bruning (further information)
Tony
I am nobody... (further information)
Dan (further information)
KJ
codegirl
Mack
Cheezey (further information)
Salvatore Apodaca (further information)
Anonymoose (further information)
Jonas
lbat (further information)
AttritionEIGHT (further information)
Derek C. (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of python.exe: based on 47 votes with 32 user comments. 25 users think python.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 6 users think it's probably harmless. 10 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 5 users suspect danger. One user thinks python.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it. 4 users don't grade python.exe ("not sure about it").