The genuine TrayMenu.exe file is a software component of VLC by VideoLAN. VLC media player is an open-source and freeware media player. TrayMenu.exe runs the system tray process installed with the VLC codec pack. This is not an essential process for Windows and can be disabled if known to create problems.
VLC (originally VideoLAN Client) was a project started in 1996 by students at the École Centrale Paris as a client-server system to stream videos from satellite dishes across a campus network. It was later taken under development by VideoLAN, a non-profit, and released under the GNU General Public License in 2001. VLC features a modular interface which makes it easy to add plugins for new file formats, codecs, interfaces, or streaming methods. Since VLC is a packet-based media player, it supports almost all video formats, including files that are damaged or incomplete.
VideoLAN is a multinational project that develops playback software that supports video and other media formats across a LAN (local area network). The project started at the at the École Centrale Paris, France, and has grown to consist of a team with people of more than 20 nationalities. Jean-Baptiste Kempf is the current president of VideoLAN, a non-profit organization.
TrayMenu stands for VLC TrayMenu
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 TrayMenu.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.
Description: TrayMenu.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. TrayMenu.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows—e.g. C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Codecs\ or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\C2MP\.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 894,416 bytes (40% of all occurrences), 208,415 bytes and 6 more variants.
The TrayMenu.exe file is not a Windows system file. The program has no file description. The process starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: MACHINE\User Shell Folders, TaskScheduler).
The program is not visible. The file is digitally signed.
TrayMenu.exe is able to manipulate other programs, monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Therefore the technical security rating is 57% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.
Uninstalling this variant:
If problems with Cole Williams Software Limited or Tray Menu occur, you may also visit the vendor's support site or safely remove the program using the uninstall program of it (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program).
If TrayMenu.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 55% dangerous. The file size is 208,415 bytes (50% of all occurrences), 894,416 bytes and 5 more variants.
The file is not a Windows core file. There is no file information. The process is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: MACHINE\User Shell Folders, TaskScheduler).
The program has no visible window.
TrayMenu.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs.
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as TrayMenu.exe. Therefore, you should check the TrayMenu.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 software is related with VLC codecs, is used to set detailed settings of the codecs. Nedbalek (further information)
This is a compiled AutoHotkey script. Joe P
This information might be correct for VLC player, I've never seen TrayMenu.exe the entire time I had VLC player installed. I did install, Media.Codec.Pack, and that was showing up as TrayMenu.exe. Essentially it gives the ability to be able to play and see avi files mostly, but also pertains to other video files. Tom
does not appear on the Uninstall menu. Can disable it in Startup apps and kill the process. JohnK
Summary: Average user rating of TrayMenu.exe:
based on 4 votes with 4 user comments.
One user thinks it's probably harmless.
3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user is not sure about it.
Best practices for resolving TrayMenu issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with TrayMenu. 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 TrayMenu.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
Nedbalek (further information)
Joe P
Tom
JohnK
Summary: Average user rating of TrayMenu.exe: based on 4 votes with 4 user comments. One user thinks it's probably harmless. 3 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user is not sure about it.