Overview
This article lists and defines the CrashPlan software processes on Windows and Mac devices.
Considerations
The file path and user privilege for the processes may vary depending on whether the CrashPlan app is installed for everyone (the default installation type) or installed per user.
You may see multiple processes with the same label (for example, CrashPlan, CrashPlanDesktop.exe, or Electron Helper). Each instance represents a window within the CrashPlan app (such as the main window, About, or History). Each window runs as a separate process so that a failure in one process does not impact the other processes. This process model is used in a number of applications, such as Google Chrome.
Windows
CrashPlan app
Includes both the main CrashPlan app user interface and the CrashPlan tray app. If both apps are open, multiple processes appear in Task Manager.
- Process name: CrashPlan
-
Location:
- Installed for everyone (default): C:\Program Files\CrashPlan\electron
- Installed as user: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\<Local or Roaming>\Programs\CrashPlan\electron
- Runs as: User
-
Starts automatically:
- CrashPlan app: No
- CrashPlan tray app: May be configured to appear in notification area upon logging into your device from Device Preferences > General
-
Always running:
- CrashPlan app: No
- CrashPlan tray app: May be configured from notification area settings
CrashPlan service
The CrashPlan service that performs all backup operations in the background on a device running the CrashPlan app.
- Process name: CrashPlanService.exe
-
Location:
- Installed for everyone (default): C:\Program Files\CrashPlan
- Installed per user: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\<Local or Roaming>\Programs\CrashPlan
- Runs as: System (default) or user (when installed per user)
- Starts automatically: Yes
- Always running: Yes
Mac
CrashPlan app
Includes both the main CrashPlan app user interface and the CrashPlan menu bar app. If both apps are open, multiple processes appear in Activity Monitor.
-
Process name:
- CrashPlan (main process)
- Electron Helper (one instance per active window)
-
Location:
- Installed for everyone: /Applications/CrashPlan.app/
- Installed per user: ~/Applications/CrashPlan.app/
- Runs as: User
-
Starts automatically:
- CrashPlan app: No
- CrashPlan menu bar: May be configured to appear in the menu bar upon logging into your device from Device Preferences > General
-
Always running:
- CrashPlan app: No
- CrashPlan menu bar: May be configured from menu bar settings
CrashPlan service
The CrashPlan service that performs all backup operations in the background on a device running the CrashPlan app.
- Process name: CrashPlanService
-
Location:
- Installed for everyone: /Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Library/LaunchServices/
- Installed per user: ~/Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Library/LaunchServices/
- Runs as: Root (when installed for everyone) or User (when installed per user)
- Starts automatically: Yes
- Always running: Yes