Which Adobe background processes are required for my apps?

Adobe background processes run behind the scenes and perform several important tasks that make your Adobe apps run seamlessly. You may only sometimes notice them, but these critical background processes do their job even when you're not using any of your Adobe apps. Some are meant to sync your fonts or libraries to the cloud, while others install automatic app updates.

Similarly, your Creative Cloud desktop app interacts with other background processes running on your device. These services (such as Creative Cloud Core Service, Adobe Content Synchronizer, and Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer) perform tasks like app installations, updates, and asset syncing. 

Common Adobe background processes

Let's learn more about the most common Adobe background processes.

Creative Cloud UI Helper

Creative Cloud UI Helper is called Adobe CEF Helper in the older Creative Cloud desktop app versions.

The Creative Cloud desktop app has several individual components inside its user interface, such as the Apps tab, the Files tab, and the Discover tab. The Creative Cloud UI Helper is a process that renders these components of the Creative Cloud desktop app. Multiple background processes with the same name run simultaneously because each monitors a separate part of the user interface. It handles issues in one component without affecting others, ensuring smooth operation. The Adobe Creative Cloud UI Helper is crucial for the Creative Cloud desktop app's performance.

Adobe Crash Processor (also called AdobeCRDaemon)

Adobe Crash Processor and Adobe CRDaemon are used interchangeably to refer to the same Adobe processes. It reports if the Creative Cloud desktop app or any of its background processes crash on your device. It also captures crashes for all Creative Cloud apps.

Creative Cloud Core Service

Creative Cloud Core Service is the core of the Creative Cloud apps and keeps them running. It gathers and processes critical information such as your licenses, apps available in your subscription, and updates required.

Creative Cloud Update Service

Creative Cloud Update Service is a Windows-specific process that manages the privileges required for various actions like installing app updates and syncing fonts. The process ensures you're not prompted for your system password each time you try to sync fonts or install or update your apps. 

Creative Cloud Interprocess Service

The Creative Cloud Interprocess Service handles all interactions among the various Adobe apps and processes. There are several instances when Adobe apps need to communicate or pass some data or information to each other. The Creative Cloud Interprocess Service helps make this communication possible.

Adobe notification client (Windows only)

Only available for Windows, Adobe Notification Client is responsible for all notifications in your Creative Cloud desktop app. It also manages the notifications that Adobe servers send to your desktop apps. It's vital for syncing, sharing, and collaborating assets.

Creative Cloud Content Manager

The Creative Cloud Content Manager is a background process that supports Adobe Creative Cloud applications to provide dynamic content, including tutorials, stock templates, and filters. For more details, see CCXProcess OS Scheduler.

Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer

Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer manages your Creative Cloud Libraries inside the Creative Cloud desktop app.

Adobe Content Synchronizer

Adobe Content Synchronizer syncs data between your machine and the Creative Cloud account. It also manages and syncs your fonts and Creative Cloud Libraries in other Adobe apps. Plus, Adobe Content Synchronizer syncs cloud documents created in applications like Adobe XD, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

Adobe Content Synchronizer Helper

Adobe Content Synchronizer Helper is a macOS FinderSync Extension. It's used for setting badges, labels, and context menus in the Creative Cloud Files folder.

Creative Cloud

Creative Cloud is responsible for the user interface of the Creative Cloud app. It lets the Creative Cloud desktop app take predefined actions triggered by Creative Cloud apps or Adobe web pages. For example, if you want to update an app from the Creative Cloud website, it takes you back to the Creative Cloud desktop app to complete the action.

node.JS

Creative Cloud Content Manager and Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer use the background process node.js. It's used by any Creative Cloud app that uses the node framework.

com.adobe.ARMDC.JobBlessHelper (macOS only)

Only available for macOS, this process belongs to a component called Acrobat Refresh Manager (ARM), which is used to update Acrobat and Reader to the latest version.