# PickerHost.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called pickerhost, file picker, open file picker

Windows, System Component

File and folder picker host. Packaged apps open this instead of a raw GetOpenFileName dialog. It is not explorer.exe.

## What you need to know

This is the modern file picker, not a second File Explorer window.

PickerHost.exe hosts the Open / Save picker for packaged apps. Ending it cancels that dialog. Your folder windows stay in explorer.exe.

- **Safe?**: Yes. An app opened a file picker

  **Is it Explorer?**: No. Explorer is the desktop shell

  **Should I end it?**: The Open dialog closes

Feex says

If an Open dialog is up and PickerHost is the name, I would pick a file or press Esc. Ending explorer.exe would also kill the taskbar, which is the wrong hammer.

## What is PickerHost.exe?

PickerHost.exe is the Windows file and folder picker host.

## What does it do?

It shows a system Open or Save UI and returns a StorageFile to the app. It does not browse your desktop icons.

## Why is it running?

A Store or packaged app called the picker. A leftover after you already chose a file is a stuck dialog.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

System32 PickerHost is Microsoft. A picker exe in a crack is not the system dialog.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Windows\System32\PickerHost.exe`

- Open/Save picker
- Not explorer.exe
- Not OpenWith.exe

## Can I end it?

Cancels the dialog

Ending PickerHost.exe is the same as Cancel on the Open or Save dialog. The calling app stays open. explorer.exe folder windows stay up.

## Can I remove it?

No

Do not delete PickerHost.exe. Packaged apps lose the system file picker. This is not explorer.exe and not a leftover to clean.

## Should it start with Windows?

On demand. Not Startup Apps.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Low

  **Memory**: Grows in a huge folder

  **Disk**: Enumeration

  **Network**: If you pick a cloud location

## File information

| Executable name        | PickerHost.exe                     |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Windows\System32\PickerHost.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation              |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows        |

## Common problems

### Picker frozen on a network path

End the host, then pick a local folder. Explorer issues are a different process.

### Two Explorer-looking windows

One may be this picker. Check the image name.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### Esc, then retry a simpler folder

Cloud placeholders can hang pickers.

### Do not replace PickerHost

System file.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | PickerHost.exe   |
| ---------- | ---------------- |
| Role       | File picker host |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[explorer.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/explorer.exe)[OpenWith.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/openwith.exe)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Learn: file picker ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/uwp/files/quickstart-using-file-and-folder-pickers)· Picker APIs
- [Microsoft Learn: Windows ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows)· Primary Windows documentation
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: PickerHost.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\PickerHost.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/pickerhost.exe/)

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