# PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe

Application Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called colorpickerui, powertoys color picker, color picker

Windows, Application

PowerToys Color Picker UI. The default shortcut is Win+Shift+C. It is not ScreenClippingHost.exe (Win+Shift+S).

## What you need to know

Color Picker, not ScreenClippingHost.

PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe is Color Picker. Win+Shift+C (default) opens the eyedropper and copies a color. ScreenClippingHost.exe is the Win+Shift+S snip overlay. Ending Color Picker does not cancel a snip.

- **Safe?**: Yes, from Color Picker

  **Same as snip?**: No. ScreenClippingHost is Win+Shift+S

  **Should I end it?**: The eyedropper closes

Feex says

If Win+Shift+C opens an eyedropper, I am in Color Picker. I do not end ScreenClippingHost to close that flyout.

## What is PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe?

PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe is Color Picker, not ScreenClippingHost.exe. The snip overlay is a Windows SystemApp. This UI is a PowerToys module.

## What does it do?

It samples a pixel color and copies a value. It does not save a PNG snip. ScreenClippingHost.exe and SnippingTool.exe do capture.

## Why is it running?

Color Picker is enabled and you pressed its shortcut, or the editor is open. A leftover after you copied a hex is the flyout finishing.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

A Microsoft-signed ColorPickerUI under PowerToys is the picker. ColorPickerUI.exe in Temp is not. This is still not the snip host.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Program Files\PowerToys\PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe`

- Default shortcut: Win+Shift+C
- Snip overlay is ScreenClippingHost.exe (Win+Shift+S)
- Not SnippingTool.exe

## Can I end it?

The eyedropper closes

Ending ColorPickerUI closes the picker. An in-progress Win+Shift+S snip is ScreenClippingHost, not this file.

## Can I remove it?

Turn off Color Picker, or uninstall PowerToys

Disable Color Picker in PowerToys Settings. Do not delete ScreenClippingHost.exe to remove this module.

## Should it start with Windows?

The runner starts Color Picker when the module is on. Pressing Win+Shift+C shows the UI. It is not the snip Startup path.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Low except while the magnifier tracks the pointer

  **Memory**: Small

  **GPU**: Overlay

  **Disk**: History in PowerToys settings if you keep colors

## File information

| Executable name        | PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe                            |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Program Files\PowerToys\PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation                                  |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows                            |

## Common problems

### Win+Shift+S versus Win+Shift+C

S is snip (ScreenClippingHost). C is Color Picker (this process). Mixing those shortcuts is the usual support call.

### People reset Snipping Tool to fix the eyedropper

Wrong app. Color Picker lives in PowerToys. SnippingTool.exe is the editor after a snip.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### PowerToys Settings > Color Picker

Change Win+Shift+C or disable the module. Snipping Tool settings will not move this shortcut.

### If you wanted a screenshot

Use Win+Shift+S. That starts ScreenClippingHost.exe. This article is the color eyedropper.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name       | PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe |
| ---------------- | --------------------------- |
| Role             | PowerToys Color Picker      |
| Default shortcut | Win+Shift+C                 |

## Related

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

[PowerToys.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/powertoys.exe)[ScreenClippingHost.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/screenclippinghost.exe)[SnippingTool.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/snippingtool.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: Color Picker ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/color-picker)· Win+Shift+C eyedropper
- [Microsoft Support: snip ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots)· Win+Shift+S is ScreenClippingHost
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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Quick facts

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- **Type**: Application Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Program Files\PowerToys\PowerToys.ColorPickerUI.exe

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

  **Related process**: [ScreenClippingHost.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/process/screenclippinghost.exe)

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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

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