KeePassXC

ApplicationKeePassXC team

Also called keepass xc, keepassx reboot

KeePassXC teamSecurity

A cross-platform KeePass-compatible client. The window is KeePassXC.exe. It is not Dominik Reichl's KeePass.

What you need to know

KeePassXC is the Qt client. KeePass.exe is Dominik Reichl's app.

KeePassXC.exe opens kdbx files and ships its own browser integration. It is not the original .NET KeePass and it does not use that plugin list. Bitwarden and 1Password are hosted vaults, not this file.

What is it?: Qt KeePass-compatible client
Same as KeePass?: No. Different team. Shared kdbx
keepass.info plugins?: No. Those are for KeePass.exe

Feex says

If KeePassXC.exe will not load a plugin from keepass.info, that is expected. Those plugins are for Dominik Reichl's KeePass. XC is the other client. The kdbx file is what they share.

What is KeePassXC?

KeePassXC is a community Qt client for KeePass-style kdbx files. KeePassXC.exe is the Windows process. It is not KeePass 2 from keepass.info.

If you have never used it

If you want a KeePass-compatible vault on a Qt Windows app, this is KeePassXC, not the original KeePass. Download it from keepassxc.org/download. KeePassXC.exe opens kdbx files. It will not load keepass.info plugins. Dominik Reichl's KeePass.exe is the other program. There is still no LastPass-style official cloud.

What is it used for?

Open a kdbx without KeePass.exe

XC reads KDBX 3 and 4. You can share a file with original KeePass. You cannot share keepass.info plugins.

Built-in browser integration

XC ships its own browser helper. That is not the KeePass plugin gallery.

Portable and installer builds

keepassxc.org lists an installer and a portable zip. That is still XC, not Bitwarden.exe.

Who is it for?

People who want a modern KeePass-compatible window
Users sharing a kdbx with a friend who runs original KeePass
Anyone who downloaded keepass.info plugins and wondered why XC ignored them

Current status

Actively developed by the KeePassXC team. This article is the Windows desktop client.

How old is it?

KeePassXC grew from the KeePassX community around 2016. It is a successor community client, not Reichl's .NET app. Current Windows installers list Windows 10 and 11.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Windows installer

Portable ZIP

Legacy Win7 build (older)

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 or Windows 11 for current installers, per keepassxc.org
RAM	Light. Unlock key derivation is the spike

Resource profile

CPU demand: Unlock key derivation
Disk demand: The kdbx you chose

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
KeePassXC.exe	Qt desktop client

Startup components

KeePassXC.exe starts when you open it, or from a shortcut you added.

File locations

Common KeePassXC locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\KeePassXC\

File formats

KDBX 3KDBX 4KDB import

Common problems

keepass.info plugins do nothing here

Wrong client. Install original KeePass if you need those plugins, or use XC's own features.

KDBX 4 options original KeePass did not expect

Both sides document KDBX 4, but a feature XC enabled can surprise an old KeePass 2.x. Test the file on both apps before you depend on it.

Getting unstuck

Download from keepassxc.org/download

keepass.info is the other product. A "KeePass Pro XC" ad page is junk.

Confirm KeePassXC.exe under Program Files\KeePassXC

KeePass Password Safe 2 is Reichl's app.

Use XC browser integration, not a KeePass plugin zip

The docs are on keepassxc.org/docs. The keepass.info plugin HTML is for the other exe.

Alternatives

KeePass if you want the original .NET app and its plugins. Bitwarden if you want a hosted or self-hosted service.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	keepassxc.org/download/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	keepassxc.org/docs/ Vendor support
Official site	keepassxc.org/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

The Qt app is light. The kdbx location is your backup story.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

KeePassXC official site · Vendor product page
KeePassXC help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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