GC Invoker Utility Explained

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The task manager allows you to keep tabs on the programs and services that are running in your Windows operating system.

The majority of programs, and their corresponding services, are easy to identify- drop box, NVIDIA and more. But at times, you may encounter unfamiliar programs like GC Invoker Utility. 

GC Invoker Utility: What Is It?

While you can easily ignore this application and leave it to run in the background, it’s not advisable to do so. This is because every active process in your system takes up resources, potentially slowing down your PC. So what exactly is GC invoker utility? More importantly, how can you disable it? Read on to learn about this Adobe program.

Adobe GC Invoker Utility Explained

Also known as AGCInvokerUtility EXE, the GC invoker utility is a program that Adobe provides alongside most of its other applications. 

Their aim of doing so is to boost the performance or utility of the main program. In other words, it’s an add-on or external program for the core Adobe software. 

Important to note is that GC invoker utility is an executable file, which is why it has the suffix EXE in its name. 

What this means is that it constitutes an encoded set of instructions, which the system can implement directly once the user clicks on the file icon. This is contrary to a data file that requires a particular application to interpret the details it contains. 

Essentially, GC invoker utility can run comfortably on your computer without the aid of another program. This also means that it can eat up a considerable amount of your computer’s resources. To prevent this, you should disable the application. But first, you have to determine whether this program is active on your PC, and this brings us to our next point. 

Is GC Invoker Utility Active in your PC?

If you want to know whether this program is running on your computer/laptop, all you need to do is launch the task manager. Follow these steps:

  • Go to “All Programs”
  • Click on “Task Manager”
  • Select “Startup” (located at the top of the task manager window)
  • Finally, look for Adobe GC invoker utility

Is Adobe GC Invoker Utility Dangerous?

Earlier, we mentioned that Adobe GC invoker utility often comes with Adobe’s primary software. Interestingly, the majority of computer users who encounter this executable file, don’t have any Adobe programs installed on their laptops or desktops. 

In such instances, it’s easy to classify GC invoker utility as a virus or any other form of computer malware. However, this program is not a virus as it does not pose any threat to your PC. Often, it runs in the background without interfering with any of the programs you’re using. 

That said, you should confirm that there isn’t any malware masquerading as the GC invoker utility. If any program has taken this name, it could be a virus; hence, posing a set of risks. Such malware can affect your PC in these ways:

  • Disrupting your current operations
  • Stealing sensitive details
  • Allowing unauthorized access to your computer’s applications
  • Slowing down your computer or web browser
  • Crashing and freezing
  • Making it difficult to connect to networks

Given these dangers, it’s always good to disable GC invoker utility if you detect that it’s a virus or malware. Here’s how to go about this:

How to Disable GC Invoker Utility

There are three techniques of disabling this program. These are:

  • Restarting your Computer in Safe Mode

If you’ve noticed your computer slowing down because of GC invoker utility, then the first thing you need to do is to restart it in safe mode. 

After restarting, assess your computer’s performance. If it’s still slow, opt for the other two disabling methods. But if it’s stopped being slow, you can carry on with your work while GC invoker utility continues to run in the background. For Windows users, the steps for restarting in safe mode are:

  • Click on Start menu
  • Select Power button
  • Choose restart option as you press the SHIFT function key (this will help you to reboot)
  • Next, choose Troubleshoot icon
  • Select Startup Settings- Advanced- Restart
  • Opt for Safe Mode with networking

Using the Task Manager

If you don’t want Adobe’s GC invoker utility to be active at the start-up stage, the easiest solution is to disable it through the task manager. To launch the task manager, press CTRL + Shift + Esc all at once.

Next, scroll down until you get to GC invoker utility (this should be under the Processes tab). Right-click on the application and select the disable function.

Using the Control Panel

Windows users can also disable GC invoker utility via the control panel. For Windows 10, first launch the Start menu. Then select Settings > Apps > Apps & Features.

The next step is to pick any files, which you regard as a threat. In this case, you’ll choose the GC invoker utility program. Right-click on the application and select the “uninstall” function from the drop-down. 

If you’re using Windows 8, then start by pressing the Windows key + C. Next, select the Settings option and go to the control panel. Once there, select the uninstall program and specify the application you wish to disable. Remember to pick all files related to the  AGCInvokerUtility.exe add-on before selecting the uninstall function.

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Final Thoughts

The GC invoker utility is an executable file that usually comes with Adobe’s main programs. Adobe Inc. provides this extension so as to enhance the utility or performance of the main Adobe program that you’ve installed. As such, this is a harmless add-on that’s unlikely to affect your computer’s current operations. 

That said, some files can masquerade as GC invoker utility, and this poses a risk to your desktop or laptop. If you’re not certain whether the GC invoker utility is genuine, consider uninstalling it immediately. 

First, verify whether the program is actually running on your PC by restarting it. Next, check whether it’s affecting your computer’s performance. If it is, disable it either through the task manager function or the control panel.