Quick Answer
adobecollaborationsync.exe is safe. It's part of Adobe's Collaboration Sync feature that keeps shared Creative Cloud assets synchronized across teammates, running in the background with minimal impact.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Location should be in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Collaboration Sync\Application
Warning
Most components run as background services
Adobe components may start automatically as part of Creative Cloud sync
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can pause sync in Creative Cloud or disable startup
What is adobecollaborationsync.exe?
adobecollaborationsync.exe is the executable for Adobe Collaboration Sync, a background service that keeps shared documents, libraries, and assets synchronized across collaborators in Creative Cloud. It runs to maintain up-to-date files and metadata across devices and apps used in Adobe workflows.
This process uses a dedicated background worker and network listeners to monitor changes in synced folders and apply updates from Adobe servers without blocking the user interface.
Quick Fact: Adobe Collaboration Sync is designed to sync assets across the Creative Cloud, enabling real-time collaboration and version control for teams.
Types of Adobe Collaboration Sync Processes
- Sync Daemon: Core background service that coordinates synchronization
- Background Listener: Watches local synced folders for changes
- Cloud Communicator: Handles communication with Adobe servers
- UI-Interactor: Feeds data to Creative Cloud UI updates
- Cache Manager: Manages offline caches for synced assets
- Updater: Checks for and applies sync-related updates
Is adobecollaborationsync.exe Safe?
Yes, adobecollaborationsync.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Adobe installed via Creative Cloud.
Is adobecollaborationsync.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real file is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names, so verify signatures and location.
How to Tell if adobecollaborationsync.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Collaboration Sync\Application\adobecollaborationsync.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Collaboration Sync\Application\adobecollaborationsync.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the executable → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Adobe Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 1-15% CPU and 50-250 MB RAM. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Should only run when sync operations are active. Persistent background activity without Creative Cloud activity may indicate malware.
Red Flags: If adobecollaborationsync.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), lacks a valid Adobe signature, or runs at high resources when idle, scan your system with antivirus software and verify via Creative Cloud.
Why Is adobecollaborationsync.exe Running on My PC?
adobecollaborationsync.exe runs to keep Creative Cloud libraries and shared assets synchronized. It may also run for background updates or when a sync task is active.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Cloud Sync: You have active synchronization of libraries, assets, or shared projects across devices.
- Background Sync Enabled: Creative Cloud Desktop is configured to run sync tasks in the background.
- Automatic Startup: The Creative Cloud app is set to launch at login, starting the sync service automatically.
- New/Updated Assets: New or edited assets trigger immediate synchronization across collaborators.
- Offline Cache Sync: The app updates local caches and prepares assets for online sync, keeping offline work consistent.
Can I Disable or Remove adobecollaborationsync.exe?
Yes, you can pause or disable adobecollaborationsync.exe. It's safe to disable sync if you don't need real-time collaboration, and you can uninstall the component if you remove Creative Cloud.
How to Stop adobecollaborationsync.exe
- Pause or Disable in Creative Cloud: Open Creative Cloud, go to Preferences → Files and Sync and pause sync or disable automatic syncing.
- End Process: Open Windows Task Manager, locate adobecollaborationsync.exe, right-click End Task.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → disable Adobe Collaboration Sync
- Stop Background Apps: In Creative Cloud, turn off 'Continue running background apps when Adobe Creative Cloud is closed' if available.
How to Uninstall Adobe Collaboration Sync
- ✔ Open the Creative Cloud app, sign in, and choose Apps.
- ✔ Uninstall the Adobe Collaboration Sync component if presented, or uninstall the entire Creative Cloud Desktop app.
- ✔ Alternatively, manage syncing preferences to remove shared libraries.
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If adobecollaborationsync.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active Sync Conflicts: Pause conflicting sync tasks, ensure libraries aren't being simultaneously edited by multiple users.
- Large Libraries: Large libraries with many assets can spike CPU/RAM; consider selective sync or library cleanup.
- Slow or Intermittent Network: Check network connection and retry sync when network is stable.
- Outdated Component: Update Creative Cloud and sync components to the latest version via Creative Cloud app.
- Corrupted Cache: Clear local sync cache via Creative Cloud settings or reinstall the sync component.
- Antivirus Interference: Temporarily disable real-time scanning for Adobe folders or add exceptions for the sync folders.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Creative Cloud and pause sync tasks to reduce resource usage
3. Restart the Adobe Collaboration Sync service from Creative Cloud
4. Check for available updates and install them
5. Limit or selectively sync libraries from the Creative Cloud app
6. Restart your computer if resources remain high
Frequently Asked Questions
Is adobecollaborationsync.exe safe?
Yes, the legitimate file from Adobe is safe when installed via Creative Cloud and located in the Adobe Collaboration Sync directory. Verify with the Digital Signature from Adobe Inc.
Why is adobecollaborationsync.exe using so much CPU?
CPU usage can spike during active syncing of large libraries or when multiple collaborators edit assets. Use Creative Cloud Task Manager to identify syncing activity and pause problematic tasks.
Can I delete adobecollaborationsync.exe?
You can disable or uninstall the sync component via the Creative Cloud app. Deleting the file manually is not recommended as it may break sync functionality.
Can I disable adobecollaborationsync.exe?
Yes. Disable startup in Task Manager, pause sync in Creative Cloud, or stop the background app setting in Creative Cloud preferences.
Why is adobecollaborationsync.exe running at startup?
If Creative Cloud is set to launch at login, the sync service may start automatically to prepare for immediate syncing.
How do I reduce Adobe Collaboration Sync's memory usage?
Limit libraries, pause background sync, update to latest version, and consider enabling selective sync to reduce memory footprint.