Quick Answer
armourycrate.exe is safe. It runs ASUS Armoury Crate, a utility that manages hardware profiles, Aura lighting, and device settings for ASUS hardware.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ArmouryCrate\ArmouryCrate.exe
Warning
Many processes normal
Armoury Crate uses separate processes for UI, Aura, and background services
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Armoury Crate from the system tray or disable startup in Task Manager
What is ArmouryCrate.exe?
ArmouryCrate.exe is the executable for ASUS Armoury Crate, a centralized software suite for monitoring and controlling ASUS hardware. It manages Aura lighting, hardware profiles, performance settings, and device detection across supported devices.
Armoury Crate uses a multi-process architecture to separate UI, lighting control, device detection, and background updates, improving responsiveness and stability during operation and background tasks.
Quick Fact: Armoury Crate coordinates lighting and hardware profiles across ASUS devices, allowing synchronized RGB effects and unified control.
Types of Armoury Crate Processes
- Main UI Process: User interface and command processing for Armoury Crate
- Background Service: Background tasks for device detection and updates
- Aura Control Process: Manages Aura lighting and effects
- Updater Process: Checks for Armoury Crate updates
- Telemetry/Sync: Data synchronization with ASUS servers
- Utility/Helper: Helper tasks and system integration
Is armourycrate.exe Safe?
Yes, armourycrate.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from ASUS downloaded from official sources (asus.com or pre-installed by manufacturer).
Is armourycrate.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real armourycrate.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if armourycrate.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ArmouryCrate\ArmouryCrate.exe or C:\Program Files\ASUS\ArmouryCrate\ArmouryCrate.exe. Any armourycrate.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click ArmouryCrate.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "ASUSTeK Computer Inc.".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-15% CPU per process, 80-320 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when Armoury Crate is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Armoury Crate should run when you use Armoury Crate features; persistent background activity with no UI could indicate malware.
Red Flags: If armourycrate.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Armoury Crate isn't opened, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus software immediately.
Why Is armourycrate.exe Running on My PC?
armourycrate.exe runs to manage ASUS hardware profiles, Aura lighting, device detection, and to support background updates while Armoury Crate is active or has services enabled.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Armoury Crate Use: You're actively using Armoury Crate to adjust lighting, profiles, or performance settings
- Aura Lighting Control: The Aura system runs as a background service to apply lighting effects in real time
- Device Detection: Armoury Crate detects connected ASUS devices (motherboards, GPUs, peripherals) and loads appropriate profiles
- Background Updates: Armoury Crate checks for updates to the app and device drivers
- Startup and Background Service: Armoury Crate may start at Windows boot to enable seamless hardware control
Can I Disable or Remove armourycrate.exe?
Yes, you can disable armourycrate.exe. It's safe to close Armoury Crate when not in use, and you can uninstall Armoury Crate completely if you prefer a different utility.
How to Stop armourycrate.exe
- End Individual Tasks: In Armoury Crate, use the in-app task manager to end specific modules or processes
- Close Application: Click the X button to close the Armoury Crate window
- End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find ArmouryCrate.exe, right-click → End Task
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable ASUS Armoury Crate
- Stop Background Apps: In Armoury Crate settings, disable background services when the app is closed
How to Uninstall Armoury Crate
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → ASUS Armoury Crate → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → ASUS Armoury Crate → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative suites for hardware control if desired
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If armourycrate.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Background services enabled: Disable nonessential Armoury Crate background services in the app settings or via Windows Startup to reduce resource usage.
- Aura lighting effects intensive: Reduce lighting effects or disable Aura lighting for certain devices; restart Armoury Crate.
- Outdated Armoury Crate: Update Armoury Crate to the latest version from the official ASUS support site.
- Conflicting software: Disable or uninstall conflicting hardware control software that may interfere with Armoury Crate.
- Many devices connected: Limit the number of connected ASUS devices or disable certain modules to reduce load.
- Corrupted cache: Clear Armoury Crate cache or reinstall Armoury Crate to reset state.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Armoury Crate Task Manager within the app and identify high-usage modules
2. Clear cached data: in Armoury Crate settings or reinstall to clear cache
3. Disable unnecessary modules in Armoury Crate settings
4. Update Armoury Crate to the latest version
5. Restart the computer to reset background services
Frequently Asked Questions
Is armourycrate.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate armourycrate.exe from ASUS is not a virus. Verify the file path as C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ArmouryCrate\ArmouryCrate.exe and ensure a valid digital signature from ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Why is Armoury Crate using so much CPU?
High CPU usage is usually due to Aura lighting effects, device detection, or background checks. Use Armoury Crate Task Manager (in-app) to identify the culprit, close or disable it, and ensure Armoury Crate is up to date.
Can I delete Armoury Crate?
Yes, you can uninstall Armoury Crate via Windows Settings → Apps, but you may lose Aura lighting profiles and hardware control. Reinstall only if you still need ASUS device management.
Can I disable Armoury Crate from starting with Windows?
Yes, disable Armoury Crate in Task Manager → Startup or in Armoury Crate settings to prevent automatic startup.
Where is Armoury Crate installed?
Typically installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ArmouryCrate or C:\Program Files\ASUS\ArmouryCrate, depending on system configuration.
How do I update Armoury Crate?
Open Armoury Crate and check for updates in Settings → About or download the latest installer from the ASUS support site.