Quick Answer
dingtalk.exe is safe. It's the official DingTalk desktop client that enables messaging, calls, and presence features using multiple processes for stability and security.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Installed location should be in C:\Program Files\DingTalk\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\DingTalk\DingTalk.exe
Warning
Background processes normal
DingTalk may spawn several background services for notifications, presence, and update checks
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can close the app or disable startup and background tasks if desired
What is dingtalk.exe?
dingtalk.exe is the executable for the DingTalk Desktop Client, Alibaba's enterprise collaboration tool. It provides instant messaging, audio/video calls, file sharing, and presence status. The client uses a multi-process architecture to separate UI, chat rendering, and background services for better stability and security.
DingTalk runs on an Electron-based core, spawning separate processes for the main UI, chat renderers, and background services like notifications and sync. This separation helps maintain responsiveness and contain issues within individual components.
Quick Fact: DingTalk’s desktop client employs multi-process architecture to isolate UI, chats, and background tasks, improving stability and real-time notifications.
Types of DingTalk Processes
- Main Process: Core app window and event handling
- Renderer Process: Chat windows and content rendering
- Notification / Tray Process: System tray icons and push notifications
- Updater Process: Background update checks and application patching
- Background Sync Process: Presence, status sync, and network communication
- Security / Network Service Process: Secure communications and policy enforcement
Is dingtalk.exe Safe?
Yes, dingtalk.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Alibaba's official DingTalk distribution downloaded from the official site or installed by your organization.
Is dingtalk.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real dingtalk.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade as it. Verify the file path and signature to confirm authenticity.
How to Tell if dingtalk.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\DingTalk\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\DingTalk\DingTalk.exe. Any dingtalk.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a publisher like "Alibaba Group" or "Alibaba Cloud".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 3-20% CPU per active window and 120-450 MB RAM. Constant high usage when the app is closed is suspicious.
- Behavior: DingTalk should run when you open the client and create notifications while active. Unprompted background activity when you are offline warrants inspection.
Red Flags: If dingtalk.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Local, or System32), runs when the app isn't open, has no valid digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "dingtalk32.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is dingtalk.exe Running on My PC?
dingtalk.exe runs when you open the DingTalk desktop client or when background services such as notifications, presence, and auto-update checks are active.
Reasons it's running:
- Active User Session: You're actively using DingTalk — each chat or window may trigger renderer processes and background UI tasks.
- Background Notifications: DingTalk maintains background services to deliver messages and presence updates even when minimized.
- Startup Program: DingTalk may be configured to launch automatically when Windows starts or at user login.
- Presence and Sync: Presence status and chat sync require ongoing network activity, keeping processes alive for quick updates.
- Auto-Update and Background Tasks: Background updater checks for patches and feature updates, which may keep processes active briefly.
Can I Disable or Remove dingtalk.exe?
Yes, you can disable dingtalk.exe. It's safe to close DingTalk when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different collaboration tool.
How to Stop dingtalk.exe
- End Individual Windows: Use the DingTalk Task Manager (Shift+Ctrl+Esc in DingTalk) to end specific chats or background tasks, if available.
- Close Application: Click the X button or use Alt+F4 to close all DingTalk windows
- End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find dingtalk.exe, right-click → End Task
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable DingTalk
- Stop Background Apps: DingTalk Settings → Preferences → System → Disable "Continue running background apps when DingTalk is closed"
How to Uninstall DingTalk
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → DingTalk → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → DingTalk → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative collaboration tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, WeChat Work
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If dingtalk.exe is consuming excessive resources, try the following steps to identify and mitigate the issue.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Chats/Open Windows: Each chat window adds rendering load. Close unused chats or use the sleep/hibernate features for inactive conversations.
- Background Notifications Enabled: Disable or limit background notification checks in Settings to reduce constant activity.
- Outdated DingTalk Version: Update to the latest version: Settings → About → Check for updates
- Heavy or Malicious Extensions/Integrations: Review and disable any third-party integrations or bots you don't recognize
- Network-Driven Sync: If network conditions are poor, adjust sync settings or pause sync temporarily
- Corrupted Cache/Data: Clear cache and local data from Settings or reinstall DingTalk
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager to identify high-usage DingTalk processes
2. Close unused chats and disable background notifications in Settings
3. Clear app cache/data or reset the app from Settings
4. Update DingTalk to the latest version
5. Restart DingTalk or perform a clean reinstall if issues persist
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dingtalk.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate dingtalk.exe from Alibaba is not a virus. Verify the file path is C:\Program Files\DingTalk\DingTalk.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\DingTalk\DingTalk.exe and that the digital signature indicates a trusted publisher.
Why is dingtalk.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU often comes from active chats with rich content, video calls, or background notifications. Use DingTalk Task Manager to identify heavy tabs/windows, close or pause them, and update the client.
Can I delete dingtalk.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall DingTalk from Settings → Apps & Features or Control Panel. Your chat history may be retained if you sync with an account; otherwise it will be removed with uninstall.
Can I disable dingtalk.exe?
Yes. Close the app or disable startup in Task Manager. To stop background activity, adjust settings to prevent running in the background.
Why is dingtalk.exe running at startup?
DingTalk may be configured to launch at Windows startup to deliver instant notifications. Disable startup in Task Manager → Startup tab to prevent automatic launches.
Why are there multiple dingtalk.exe processes?
DingTalk uses a multi-process architecture to isolate UI, rendering, and background services. Each active chat or feature may run in separate processes for stability.