Quick Answer
drafts.exe is safe. It's the official Drafts Editor desktop app executable that manages document creation, autosave, syncing, and plugin processing in isolated processes to keep the UI responsive.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Drafts\Drafts.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Drafts\Drafts.exe
Warning
Multiple processes expected
Each document or plugin may run in its own process
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close all drafts or disable startup to reduce background activity
What is drafts.exe?
drafts.exe is the main executable for the Drafts Editor desktop application. It launches the editor window, loads your current drafts, and coordinates autosave, cloud sync, and plugin modules. You may see multiple drafts.exe processes when multiple documents or feature panes are open, each isolated for stability.
Drafts uses a modular, multi-process architecture: a UI process hosts the editor, a renderer per open document, background sync tasks, and separate plugin/extension processes. This design improves responsiveness and security by isolating tasks.
Quick Fact: Drafts pioneered lightweight multi-process editing for local documents, enabling quick switching between drafts without freezing the UI.
Types of Drafts Processes
- UI/Browser Process: Main Drafts window and user interface (1-2 instances)
- Editor Renderer: Each open document editor (one per draft)
- Sync/Background Service: Cloud sync, offline cache, and autosave tasks
- Plugin/Extension Process: Drafts extensions get separate processes
- Export/Print Handler: Converts drafts to PDF or other formats
- Background Indexer: Search indexing for quick lookup
Is drafts.exe Safe?
Yes, drafts.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Drafts, Inc. downloaded from official sources or pre-installed by the device manufacturer.
Is drafts.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real drafts.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may mimic names to trick users.
How to Tell if drafts.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Drafts\Drafts.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Drafts\Drafts.exe. Any drafts.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Windows Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Drafts, Inc."
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 3-25% CPU per document, 130-500 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when drafts is closed is suspicious.
- Behavior: Drafts should run when you open the editor. Multiple instances when Drafts is closed indicates malware.
Red Flags: If drafts.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Drafts isn't open, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "drafts32.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is drafts.exe Running on My PC?
drafts.exe runs when you open the Drafts Editor or when Drafts is configured to run in the background for syncing, indexing, or plugin activity.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Document Editing: You're editing a draft; each open document may spawn its own renderer process to keep edits responsive.
- Background Sync: Drafts syncs changes to the cloud or across devices, requiring persistent background tasks.
- Autosave and Backups: Automatic saves and backup creation run periodically to prevent data loss.
- Startup Launch: Drafts may be configured to start automatically when Windows boots.
- Extensions and Plugins: Drafts extensions or import/export tools run in separate processes to extend functionality.
Can I Disable or Remove drafts.exe?
Yes, you can disable drafts.exe. You can close Drafts or remove it entirely if you no longer use it.
How to Stop drafts.exe
- End Individual Drafts: Use Drafts' built-in Task Manager or Windows Task Manager to end specific renderer processes for open drafts.
- Close the Drafts App: Close all Drafts editor windows via the UI to terminate the main process.
- End All Drafts Tasks: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate drafts.exe, right-click → End Task.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Drafts Editor.
- Stop Background Sync: Drafts Settings → Sync → disable automatic cloud sync.
How to Uninstall Drafts
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Drafts Editor → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Drafts Editor → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternatives: Notepad++, WordPad, or a cloud-based drafting tool
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If drafts.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Drafts Open: Close unused drafts or use workspace grouping to limit active editors. Each open document can consume CPU and memory.
- Resource-Intensive Extensions: Disable or remove extensions in Drafts Settings → Extensions. Restart Drafts.
- Large Attachments or Media: Avoid embedding large media; store attachments externally or compress data before saving.
- Outdated Drafts Version: Update Drafts to the latest version: Settings → About → Check for updates.
- Background Sync Heavy Traffic: Limit sync frequency or switch to manual sync in Settings → Sync.
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Disable hardware acceleration: Settings → Performance → Disable hardware acceleration.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Windows Task Manager and identify drafts.exe high-usage processes
2. Close unused drafts and end heavy renderer tasks
3. Update Drafts to the latest version
4. Disable unnecessary extensions in Drafts Settings
5. Restart Drafts and, if needed, disable startup for Drafts
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drafts.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate drafts.exe from Drafts, Inc. is not a virus. Verify the file is located at C:\Program Files\Drafts\Drafts.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Drafts\Drafts.exe and has a valid digital signature.
Why is drafts.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can result from editing large drafts, many open documents, or malfunctioning extensions. Use Drafts Task Manager (or Windows Task Manager) to identify the culprit and close or disable it.
Can I delete drafts.exe?
If you no longer need Drafts, you can uninstall Drafts Editor via Windows Settings → Apps. Your drafts may be stored in your user folder unless you disable cloud sync.
Can I disable drafts.exe at startup?
Yes. Disable Drafts in Task Manager → Startup to stop it from launching on boot. You can re-enable later if you need Drafts.
Why are there multiple drafts.exe processes?
Drafts uses a multi-process architecture: one UI process plus a renderer per open document and additional background tasks. This isolation improves stability and responsiveness.
How do I optimize memory usage in Drafts?
Close unused drafts, disable unneeded extensions, clear cache, check for updates, and consider enabling a memory-saving mode if available in Settings.