Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Everything or C:\Program Files (x86)\Everything
Warning
Indexing and background tasks
Everything uses a local index; indexing can spawn background threads during drive scans
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Everything when not in use; disable startup item to prevent automatic launches
What is everything.exe?
everything.exe is the Voidtools Everything File Search Tool for Windows. It builds a fast, local index of filenames and paths across connected drives and shows results almost instantly as you type. It emphasizes speed and low resource use compared to full-disk scans.
Everything maintains a lightweight on-disk index of file and folder names, enabling rapid lookups. Searches operate on the index rather than crawling disks in real time, which keeps CPU and I/O light while delivering near-instant results.
Quick Fact: Everything indexes filenames only by default, allowing ultra-fast searches; you can enable content search via optional components if needed.
Types of Everything Processes
- Indexer Process: Background service updating the filename index as files are added, renamed, or removed
- Search UI Process: Main window responsible for user input and rendering results
- Query Processor: Handles search queries and pattern matching against the index
- Index File Writer: Writes index data to the local index store on disk
- Optional Plugin/Module: Additional components for extended search features (content search not enabled by default)
Is everything.exe Safe?
Yes, everything.exe is safe when downloaded from the official Voidtools site or a trusted software repository. Verify the file is the legitimate Everything installer or executable from Voidtools.
Is everything.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real everything.exe is not a virus. Malware may imitate names, so always verify the digital signature and source.
How to Tell if everything.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Everything\Everything.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from Voidtools or Voidtools Ltd.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is minimal CPU and memory. Extremely high, persistent usage outside indexing activity is a red flag.
- Behavior: Everything should not exhibit persistent network activity or system-wide changes beyond indexing local files.
Red Flags: If everything.exe appears in unusual folders (e.g., Temp, AppData), runs when not started by you, lacks a valid signature, or uses resources constantly, scan with a reputable antivirus. Watch for similarly named files like 'everythingx.exe' from untrusted sources.
Why Is everything.exe Running on My PC?
everything.exe runs when you launch the Everything search tool or when its indexing components are actively updating the local file index. It may also start briefly during Windows logon if configured to do so.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Search or Quick Lookups: You have the Everything UI open or perform frequent searches, which engages the main UI process.
- Indexing in Background: The indexing service may be updating the local database as files are added, renamed, or removed.
- Startup Launch: Everything is configured to start with Windows, causing its processes to initialize at login.
- Drive Coverage Changes: New drives or re-mounted volumes trigger indexing activity to keep the index current.
- Configuration Set to Monitor: Real-time monitoring or frequent rescans may keep indexing components active in the background.
Can I Disable or Remove everything.exe?
Yes, you can disable Everything. You can close the application when not in use, disable it from starting with Windows, or uninstall it entirely if you prefer another search tool.
How to Stop everything.exe
- Exit the UI: Close the Everything window using the close button or Alt+F4
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Everything
- Pause or Stop Indexing: In Everything settings, disable real-time indexing or set indexing to manual
- Quit Background Tasks: Ensure there are no lingering background indexing threads after exit
- Uninstall: Windows Settings → Apps → Everything → Uninstall, or use the Voidtools installer cleanup
How to Uninstall Everything
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Everything → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Everything → Uninstall
- ✔ Download the official uninstaller from voidtools.com if needed
Common Problems: Slow Searches or Empty Results
If everything.exe is slow, unresponsive, or not returning expected results:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Indexing not complete or paused: Allow indexing to finish or manually trigger a rebuild from Settings → Indexing
- Drives not included in indexing: Open Settings → Indexing and ensure all desired drives are selected for indexing
- Outdated version: Update Everything to the latest version from the official site
- Corrupted index: Rebuild the index and restart Everything
- Conflicting plugins: Disable optional plugins or content-search components if installed
- Large or network drives: Exclude network drives from indexing or limit to local drives for better performance
Quick Fixes:
1. Press F5 to refresh the index
2. Go to Settings → Indexing and ensure drives are selected
3. Rebuild index if results are stale
4. Update to the latest version from the official site
5. Restart Everything after changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything.exe safe to use?
Yes. The genuine Everything executable from Voidtools is safe when downloaded from the official site (voidtools.com) or reputable software repositories. Verify the signature and source before installing.
Does Everything search file contents or just filenames?
By default, Everything searches filenames and paths. Content search can be enabled via optional components or plugins, but it is not part of the standard indexing.
Why is Everything so fast compared to Windows Search?
Everything builds and queries a local index of filenames, avoiding real-time disk scans. It uses an index database for near-instant results, even on large file collections.
Can I search network drives with Everything?
Yes, Everything can index and search local drives by default; you can add network drives to the index via Settings, but performance may vary based on network speed and permissions.
How do I uninstall Everything?
Use Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Everything → Uninstall, or run the official uninstaller from Voidtools if you kept it from the installer package.
Is Everything free and open to use in corporate environments?
Everything is free for personal use. For corporate or commercial deployments, review Voidtools licensing terms on their website to ensure compliance.