Quick Answer
figma.exe is safe. It's the official Figma Desktop Client executable that loads your designs, collaborates in real-time, and runs plugins with a multi-process architecture for stability.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located at C:\Program Files\Figma\figma.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Figma\figma.exe
Warning
Many processes normal
Figma uses multiple processes for the main window, canvases, and plugins
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Figma when not in use; disable auto-start in Windows if desired
What is figma.exe?
figma.exe is the Windows desktop executable for the Figma design tool. It launches a local app instance that renders design canvases, manages real-time collaboration, and runs plugins. The app uses a multi-process model to keep the UI responsive while syncing with the cloud.
Figma Desktop uses a multi-process Electron-based architecture: a main process, one or more renderer processes for the design canvases, and dedicated workers for plugins and offline caching. This separation improves responsiveness and crash isolation.
Quick Fact: Figma’s desktop client leverages a multi-process model to isolate UI, rendering, and plugins, helping maintain performance during large design files.
Types of Figma Processes
- Main Process: Handles app UI, menus, and window management (1 instance)
- Renderer Process: Renders the design canvases and UI components (multiple)
- Plugin/Worker Process: Runs installed plugins and background tasks
- Cloud Sync Process: Manages real-time collaboration and cloud sync
- Cache/Offline Storage Process: Stores local assets and offline data
- Update/Background Task Process: Checks for updates and performs maintenance tasks
Is figma.exe Safe?
Yes, figma.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Figma downloaded from official sources (figma.com or official app stores).
Is figma.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real figma.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if figma.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Figma\figma.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Figma\figma.exe. If located elsewhere, exercise caution.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show 'Figma, Inc.'
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 4-20% CPU per active window, 120-600 MB total memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Figma should run when you open the app and may run background tasks only while the app is active or in background mode.
Red Flags: If figma.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), lacks a digital signature, or runs persistently when the app is closed, scan with antivirus. Beware of similarly named files like 'figma32.exe' or 'figma-upd.exe'.
Why Is figma.exe Running on My PC?
Figm a Desktop runs when you launch the app or when it is configured to run in the background for collaboration and auto-save tasks.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Design Session: You have a document open and are editing; the renderer and plugin processes stay active to reflect changes in real time.
- Cloud Sync and Collaboration: Real-time collaboration and cloud sync keep processes alive to sync changes with teammates.
- Background Plugins: Installed plugins may run in background processes to provide features or updates without user interaction.
- Automatic Startup: Figma may be configured to launch on Windows startup, keeping figma.exe ready for quick access.
- Offline Caching: Local caches of assets and docs may run in background processes to speed up loading when offline or on slow networks.
Can I Disable or Remove figma.exe?
Yes, you can disable figma.exe. It's safe to close Figma when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different design tool.
How to Stop figma.exe
- Quit Figma: Close all Figma windows or use the menu to quit the application
- End Individual Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find figma.exe, right-click → End Task
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Figma
- Disable Background Sync: Within Figma Settings → Preferences → Sync, turn off automatic cloud sync
- Close Background Tasks: If you keep Figma closed but see background processes, verify there are no stuck handles by restarting your PC
How to Uninstall Figma
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Figma → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Figma → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative design tools: Sketch, Adobe XD, Framer
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If figma.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large, complex design files with many layers: Close unused pages or reduce canvas depth; consider splitting into smaller components or libraries
- Resource-heavy plugins: Disable or remove plugins you don't need; manage plugins from Figma → Plugins
- Active real-time collaboration on large files: Pause collaboration or close heavy documents during peak usage
- Outdated application: Update Figma to the latest version via Settings → Help → Check for updates
- Hardware acceleration issues: Settings → Preferences → Performance → Toggle hardware acceleration
- Cache and cookies buildup: Clear app cache or reinstall if performance remains poor; consider clearing local storage in app data
Quick Fixes:
1. Use Task Manager to identify high-usage canvases or plugins (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
2. Close unnecessary documents and disable unused plugins
3. Check for updates: Settings → Help → Check for updates
4. Clear local caches or temporary files for Figma
5. Disable hardware acceleration if you suspect GPU issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Is figma.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate figma.exe from Figma is not a virus. Ensure the file is located in C:\Program Files\Figma\figma.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Figma\figma.exe and has a valid digital signature from Figma, Inc.
Why is figma.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usage usually comes from editing large files, many layers, or heavy plugins. Use the Figma Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Escape within the app) to identify culprits, then close or disable them.
Can I delete figma.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Figma via Windows Settings → Apps or Control Panel. Your local design files stay in your project folders; you can reinstall later from figma.com/install.
Can I disable figma.exe?
Yes. You can quit Figma when not in use and prevent startup via the Windows Startup tab in Task Manager. Also disable background sync in Figma settings if needed.
Why does figma.exe start at Windows startup?
Figma may be configured to launch at startup to keep your most recent designs readily accessible. To disable, use Task Manager → Startup tab to turn off Figma.
Why are there multiple figma.exe processes?
Figma uses a multi-process design: a main process, multiple renderers for canvases, plugins, and background tasks. This improves stability; you can see each function in the Task Manager.