insomnia-sync.exe

Insomnia Sync Service

Application ProcessSafeSync Engine

CPU Usage

1-8%

Memory

50-250 MB

Location

Program Files\Insomnia

Publisher

Kong, Inc.

Quick Answer

insomnia-sync.exe is safe. It's the official synchronization service used by the Insomnia REST client to keep your workspaces, environments, and requests in sync across devices.

Is it a Virus?

4 NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\Insomnia\insomnia-sync.exe

Warning

Background sync

Insomnia uses a dedicated sync service to propagate changes between devices

Can I Disable?

4 YES

You can pause sync from within Insomnia settings or disable startup if you prefer

What is insomnia-sync.exe?

insomnia-sync.exe is the background synchronization service used by the Insomnia REST client to keep your API workspaces, environments, requests, and plugins in sync across devices. It runs quietly in the background, communicating with the Insomnia Cloud to publish updates and fetch changes, even when the main UI is closed.

Technical overview: insomnia-sync.exe communicates with Insomnia Cloud via secure APIs, uses a local store to track workspace state, and applies incremental diffs. It runs background threads to monitor changes and resolve conflicts, keeping data consistent across devices.

Quick Fact: Insomnia began cloud-backed sync to keep your API projects aligned across multiple computers and team members.

Types of Insomnia Processes

Sync Service: Background daemon responsible for cloud sync and conflict resolution
UI Helper: Supports the main Insomnia UI and responds to sync events
Update Agent: Handles automatic updates for the Insomnia application

Is insomnia-sync.exe Safe?

Yes, insomnia-sync.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Kong, Inc. downloaded from the official Insomnia site or installed via the proper app package.

Is insomnia-sync.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real insomnia-sync.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names.

How to Tell if insomnia-sync.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Insomnia\insomnia-sync.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Insomnia\insomnia-sync.exe. Any insomnia-sync.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Kong, Inc." as the signer.
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-5% CPU while idle and 10-40 MB memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: Should run only when Insomnia is running or cloud sync is active. Persistent background execution when the app is closed can indicate malware.

Red Flags: If insomnia-sync.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs without the Insomnia app, has no valid signature, or uses abnormally high resources constantly, scan with antivirus software.

Why Is insomnia-sync.exe Running on My PC?

insomnia-sync.exe runs to keep your Insomnia workspace in sync with the cloud. It operates in the background to apply changes across devices and check for updates.

Reasons it's running:

Active Cloud Sync: You have cloud sync enabled; the service applies edits to environments, requests, and folders across devices.
Background Workspace Updates: Insomnia is monitoring for changes made on other devices and syncing them automatically.
Startup Launch: If you enable startup, the sync service starts when Windows logs you in.
Update Checks: The update agent runs periodically to download new versions or patches.
Offline/Online Sync: During transitions between offline and online, the service may spike briefly as it reconciles changes.

Can I Disable or Remove insomnia-sync.exe?

Yes, you can disable insomnia-sync.exe. You can pause sync or disable startup; removing it may affect cross-device syncing.

How to Stop insomnia-sync.exe

Pause Sync: Open Insomnia, go to Settings > Sync, and pause cloud synchronization.
Close Insomnia: Shut down the application completely to stop background syncing.
End Process: Open Windows Task Manager, locate insomnia-sync.exe, and End Task.
Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > disable Insomnia or insomnia-sync if present.
Disable Background: Within Insomnia settings, disable "Continue running background sync when Insomnia is closed"

How to Uninstall Insomnia (and Sync)

✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Insomnia -> Uninstall
✔ Reboot after uninstall to ensure residual services stop
✔ Install a different API client if desired: Postman, Paw, etc.

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If insomnia-sync.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Active Cloud Sync: Allow sync to complete or pause during heavy workloads; check for large diffs and conflicts.
Frequent Updates: Ensure you are on the latest version; update Insomnia to the current release.
Poor Network: Stabilize network; intermittent connectivity can cause retries and higher CPU usage.
Corrupted Local Cache: Reset local sync cache: Settings > Data > Clear Sync Cache (if available).
Conflicting Edits: Resolve conflicts in Insomnia and re-sync; consider turning off auto-merge if allowed.
Background Telemetry: Disable optional telemetry in Settings if available.

Quick Fixes:
1. Open Insomnia and pause cloud sync, then resume after a minute
2. Restart Insomnia to clear transient state
3. Check for updates and install the latest version
4. Review and disable unnecessary environments or projects in Sync settings
5. Limit background activity by turning off "Continue running background sync"

Frequently Asked Questions

Is insomnia-sync.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate insomnia-sync.exe is part of the Insomnia Sync feature and should be located in C:\Program Files\Insomnia\insomnia-sync.exe with a valid digital signature.

Why is insomnia-sync.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU is usually due to large diffs being processed during a busy sync period, or a problematic network condition causing retries. Check sync status in Insomnia and make sure you're on a stable network.

Can I delete insomnia-sync.exe?

Deleting the sync component may break cross-device synchronization. It's recommended to pause or disable sync, or uninstall Insomnia if you no longer use the product.

Can I disable insomnia-sync.exe?

Yes, you can pause sync from Settings > Sync or disable startup in Task Manager. This will stop background syncing until you re-enable it.

Why does insomnia-sync.exe run at startup?

If you enable startup in Insomnia, the sync service launches automatically to keep data current across devices when you sign in.

How do I reduce insomnia-sync.exe memory usage?

Close unused projects/environments, update to the latest version, and pause sync during heavy local edits; consider disabling telemetry if offered.