Quick Answer
joplin.exe is safe. It's the official Joplin desktop application, a cross-platform note-taking app that stores notes locally and syncs with cloud services. Ensure the executable is from the official source (joplinapp.org).
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\Joplin\ or C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\
Warning
Multiple processes possible
Electron apps spawn a main process and multiple renderer processes for each window
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can close Joplin or disable background sync in settings to reduce activity
What is joplin.exe?
joplin.exe is the executable for the Joplin desktop note-taking application. Joplin runs as an Electron-based app, so you’ll see a main process and several renderer processes handling the UI for notes, notebooks, and syncing.
Joplin uses a multi-process Electron architecture, coordinating UI rendering, data access via SQLite, encryption, and cloud sync. This structure helps keep notes responsive during sync and editing operations.
Quick Fact: Joplin leverages Electron, enabling cross‑platform desktop support with local storage and pluggable sync targets like WebDAV, Nextcloud, and Dropbox.
Types of Joplin Processes
- Main Process: Electron's core process that manages app lifecycle and system integration
- Renderer Process: UI windows for notes, notebooks, and editing rendered in separate processes
- GPU Process: Hardware acceleration and UI rendering
- Sync Worker: Background thread handling encryption and synchronization tasks
- Updater Process: Checks for and installs new Joplin versions
- Plugin/Extension Process: Plugins run in separate processes when installed
Is joplin.exe Safe?
Yes, joplin.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the official Joplin project (joplinapp.org) downloaded from official sources or a reputable app store.
Is joplin.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real joplin.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Always verify the file path and digital signature.
How to Tell if joplin.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Joplin\Joplin.exe or C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\Joplin.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signing certificate from the official Joplin project.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-8% CPU and 60-200 MB memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Joplin should run when you launch the app and primarily respond to UI actions. Unexpected background execution without launch warrants investigation.
Red Flags: If joplin.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData\Roaming), runs when you did not start Joplin, has no valid signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, run a full antivirus scan and verify from the official source.
Why Is joplin.exe Running on My PC?
joplin.exe runs when you start the Joplin desktop app or when a sync or background task is active. The process may persist for background synchronization or updater activities.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Application Use: You have Joplin open and actively editing notes or syncing data between devices
- Background Synchronization: Joplin may sync notes with a cloud service or WebDAV in the background
- Startup Programs: Joplin is configured to launch automatically at Windows startup or on login
- Background Encryption/Indexing: Joplin uses background tasks for encryption and indexing notes
- Auto-Update Activity: An updater process may run to check for and install new versions
Can I Disable or Remove joplin.exe?
Yes, you can disable joplin.exe. It’s safe to close Joplin when not in use, and you can uninstall or disable startup to stop it from launching automatically.
How to Stop joplin.exe
- Quit Joplin: File → Quit or press Ctrl+Q to completely close the application
- Pause Sync: In Settings → Synchronization, pause or disable automatic sync temporarily
- Disable Startup: Windows Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Joplin
- Close Background Tasks: In Joplin, ensure background tasks are turned off or limited via Settings
- End Process Manually: If needed, open Task Manager and End Task for joplin.exe
How to Uninstall Joplin
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Joplin → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Joplin → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider remove residual data: remove notes cache or sync configuration if not needed
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If joplin.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too many notes or notebooks loaded: Archive or prune large notebooks and avoid loading extremely large note sets at once
- Sync conflicts: Resolve conflicts in Joplin's sync view and clear duplicate notes
- Outdated Joplin version: Update to the latest Joplin release from the official site
- Background encryption/indexing: Let the app complete initial indexing, or temporarily disable heavy indexing features
- Plugins causing slowdown: Disable or uninstall problematic plugins via Settings → Plugins
- Corrupt local database: Backup data, then repair or resync the local database from a clean state
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Joplin Task Manager or check the app for long-running operations
2. Pause or disable sync temporarily
3. Update to the latest Joplin version
4. Disable unused plugins in Settings → Plugins
5. Restart Joplin and, if needed, reindex notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is joplin.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate joplin.exe from the official Joplin project is not a virus. Verify the path is C:\Program Files\Joplin\Joplin.exe or C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Programs\Joplin\Joplin.exe and check the digital signature from the official Joplin signing authority.
Why is joplin.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usually results from heavy note indexing, large notebooks, or sync activity with many devices. Use the built-in task manager to identify the responsible window or plugin and pause syncing if needed.
Can I delete joplin.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Joplin through Windows Settings or Control Panel. Note that this removes the app and local notes unless you back them up or sync them with a cloud service first.
Can I disable joplin.exe?
Yes, you can close Joplin or disable its startup entry in Task Manager. To stop background syncing, disable the option in Settings → Synchronization.
Why does joplin.exe start at Windows startup?
Joplin may be configured to launch at startup to keep notes readily available. Disable this in Task Manager → Startup tab or within Joplin's settings to prevent automatic launch.
Why are there multiple joplin.exe processes in Task Manager?
Electron-based apps spawn a main process plus renderer processes for each open window. This improves responsiveness but can show as multiple processes.