Quick Answer
monday-launcher.exe is safe. It's the official desktop launcher for Monday.com that starts the main UI, handles updates, and manages sign-in, typically running in the background to keep the experience smooth.
Is it a Virus?
\u2714 NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Monday.com\monday-launcher\monday-launcher.exe
Can I Disable?
\u2714 YES - But expect the desktop app not to launch automatically and updates to stop
Disabling may prevent auto-start and update checks for the desktop app
What happens if I disable?
Disabling stops auto-launch and background syncing; you can manually start from Start Menu but lose automatic updates and notifications
If you disable, you can still run Monday.com Web app; desktop features may be limited
What is monday-launcher.exe?
monday-launcher.exe is the Windows executable that starts the Monday.com Desktop application. It acts as a lightweight controller, launching the main UI, handling update checks, and managing login tokens to keep your workspace accessible. You may notice it in Task Manager even when the app UI is not visible, as it preloads and manages startup tasks.
This launcher initializes the main Monday.com Desktop UI, spawns the primary process, and coordinates background tasks such as update checks, token refresh, and lightweight synchronization with your boards.
Quick Fact: The Monday.com launcher coordinates updates and sign-in for the desktop app, often running in the background to keep the main UI ready for quick launches.
Types of Monday Launcher Processes
- Launcher Process: Manages startup, update checks, and delegation to the main Monday.com UI (single instance or per session)
- Updater Process: Performs automatic update checks and applies new versions when available
- Main App Process: The Monday.com Desktop UI you interact with after launch
- Background Sync Process: Keeps boards, tasks, and notifications synchronized with the cloud in the background
Is monday-launcher.exe Safe?
Yes, monday-launcher.exe is safe when obtained from official Monday.com sources or installed via the official Monday.com Desktop installer.
Is monday-launcher.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real monday-launcher.exe is NOT a virus. Malware can mimic names, so verify provenance.
How to Tell if monday-launcher.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Monday.com\monday-launcher\monday-launcher.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Monday.com\monday-launcher\monday-launcher.exe. Any monday-launcher.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Monday.com Ltd."
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 2-8% CPU, 20-60 MB memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Launcher should only run when Monday.com is installed and active. If it runs continuously when the app is not launched, investigate.
Red Flags: If monday-launcher.exe is found in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Monday.com isn't open, has no digital signature, or shows unusual network activity, scan your system with antivirus immediately. Be wary of similarly named files such as "monday-launcher64.exe" or "monday-launcher.exe.bak" from untrusted sources.
Why Is monday-launcher.exe Running on My PC?
monday-launcher.exe runs when you start the Monday.com Desktop application or when it's configured to run in the background to manage updates, sign-in, and synchronization.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Launcher Use: The launcher is running to start the main app when you open Monday.com or to keep it ready for fast launch.
- Background Update Checks: It periodically checks for new versions of the desktop app and applies updates.
- Startup Launch: If you enabled Launch at startup in the Monday.com settings, the launcher runs in the background to start the app.
- Silent Sign-in / Token Refresh: It refreshes authentication tokens to keep you signed in without extra prompts.
- Background Synchronization: Keeps boards, tasks, and notifications synced with the cloud to minimize startup delays.
Can I Disable or Remove monday-launcher.exe?
Yes, you can disable monday-launcher.exe. It will stop auto-launch and background checks; you can still run Monday.com Desktop manually, but you won’t get automatic updates or notifications.
How to Stop monday-launcher.exe
- End Launcher Process: Open Task Manager -> Details -> monday-launcher.exe -> End Task
- Disable Startup: Task Manager -> Startup tab -> Disable Monday.com Desktop Launcher
- Adjust Launcher Settings: In Monday.com Desktop Settings -> General -> Startup, disable 'Launch at startup' and 'Continue running background apps'.
- Uninstall if Desired: Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Monday.com Desktop -> Uninstall
- Re-enable Later: To re-enable, turn on startup in Task Manager and launch from Start Menu when needed.
How to Uninstall Monday.com Desktop Launcher
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Monday.com Desktop → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Monday.com Desktop → Uninstall
- ✔ Reinstall from official source: monday.com/download
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If monday-launcher.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Boards or Workspaces Open: Having many boards open can increase background syncing. Close unused boards or reduce active workspaces.
- Background Sync Enabled: Review notification and sync settings in Monday.com Desktop to limit background activity.
- Outdated Launcher Version: Update to the latest version via Settings → Help → Check for Updates.
- Corrupted Launcher Cache: Reset launcher cache by clearing %APPDATA%\Monday.com and reinstalling.
- Antivirus Interference: Whitelist monday-launcher.exe or temporarily disable antivirus during updates.
- Insufficient System Resources: Close other heavy apps or upgrade RAM to improve performance.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Windows Task Manager and identify if monday-launcher.exe or related processes are consuming resources
2. Check for updates in the Monday.com Desktop app (Settings → Help → Check for Updates) and install the latest version
3. Clear app cache: delete content under %APPDATA%\Monday.com or %LOCALAPPDATA%\Monday.com (restart launcher)
4. Disable non-essential background features in Settings (notifications, automatic sync) if available
5. Restart the launcher or reboot the PC to apply updates
6. Ensure antivirus is not blocking launcher; add an exception for monday-launcher.exe
Frequently Asked Questions
Is monday-launcher.exe a virus?
No. The legitimate monday-launcher.exe is part of the official Monday.com Desktop app and should be located in the installation directory; always verify the path and digital signatures.
What is monday-launcher.exe used for?
It starts and manages the Monday.com Desktop application, handles updates, sign-in tokens, and coordinates background tasks for faster launches and syncing.
Can I delete monday-launcher.exe?
You can uninstall the Monday.com Desktop app to remove monday-launcher.exe. Deleting just the file while the app is installed may cause the desktop launcher to fail.
Can I disable monday-launcher.exe at startup?
Yes, you can disable it from Task Manager → Startup. This stops automatic launching; you can still run the web app or start the desktop app manually.
Why does monday-launcher.exe run when I’m not using Monday.com?
The launcher may run in the background to pre-load the UI, check for updates, and sync workspace data. You can disable background tasks in the app settings if available.
How do I reinstall Monday.com Desktop Launcher?
Download the latest installer from monday.com/download and run it. This will reinstall the launcher and the main desktop UI.