Quick Answer
neovim.exe is safe. It is the Windows executable for Neovim, a modal, scriptable text editor used by developers for fast coding, plugins, and remote editing.
What is neovim.exe?
neovim.exe is the Windows executable that runs the Neovim editor, a modern refactor and drop-in replacement for Vim. It provides a headless backend that can be connected to GUI frontends, terminals, and IDEs, enabling scripting, plugins, and remote editing.
Neovim uses a client-server model; the neovim.exe process hosts the editor, while GUI clients communicate via RPC. This separation improves extensibility, asynchronous jobs, and plugin handling, without blocking the UI.
Quick Fact: Neovim started as a fork of Vim to modernize architecture, latch onto Lua for config, and enable a robust, async plugin system.
Types of Neovim Processes
- Main Editor Server: The core neovim.exe hosting the editor and core features (1 instance)
- GUI/Frontend Client: UI frontends (e.g., Neovide, GVim-like interfaces) connect via RPC
- LSP/Plugin Host: Plugins and LSP servers run through Neovim, communicating via RPC
- Embedded Terminal: Neovim can host an integrated terminal window
- Background Job/RPC: Asynchronous tasks like external tooling and RPC-based tasks
- Remote/Headless Session: Neovim in headless mode or controlled by external editors
Is neovim.exe Safe?
Yes, neovim.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the official Neovim project downloaded from neovim.io or GitHub releases.
Is neovim.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real neovim.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names.
How to Tell if neovim.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Neovim\neovim.exe or C:\Neovim\neovim.exe. Any neovim.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Open file location → Right-click neovim.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from 'Neovim Organization' or 'Neovim Maintainers'.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is low; higher with editing or RPC tasks. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Neovim should only run when you use an editor frontend or a headless session. Continuous background activity may indicate malware.
Red Flags: If neovim.exe appears outside standard install folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when you aren't using Neovim, has no signature, or uses constant CPU, scan with your antivirus and verify against official Neovim releases.
Why Is neovim.exe Running on My PC?
neovim.exe runs to host the editor backend, service frontends connect to it, and to support async plugins and LSP servers. It can run in headless modes as well.
Reasons it's running:
- Active editing session: You are currently editing with Neovim or a frontend connected to the editor, so neovim.exe runs to provide the backend.
- Frontend/GUI connection: A GUI frontend (Neovide, Oni, etc.) connects to the Neovim server via RPC, keeping neovim.exe active.
- Background plugins and LSP: Plugins and Language Server Protocol servers run through Neovim, causing persistent processes during editing.
- Startup/Auto-start: Neovim may be started automatically by a plugin, IDE, or shortcut to provide editing services.
- Headless/Remote sessions: Neovim can run in headless mode for remote editing or scripting, keeping neovim.exe running in the background.
Can I Disable or Remove neovim.exe?
Yes, you can disable neovim.exe. If you don’t use Neovim directly, you can remove the application or disable features that launch it automatically.
How to Stop neovim.exe
- Close Frontends: Close all GUI frontends and terminal sessions connected to Neovim
- End Frontend Processes: End the Neovim frontend processes (e.g., Neovide, nvim-qt) from Task Manager
- Prevent Startup: Disable Neovim from starting via startup apps or the IDE integration settings
- Disable Background Tasks: In your editor/IDE, disable any background RPC or LSP auto-start features that launch Neovim
How to Uninstall Neovim
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Neovim -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Neovim -> Uninstall
- ✔ Remove any GUI frontends if installed separately (e.g., Neovide)
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If neovim.exe is consuming excessive resources during editing or idle states:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too many open buffers: Close unused buffers or disable unnecessary plugins that watch files, like linting on save.
- Heavy plugins or LSP: Disable unused plugins and limit LSP servers to essential languages; ensure you’re using lazy-loading or on-demand plugins.
- Large file with syntax highlighting: Disable or limit syntax highlighting for very large files; consider using :set syntax=off for huge files.
- Auto-formatting on save: Disable automatic formatting or configure it to run only for certain filetypes.
- External tooling integration: Check tools like linters or formatters integrated with Neovim; adjust their frequency or disable them temporarily.
- Outdated Neovim version: Update Neovim to the latest stable release to fix performance regressions.
Quick Fixes:
1. Close unused buffers: :bd and then :wa
2. Disable non-essential plugins and LSP servers
3. Update Neovim to the latest release
4. Limit syntax highlighting for large files: :syntax off
5. Review and adjust any auto-format on save settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is neovim.exe safe?
Yes, neovim.exe is safe when obtained from official sources (neovim.io or GitHub releases) and located in the expected install directory.
Why is neovim.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can occur with many active buffers, heavy plugins, or LSP servers; use a Neovim task manager or :checkhealth to diagnose.
Can I delete neovim.exe?
If you don’t use Neovim, you can uninstall it via Windows Settings -> Apps. Data will be removed, but you may want to backup configs.
Can I disable neovim.exe?
Yes, disable startup entries and close all frontends; you can disable Neovim's autostart features in IDEs or Windows startup.
Why is neovim.exe running at startup?
Some IDEs and terminal integrations launch Neovim for faster editing; disable the startup hook in the IDE or OS startup settings.
How do I reduce Neovim memory usage?
Limit loaded buffers, disable unused plugins, and use lazy-loading; consider enabling Memory Saver in newer Neovim builds.