Quick Answer
org-roam-exe is a safe Windows wrapper for Org-roam notes. It provides fast local indexing, backlinks, and search by coordinating with Emacs Org mode through a lightweight executable.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be installed in C:\Program Files\OrgRoam
Warning
Many processes normal
Each note or module may run as separate processes; org-roam-exe uses multiple subprocesses to isolate indexing, search, and UI.
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close the window or stop via Task Manager; disable startup to prevent auto-launch
What is org-roam-exe.exe?
org-roam-exe is a Windows executable that coordinates with Emacs Org mode to provide fast, local note indexing and bidirectional linking for Org-roam notes. It acts as a lightweight bridge, keeping a local index ready for Emacs to query, search, and traverse backlinks efficiently.
It uses a small, multi-threaded architecture to index your roam graph locally, expose search results, and manage cache and sync with the Emacs process. The wrapper minimizes UI latency while delegating heavy lifting to Emacs Org mode.
Quick Fact: Org-roam-exe was designed to bring Org-roam's powerful graph search closer to Windows users with a lean, Emacs-driven backend.
Types of Org-roam.exe Processes
- Indexer Process: Background indexing of notes in the Org-roam directory
- Search Processor: Handles fast local search and backlinks queries
- Sync/DB Manager: Manages the SQLite DB and syncing with Emacs
- UI Wrapper: Provides a simple Windows UI layer for results
- Scheduler: Performs maintenance tasks and log rotation
Is org-roam-exe Safe?
Yes, org-roam-exe is safe when downloaded from trusted sources and used with Emacs Org mode; ensure the binary matches expected publisher.
Is org-roam-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real org-roam-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware may masquerade as OrgRoam wrappers; verify source and digital signature.
How to Tell if org-roam-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\OrgRoam\org-roam-exe.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\OrgRoam\org-roam-exe.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click C:\Program Files\OrgRoam\org-roam-exe.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Org Roam Project" as signer.
- Hash Verification: Compute SHA256 with PowerShell: Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 -Path 'C:\Program Files\OrgRoam\org-roam-exe.exe' and compare to official hash.
- Resource Usage: Normally 1-6% CPU per process and 40-150 MB RAM. Unusually high usage when idle is suspicious.
Red Flags: If org-roam-exe is located outside Program Files, lacks a valid signature, or runs without Emacs activation, scan for malware and reinstall from the official Org Roam distribution.
Why Is org-roam-exe Running on My PC?
org-roam-exe runs to index, serve, and sync your local Org-roam notes. It starts when you launch Emacs Org mode or when configured to monitor the roam directory for changes.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Note Editing: You're editing and browsing notes in Org-roam; the executable coordinates indexing and backlinks.
- Background Indexing: Periodic indexing updates to keep the roam graph current without waiting for manual triggers.
- Emacs Integration: Emacs communicates with the wrapper to perform searches and retrieve backlinks.
- Directory Watch: The wrapper watches the Org-roam notes directory for new or modified files.
- Startup/Idle Monitoring: Configured to launch at user login or run in the background to keep data ready.
Can I Disable or Remove org-roam-exe?
Yes, you can disable org-roam-exe. You can stop it from running in the background and uninstall if you no longer need it.
How to Stop org-roam-exe
- End Running Instance: Open Task Manager (C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe) and end the process named org-roam-exe.exe
- Disable Startup: Windows Settings → Apps → Startup, find OrgRoam and toggle Off
- Disable Background Indexing: Edit C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\org-roam\config.ini and set BackgroundIndexing=false
- Disconnect Emacs Integration: In Emacs, disable org-roam integration or set (setq org-roam-enable nil)
- Remove Data and Logs: Delete data directories: C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\org-roam and C:\ProgramData\OrgRoam
How to Uninstall Org-roam-exe
- ✔ Open Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features, select OrgRoam, then click Uninstall
- ✔ Delete data folders: C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\org-roam and C:\Program Files\OrgRoam
- ✔ Restart your computer
Common Problems: Performance and Connectivity
If org-roam-exe is acting slowly or failing to index, check these common issues and fixes.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Notes directory not watched: Ensure the roam directory is configured and accessible by org-roam-exe and not moved.
- Too many notes in DB: Archive or prune notes and re-index by running M-x org-roam-db-build-cache or the wrapper's rebuild command.
- Background indexing disabled: Enable indexing in settings or via config.ini.
- Corrupted cache: Delete cache at C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\OrgRoam\cache and restart.
- Conflicting Emacs process: Close Emacs with org-roam or kill lingering processes and restart.
- Outdated version: Update to latest org-roam-exe release from official sources.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager and end the org-roam-exe process
2. Run org-roam-db-build-cache from Emacs or the wrapper to rebuild the index
3. Check for updates to org-roam-exe and install the latest release
4. Verify data directory permissions: ensure org-roam folders are writable
5. Clear cache and restart org-roam-exe
Frequently Asked Questions
What is org-roam-exe?
A Windows executable that coordinates with Emacs Org mode to manage local Org-roam notes, providing fast indexing and backlinks.
Is org-roam-exe safe to run on Windows?
Yes when downloaded from official sources and located in C:\Program Files\OrgRoam; verify digital signature from Org Roam Project.
Where does org-roam-exe store data?
Note data is stored in your user profile, e.g., C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\org-roam and the roam.db database in that folder.
Can I use org-roam-exe without Emacs?
No, it relies on Emacs Org mode for indexing and rendering results; it is a bridge wrapper.
How do I upgrade org-roam-exe?
Download the latest release from the official source and reinstall; the program will update the binary and caches.
How do I uninstall org-roam-exe?
Use Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features, uninstall OrgRoam, then remove associated data folders and restart.