Quick Answer
rider.exe is safe. It's the launcher for JetBrains Rider, an IDE for .NET and multi-language development. It uses multiple processes to keep the UI responsive and to isolate plugins and background tasks.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in a JetBrains Rider installation directory such as C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-<version>\bin\rider64.exe
Warning
Multiple processes typical
Rider launches separate processes for the editor, plugins, and tooling; this is normal behavior
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Rider to stop all processes; you can disable startup or background indexing in settings
What is rider.exe?
rider.exe is the launcher for JetBrains Rider, a cross‑platform IDE for .NET and polyglot development. It coordinates the IDE startup, bundled runtime, and services such as code analysis, project wiring, and version control integration.
Rider.exe starts the IDE core and delegates tasks to child processes (plugins, renderers, language services) to improve responsiveness and stability within the JetBrains Rider environment.
Quick Fact: Rider uses a modular process model so crashes in a plugin don’t bring down the entire IDE.
Types of Rider Processes
- Launcher / Main Process: Starts the IDE, loads configuration and the embedded JetBrains Runtime
- Renderer Process: UI rendering for editors and tool windows (per window)
- Plugin Process: Isolates plugins and language services
- Background / Utilities: Indexes projects, handles VCS, and background tasks
- External Tools: Language servers or tooling launched on demand
- Indexer Process: Background code analysis and indexing services
Is rider.exe Safe?
Yes, rider.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from JetBrains downloaded from official sources (jetbrains.com/products/rider or installed via JetBrains Toolbox).
Is rider.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real rider.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may mimic names; verify file location and digital signature.
How to Tell if rider.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-\bin\rider64.exe or C:\Users\\AppData\Local\JetBrains\Toolbox\apps\Rider\\rider64.exe.
- Digital Signature: Right-click rider64.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from "JetBrains s.r.o."
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-25% CPU per tab/window, 150-800 MB RAM during typical workloads.
- Behavior: Rider should launch when you start the IDE or open a project. Unexpected runner in background without Rider UI is suspicious.
Red Flags: If rider.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Local\Temp), runs when Rider is not started, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus. Be wary of similarly named files in suspicious paths.
Why Is rider.exe Running on My PC?
rider.exe runs when you start JetBrains Rider or when a project is opened, and it may stay active for background indexing and tooling.
Reasons it's running:
- Active IDE Use: You're actively using Rider; the launcher coordinates editors, project models, and tool windows.
- Background Indexing: Code indexing and symbol analysis run in background to enable fast search and IntelliSense.
- Plugin and Language Services: Plugins and language servers run in separate processes to isolate failures and improve responsiveness.
- Startup/Preload: JetBrains Runtime and components may be preloaded on startup for quicker project open times.
- External Tooling: Integrated tools (e.g., version control, test runners) may spawn helper processes on demand.
Can I Disable or Remove rider.exe?
Yes, you can disable rider.exe. You can close Rider to stop all processes and uninstall if you no longer need the IDE.
How to Stop rider.exe
- Close Rider: Use the X button or File > Exit to shut down the IDE; this ends main and child processes
- End Specific Tasks: In Rider, use File > Invalidate Caches / Restart to safely terminate background tasks
- Disable Startup: If installed via Toolbox, disable startup from JetBrains Toolbox; otherwise remove shortcuts or disable OS startup entry
- Stop Background Indexing: In Settings, disable features like automatic indexing or background code analysis (where available)
- Quiesce Background Tools: Close or disable VCS integrations and language servers from Plugins settings
How to Uninstall Rider
- ✔ JetBrains Toolbox: selectively uninstall Rider via Toolbox
- ✔ Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & Features > Rider > Uninstall
- ✔ Delete remaining configuration at %APPDATA%\JetBrains\Rider<version>
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If rider.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Background indexing: Wait for indexing to complete; monitor with Rider's Task Manager; consider excluding large folders or disabling indexing temporarily
- Heavy plugins: Disable or update plugins in Settings > Plugins; remove unnecessary plugins
- Large projects: Split large solutions into smaller modules; disable automatic searches in large repos
- Antivirus interference: Temporarily disable real-time scanning or add Rider directories to exclusions
- Outdated Rider: Update to the latest version from JetBrains Toolbox or the Rider website
- I/O or disk indexing: Exclude project folders from indexing or adjust indexing settings; ensure SSD health
Quick Fixes:
1. Use Rider Task Manager to identify heavy modules
2. Disable unnecessary plugins
3. Update Rider
4. Invalidate caches and restart
5. Exclude large folders from indexing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rider.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate rider.exe from JetBrains is not a virus. Ensure the file is located in a JetBrains Rider installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-<version>\bin) and that the digital signature shows JetBrains s.r.o.
Why is rider.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU is commonly caused by indexing, large projects, or active language servers. Use Rider Task Manager (Alt+F12 equivalents) to identify culprits, then update Rider or disable problematic plugins.
Can I delete rider.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Rider via Windows Settings > Apps > Rider or through JetBrains Toolbox. Your settings may be preserved if you choose to keep config directories.
Can I disable rider.exe at startup?
Yes. If installed via Toolbox, disable startup from Toolbox. Otherwise, remove startup shortcuts or disable OS startup entries so Rider doesn't launch on login.
Why are there multiple rider processes?
Rider uses a multi-process architecture: a launcher, renderer windows, plugins, and background services. This isolates crashes and improves responsiveness during editing.
How do I reduce Rider's memory usage?
Close unused projects, disable unnecessary plugins, enable Memory Saver if available, and consider splitting large projects. Also keep Rider up to date to benefit from memory optimizations.