Quick Answer
rider64.exe is safe. It's the 64‑bit launcher for JetBrains Rider IDE that coordinates the main UI and background services to support code editing, indexing, and builds.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-2025.1\bin\rider64.exe or a valid version folder
Warning
Many processes normal
Rider often runs multiple background tasks for indexing, code analysis, and plugins
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can close Rider or stop background indexing via settings to reduce activity
What is rider64.exe?
rider64.exe is the 64‑bit launcher for JetBrains Rider IDE on Windows. It starts the Rider application, loads projects, and coordinates background services such as indexing, code analysis, and plugin execution. You may observe multiple rider64-related processes as Rider manages editors, tools, and builds in real time.
Rider64.exe acts as the IDE orchestrator, hosting the UI while delegating tasks to components such as the background indexer, code analyzer, and plugin runners. This modular setup keeps the editor responsive during heavy operations like code completion and project-wide searches.
Quick Fact: Rider uses a modular architecture; the rider64.exe launcher coordinates multiple sub-processes and services to keep editing fast and stable.
Types of Rider Processes
- Main UI Process: The primary Rider window and user interface (single instance)
- Editor/Code Analysis Process: Handles code editing, syntax highlighting, and on-the-fly analysis for open files
- Background Indexing Process: Indexes project files for fast search and navigation
- Plugin Execution Process: Runs Rider plugins separately to avoid UI blocking
- Build/Compiler Integration: Integrates with MSBuild or dotnet build when building projects
- Telemetry/Update Helper: Background tasks for telemetry and IDE updates
Is rider64.exe Safe?
Yes, rider64.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from JetBrains downloaded from official sources (jetbrains.com or your JetBrains Toolbox installation).
Is rider64.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real rider64.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can mimic names to confuse users.
How to Tell if rider64.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-2025.1\bin\rider64.exe or a valid version directory. Any rider64.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click rider64.exe > Properties > Digital Signatures. Should show "JetBrains s.r.o." as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is a few percent CPU under idle load and modest memory; consistently abnormal spikes outside Rider usage are suspicious.
- Behavior: Rider should launch when you start the IDE and should not consume resources when the IDE is closed.
Red Flags: If rider64.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when Rider isn't open, has no valid digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus software. Watch for similarly-named files such as "rider64.exe" in untrusted paths.
Why Is rider64.exe Running on My PC?
rider64.exe runs when you launch JetBrains Rider or when Rider is configured to perform background tasks. It may also stay active for indexing, builds, or plugin management.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Project Load: You're opening a project; Rider starts indexing and analysis to enable fast navigation and search.
- Background Code Analysis: Rider performs real-time code analysis for code completion and diagnostics even when tabs are open.
- Plugin and Tooling Tasks: Plugins and tooling (linting, formatting, language servers) run in the background to support editing features.
- Indexing and Caching: Rider builds an index of project files for quick search and navigation, which can run for large solutions.
- Startup and Background Tasks: Rider may run on startup to restore sessions, load recent projects, or sync settings and plugins.
Can I Disable or Remove rider64.exe?
Yes, you can disable rider64.exe. It's safe to close Rider when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different IDE.
How to Stop rider64.exe
- Graceful Exit: Use File > Exit or press Alt+F4 to close Rider properly.
- End Process in Task Manager: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate rider64.exe, right-click > End Task
- Prevent Startup: Windows Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable JetBrains Rider
- Stop Background Tasks: In Rider: Settings > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Startup/Shutdown, disable "Load projects on startup" and background indexing
- Disable via Toolbox: If installed via JetBrains Toolbox, uninstall or hide Rider from Toolbox to prevent automatic launches
How to Uninstall Rider
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → JetBrains Rider → Uninstall
- ✔ JetBrains Toolbox → select Rider → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider using an alternative IDE if needed
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If rider64.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Projects or Large Solutions: Close unused projects; consider unloading or excluding large directories from indexing in Rider settings
- Heavy Plugins: Disable unnecessary plugins in Settings → Plugins and restart Rider
- Indexing in Progress: Indexing can use CPU; allow indexing to complete or restart Rider with indexing paused if needed
- Outdated Rider: Update Rider to the latest version via JetBrains Toolbox or Rider’s update dialog
- Insufficient Heap: Increase IDE heap size: Help → Edit Custom VM Options and set -Xmx to a higher value (e.g., -Xmx4g)
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Toggle hardware acceleration in Settings → Appearance & Behavior → System → Use hardware acceleration when available
Quick Fixes:
1. Close unused projects to reduce indexing load
2. Disable unnecessary plugins in Settings → Plugins
3. Increase IDE heap size via VM options
4. Update Rider to the latest version
5. Restart Rider and monitor with Task Manager for resource changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rider64.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate rider64.exe from JetBrains is not a virus. Verify the file is located in C:\Program Files\JetBrains\Rider-2025.1\bin\rider64.exe and has a valid digital signature from JetBrains s.r.o.
Why is rider64.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU usually comes from indexing, large projects, or background analysis. Check Rider's indexing status, close unused projects, or disable heavy plugins. You can monitor by Task Manager.
Can I delete rider64.exe?
Uninstall JetBrains Rider through Windows Settings or JetBrains Toolbox. Deleting a single executable is not recommended; use the official uninstall path to preserve system integrity.
Can I disable rider64.exe?
Yes. Close Rider to stop the process, disable startup in Task Manager, and turn off background indexing in Rider settings.
Why does Rider start automatically after Windows boot?
Rider may be configured to launch at startup via the OS or JetBrains Toolbox. Disable startup in Task Manager or Toolbox to stop automatic launches.
How do I reduce Rider's memory usage?
Close unused projects, disable unnecessary plugins, increase IDE heap if needed, and consider enabling indexing suspensions for large solutions.