Quick Answer
sketch.exe is safe. It's the Windows executable for the Sketch design app, using multiple processes to handle UI rendering, assets, and plugin support for stability.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Sketch or C:\Program Files (x86)\Sketch
Warning
Many processes normal
Each module (UI, rendering, plugins) may run as a separate process
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Sketch to reduce usage; you can disable startup and background tasks
What is sketch.exe?
Sketch.exe is the Windows launcher for the Sketch desktop application. When you start Sketch on Windows, you may see several sketch.exe processes in Task Manager as the UI, rendering, symbol management, and plugin components load. This modular design helps keep the design tool responsive during complex edits.
This architecture separates concerns into distinct processes to improve stability and security. If one part crashes or a plugin misbehaves, other tasks remain functional. Processes communicate via IPC, and Sketch can suspend non-critical work to save resources when idle.
Quick Fact: Sketch adopted a modular process model on Windows to isolate UI, rendering, and plugins for better stability during large design files.
Types of Sketch Processes
- UI Process: Main interface and controls
- Renderer Process: Canvas rendering for artboards and previews
- Plugin Process: Plugins loaded by Sketch run in isolated processes
- Export Process: Asset export tasks like PNG/SVG rendering
- Cloud Sync Process: Sketch Cloud sync and asset management
- Background Task Process: Autosave, indexing, and background tasks
Is sketch.exe Safe?
Yes, sketch.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Bohemian Coding downloaded from official sources or installed via official installers.
Is sketch.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real sketch.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware may adopt similar names. Verify by location and signature.
How to Tell if sketch.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Sketch\Sketch.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Sketch\Sketch.exe. Any sketch.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Bohemian Coding" as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU per thread and 100-500 MB memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Sketch should run when you launch the app and should not launch backgrounded by itself when closed.
Red Flags: If sketch.exe is located in unusual folders (e.g., Temp or AppData), runs without starting the app, lacks a digital signature, or uses unusual resources, scan with antivirus. Similar-named files like 'sketch32.exe' from untrusted sources are red flags.
Why Is sketch.exe Running on My PC?
Sketch uses a multi-process model to keep the design tool responsive. It may start one or more sketch.exe processes during use and when certain features load.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Design Session: You're actively editing or viewing a document; multiple assets render and update in real time.
- Background Plugins: Plugins for export, live preview, or asset syncing run in the background to support workflow.
- Startup Program: Sketch is configured to launch automatically when Windows starts, bringing sketch.exe into memory.
- Cloud Sync: Sketch Cloud assets sync automatically with your account, spawning processes to manage data transfer.
- Auto-Save and Indexing: Autosave, symbol indexing, and asset cataloging run as background tasks to protect work.
Can I Disable or Remove sketch.exe?
Yes, you can disable sketch.exe. It's safe to close Sketch when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different design tool.
How to Stop sketch.exe
- End All Sketch Windows: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate sketch.exe and end the task. End any child processes as needed.
- Close the Application: Close all Sketch windows or use Alt+F4 to exit the app gracefully.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → find Sketch and set Disabled to prevent auto-launch.
- Stop Background Tasks: In Sketch Settings → General → Disable "Continue running background apps when Sketch is closed" (if available).
- Restart System: A restart helps ensure all sketch.exe background tasks are terminated.
How to Uninstall Sketch
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Sketch → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Sketch → Uninstall
- ✔ If you plan to switch design tools, back up assets and consider alternatives such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Affinity Designer
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If sketch.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Open Documents: Close unused documents and reduce open canvases to free up memory.
- Heavy Plugins: Disable unnecessary plugins from Sketch → Plugins manager.
- Large Asset Libraries: Limit active assets or separate large libraries to external storage.
- Outdated Sketch Version: Update to the latest Sketch build via Settings or official site.
- Background Sync: Disable background sync in Sketch settings if not required.
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Toggle off hardware acceleration in Settings → Performance.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and identify high-usage sketches or plugins
2. Close unused documents and refresh the project
3. Disable unnecessary plugins in Sketch → Plugins
4. Update Sketch to the latest version
5. Enable Memory Saver: Settings → Performance → Memory Saver
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sketch.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate sketch.exe from Bohemian Coding is not a virus. Ensure the file is located at C:\Program Files\Sketch\Sketch.exe and has a valid digital signature from Bohemian Coding.
Why is sketch.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU is usually caused by large or complex design files, multiple active artboards, or memory-hungry plugins. Use Task Manager to identify the culprit and reduce open items or disable plugins.
Can I delete sketch.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall Sketch via Windows Settings → Apps. Deleting the executable manually can corrupt the app; use the standard uninstall method.
Can I disable sketch.exe?
Yes. You can close Sketch, disable startup, and turn off background tasks in the app settings if available, or uninstall the application entirely.
Why is sketch.exe running at startup?
Sketch may be configured to launch at Windows startup. Disable this in Task Manager → Startup tab or inside Sketch settings to prevent automatic startup.
Why are there multiple sketch.exe processes?
Sketch uses a multi-process architecture to separate UI, rendering, and plugins for stability. Each module can run in its own process; this helps prevent one component from crashing the entire app.