Slack
slack.exe is safe. It's the legitimate desktop application for Slack, a workplace communication and collaboration platform used by millions of businesses worldwide.
slack.exe is the desktop application for Slack, a cloud-based workplace communication and collaboration platform owned by Salesforce. It provides team messaging, file sharing, video calls, and integrates with hundreds of business applications to create a unified workspace for organizations.
Slack is built on Electron framework (combining Chromium and Node.js), which allows it to run as a desktop app while using web technologies. This architecture enables cross-platform compatibility but results in higher resource usage compared to native applications. The desktop app offers features like native notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and the ability to work across multiple workspaces simultaneously.
Quick Fact: Slack runs multiple processes (often 5-10+ instances) even when showing just one window. This is normal for Electron apps, with separate processes handling the main interface, GPU rendering, background tasks, and each workspace.
Yes, slack.exe is safe when it's the official Slack desktop application published by Slack Technologies (now owned by Salesforce).
The real slack.exe is NOT a virus. It's a legitimate business communication application used by millions of companies worldwide. However, like any popular software, malware can disguise itself with the same name.
C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\slack\ or C:\Program Files\Slack\. Any slack.exe elsewhere (like System32, Temp, or Downloads) is suspicious.Red Flags: Multiple slack.exe processes in different folders, running from System32 or Windows folders, missing digital signature, automatic execution from Temp folders, or network connections to unknown servers (not *.slack.com).
slack.exe runs automatically because you (or your IT department) installed the Slack desktop application, and it's configured to start when Windows boots.
Reasons it's running:
Yes, you can disable slack.exe. Slack is an optional application - closing or uninstalling it won't harm your system, though you'll lose access to workplace communications.
Note: If your company requires Slack for work communication, disabling it may cause you to miss important messages. Consider using "Do Not Disturb" mode instead of fully disabling it.
If slack.exe is consuming excessive resources (over 1GB RAM or constant high CPU), try these solutions:
Quick Fixes:
1. Restart Slack (quit completely from system tray, then reopen)
2. Clear cache: File > Preferences > Advanced > Reset Cache
3. Disable hardware acceleration if experiencing high GPU/CPU usage
4. Reduce number of active workspaces (keep only 2-3 open)
5. Update to latest version or reinstall if problems persist
No, slack.exe is not a virus when it's the official Slack desktop application. The legitimate file is located in C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\slack\ or C:\Program Files\Slack\ and is digitally signed by Slack Technologies, Inc. If you find slack.exe in other locations like System32 or Temp folders, or if it's missing a digital signature, scan your system with antivirus software as it could be malware disguised as Slack.
Slack uses significant resources (300MB-1GB RAM, 10-25% CPU) because it's built on Electron framework, which essentially runs a Chromium browser instance. High usage is often caused by: multiple workspaces, many active channels, long uptime without restart, media-rich conversations with GIFs/videos, or memory leaks in older versions. To reduce usage: restart Slack regularly, clear cache, reduce active workspaces/channels, disable hardware acceleration, and keep the app updated.
Yes, you can safely delete/uninstall Slack if you don't need it. It's an optional application and won't affect Windows functionality. However, if your workplace requires Slack for communication, removing it means you'll need to use the web version (slack.com) or mobile app instead. To uninstall: go to Settings > Apps > Slack > Uninstall. All your messages and data remain in the cloud, so reinstalling later won't lose anything.
Multiple slack.exe processes (typically 5-10+) are completely normal. Slack uses Electron framework which employs a multi-process architecture: one main process for the UI, separate processes for GPU rendering, each workspace, background services, plugin hosting, and crash reporting. This design improves stability (one crash doesn't kill everything) and security, but results in many processes in Task Manager. Each workspace also gets its own process, so having 3 workspaces might show 15+ processes total.
Yes, you can prevent Slack from starting automatically: (1) In Slack, click your profile photo > Preferences > Advanced > uncheck "Launch Slack when your computer starts", or (2) Open Task Manager > Startup tab > right-click Slack > Disable. This prevents auto-start but you can still launch Slack manually when needed. Many users disable startup to reduce boot time and memory usage, launching Slack only during work hours.
Slack runs automatically at Windows startup if that option is enabled (default setting). Even when you close the window, Slack continues running in the background (system tray) to deliver notifications. To fully close it: right-click the Slack icon in the system tray (near the clock) and select "Quit Slack". To prevent automatic startup, disable it in Slack Preferences > Advanced, or via Task Manager > Startup tab.
Slack typically uses 300-600 MB of RAM for a single workspace with moderate activity, but can grow to 1-2 GB or more when you have multiple workspaces, many active channels, or have been running it for days without restart. Memory usage increases with: number of workspaces (each adds ~200-400 MB), active channels with media content, time since last restart (memory leaks), and number of integrated apps/bots.
Desktop app offers better notifications, keyboard shortcuts, multi-workspace management, and faster performance, but uses more system resources (300-1000 MB RAM). Web version (slack.com) uses less RAM since it shares browser resources with other tabs, but has limitations: no unified notification center, fewer keyboard shortcuts, must manage multiple tabs for multiple workspaces. Use desktop app if you rely heavily on Slack; use web version if you're concerned about memory usage or use Slack occasionally.