Quick Answer
writemonkey.exe is safe. WriteMonkey is a lightweight, distraction‑free writing tool. It usually runs as a single UI process with small background tasks for autosave, spell checking, and update checks.
What is writemonkey.exe?
writemonkey.exe is the executable for WriteMonkey, a lightweight, distraction-free writing app designed for focused text composition on Windows. It provides a clean editor, simple formatting, autosave, and fast startup. The process typically runs as the main UI, with occasional background tasks for updates and utilities.
WriteMonkey employs a lean, single/main UI process that handles editing, rendering, and user interactions. Background tasks such as autosave, update checks, and optional plugin helpers run without blocking the editor, keeping the writing experience smooth.
Quick Fact: WriteMonkey emphasizes minimal UI chrome and fast response times, often running as a single main process with lightweight background tasks.
Types of WriteMonkey Processes
- Main UI Process: User interface, document editing, menus, and toolbars (single instance typically)
- Autosave/Background Task: Background thread handling autosave, crash recovery, and temp backups
- Spell Check Engine: Background language processing to provide suggestions without UI blocking
- Plugin Host: If plugins are enabled, isolated plugin code may run in a separate process
- Updater Process: Checks for updates and downloads new versions in the background
- Clipboard/Background Services: Clipboard watchers or small utilities that support editing workflows
Is writemonkey.exe Safe?
Yes, writemonkey.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from WriteMonkey downloaded from official sources (website or vendor distribution).
Is writemonkey.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real writemonkey.exe is NOT a virus. Malware masquerading as writemonkey.exe is possible; always verify path and signature.
How to Tell if writemonkey.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\WriteMonkey\WriteMonkey.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\WriteMonkey\WriteMonkey.exe. Any writemonkey.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show the publisher as "WriteMonkey, Inc." or official vendor.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-6% CPU total and 60-180 MB memory. Abnormally high usage when the app is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: WriteMonkey should launch when you start the app. If you see writemonkey.exe running without user action, scan for malware.
Red Flags: If writemonkey.exe appears in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Roaming) or lacks a valid digital signature, or runs at startup when you didn't install it, run a malware scan and consider reinstalling from official sources.
Why Is writemonkey.exe Running on My PC?
WriteMonkey runs to provide a responsive, distraction‑free writing experience. It may stay resident for quick access, autosave, or to handle updates and background helpers.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Writing Session: You're editing a document; the main UI remains open and responsive, loading tools as needed.
- Autosave and Recovery: Background autosave saves work periodically to prevent data loss and enable crash recovery.
- Background Helpers: Spell check, thesaurus, or plugin helpers can run in the background to speed editing.
- Update Checks: The updater may run briefly to check for new versions and download updates.
- Startup or Background Mode: WriteMonkey may be configured to launch on startup or stay resident for fast reopen.
Can I Disable or Remove writemonkey.exe?
Yes, you can disable writemonkey.exe. It’s safe to close the app when not in use, and you can uninstall WriteMonkey if you prefer another editor.
How to Stop writemonkey.exe
- Close the Application: Click the X to close or use Alt+F4
- End Specific Processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → End writemonkey.exe if needed
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable WriteMonkey
- Disable Background Tasks: In WriteMonkey settings, turn off background autosave/updates
- Uninstall: Windows Settings → Apps → WriteMonkey → Uninstall
How to Uninstall WriteMonkey
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → WriteMonkey → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → WriteMonkey → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative editors: notepad replacement or another distraction-free editor
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If writemonkey.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Open Documents: Close unused documents or limit open documents; use the editor's windowing features to reduce memory footprint.
- Resource-Heavy Plugins: Disable or remove plugins in Settings to reduce background load.
- Large Media Embedded: Reduce embedded media, images, or large attachments; consider plain text for long drafts.
- Outdated WriteMonkey Version: Update to the latest version via Settings → Check for Updates.
- BackgroundAutosave: Adjust autosave frequency or temporarily disable autosave in Preferences.
- Hardware Acceleration: Toggle hardware acceleration in Settings to see if it stabilizes performance.
Quick Fixes:
1. Press Ctrl+S frequently to minimize data loss and keep documents small in memory.
2. Close unused documents and disable unnecessary plugins.
3. Update WriteMonkey to the latest version.
4. Adjust autosave settings in Preferences.
5. Restart WriteMonkey if performance remains sluggish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is writemonkey.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate writemonkey.exe from WriteMonkey is not a virus. Verify the path is C:\Program Files\WriteMonkey\WriteMonkey.exe and that it has a valid digital signature.
Why is writemonkey.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU is usually caused by heavy editing, complex documents, or active plugins. Use Task Manager to identify the culprit and close the document or disable the plugin.
Can I delete writemonkey.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall WriteMonkey through Windows Settings if you no longer need it. Your documents may remain unless you choose to delete them.
Can I disable writemonkey.exe?
Yes. Close WriteMonkey, disable startup in Task Manager, and in-app settings, turn off 'stay resident' or background tasks.
Why does WriteMonkey open at startup?
If configured, WriteMonkey may launch on Windows startup to provide quick access. Disable in Task Manager → Startup or in the app's startup settings.
Does WriteMonkey autosave when the app is closed?
Autosave occurs while the app is open. If you close the app, unsaved changes are recovered from the last autosave when you reopen.