What is amd-relive.exe?
amd-relive.exe is the executable for AMD Relive, the built-in screen capture and live streaming tool bundled with AMD Radeon Software. It handles gameplay recording, overlay graphics, and streaming tasks, often running alongside the Radeon Software UI to manage capture settings and hotkeys.
amd-relive.exe runs as part of the Radeon Software capture system, using GPU-accelerated encoding and separate processes for capture, overlay, and streaming tasks. It can spawn multiple child processes per session to keep capture smooth and isolated from the main UI.
Quick Fact: AMD Relive popularized in-game capture with minimal performance impact, leveraging GPU encoding and an always-on background service when enabled.
Types of AMD Relive Processes
- Relive Core Process: Main capture engine and user interface integration
- Encoding Process: GPU-accelerated encoding for recordings
- Overlay/UI Process: In-game overlay and UI elements used during capture
- Background Service: Background tasks for streaming and telemetry
- Telemetry/Update Worker: Checks for updates and collects usage telemetry
- Plugin/Extension Process: Relive plugins for additional capture features
Is amd-relive.exe Safe?
Yes, amd-relive.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from AMD downloaded from official sources.
Is amd-relive.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real amd-relive.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can impersonate AMD names.
How to Tell if amd-relive.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\AMD Relive\Bin\amd-relive.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD Relive\Bin\amd-relive.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc."
- Resource Usage: Normally uses low CPU; if it spikes persistently, confirm it's the legitimate process and no malware.
- Behavior: Should only run when Relive is active or when AMD Software requires it. Unprompted background spikes warrant scan.
Red Flags: If amd-relive.exe is located outside the AMD Relive folders (like AppData, Temp), runs when Relive isn't active, has no digital signature, or uses constant high resources, scan with antivirus.
Why Is amd-relive.exe Running on My PC?
amd-relive.exe runs when you use AMD Relive to capture gameplay or when Radeon Software is configured to start capture tasks, overlay, or streaming components in the background.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Capture Session: You're actively recording or streaming; each session may spawn encoding and overlay components.
- Background Overlay and Notifications: Overlay elements and notifications may run to support on-screen metrics and chat integration.
- Background Recording Enabled: Relive can run in background to preserve recent gameplay clips or auto-record events.
- Startup or Auto-Record Settings: Relive components may initialize at Windows startup or with Radeon Software launch.
- Background Telemetry and Updates: Radeon Software may spawn tasks for telemetry reporting or update checks related to Relive.
Can I Disable or Remove amd-relive.exe?
Yes, you can disable amd-relive.exe. It's safe to close Relive and disable background capture in Radeon Software settings.
How to Stop amd-relive.exe
- End Current Capture: Open Radeon Software → Recording/Streaming controls and stop the active capture session
- Close Relive UI: Exit the Relive panel or overlay if open
- End All Processes: Open Task Manager, find amd-relive.exe, right-click → End Task
- Prevent Startup: Radeon Software → Settings → System → Disable Startup of Relive components
- Stop Background Capture: Radeon Software → Recording/Streaming → Disable "Continue running Relive in the background"
How to Uninstall Relive/AMD Software
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → AMD Radeon Software → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → AMD Radeon Software → Uninstall
- ✔ Reinstall only the desired components from the AMD Driver and Software download if needed
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If amd-relive.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active capture with many scenes: Reduce capture length or disable auto-record for less impact; close unused capture sessions
- Background overlays or notifications: Disable nonessential overlays in Relive or Radeon Software settings
- Outdated drivers: Update Radeon Software to the latest version
- Conflicting extensions or plugins: Disable or remove incompatible plugins in Radeon Software
- Hardware encoding issues: Toggle hardware encoding off/on to reset the encoder in Radeon Settings
- Insufficient system resources: Close other heavy applications and consider lowering capture quality
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Radeon Software and check Relive/Recording settings
2. End high-CPU capture tasks in the Relive panel
3. Update GPU drivers and Radeon Software
4. Reduce capture resolution or frame rate
5. Disable background Relive when not recording
Frequently Asked Questions
Is amd-relive.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate amd-relive.exe from AMD is not a virus. Ensure its path is: C:\Program Files\AMD Relive\Bin\amd-relive.exe and that it has a digital signature from 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.'.
Why is amd-relive.exe using so much CPU?
CPU usage spikes usually occur during active recording or when encoding high-resolution gameplay. Check the Relive panel and reduce resolution/frame rate or disable background recording.
Can I delete amd-relive.exe?
amd-relive.exe is part of AMD Relive. Uninstalling AMD Radeon Software will remove it. You can reinstall later if you need Relive again.
Can I disable amd-relive.exe?
Yes. Disable Relive overlays/recording in Radeon Software, or terminate the process via Task Manager when not needed.
Why does amd-relive.exe start with Windows?
If Relive is set to auto-record or start with Windows, the executable may launch at startup. Disable startup under Radeon Software or Task Manager Startup tab.
How do I reduce memory usage by Relive?
Lower capture quality, disable unnecessary overlays, and ensure GPU drivers are up to date. Use Memory Saver if available in the Performance settings.