archicad.exe

GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD

Application ProcessSafeCAD/BIM Software

CPU Usage

8-40%

Memory

600-1800 MB

Location

Program Files

Publisher

GRAPHISOFT SE

Quick Answer

archicad.exe is safe. It's GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD's main executable. It runs BIM design tasks, renders views, and handles project data; it can spawn auxiliary tasks for rendering and collaboration depending on settings.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be located in C:\Program Files\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe

Warning

Multiple processes may occur

ARCHICAD uses internal modules and background tasks; heavy models can spawn several worker threads

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close ARCHICAD when not in use or disable startup and background background tasks from ARCHICAD settings

What is archicad.exe?

archicad.exe is the main executable for GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD, the BIM design software. It launches when you start ARCHICAD, loads your project, and manages the user interface, model data, and collaboration features. Depending on your configuration, it may spawn auxiliary tasks for rendering, autosave, and Teamwork collaboration.

ARCHICAD uses a single 64-bit process with internal modules and threads for geometry, drawing, and collaboration; it relies on GPU acceleration for view rendering and maintains autosave, BIMcloud sync, and file IO through integrated services.

Quick Fact: ARCHICAD’s architecture centers on a robust main process with modular threads for rendering, modeling, and teamwork tasks to keep the UI responsive.

Types of ARCHICAD Processes

Main Application Process: The primary ARCHICAD window and UI (1 instance)
Renderer/Viewport Process: Rendering viewport and scene drawing (per view)
Background Tasks: Autosave, backup, BIMcloud sync, and file IO
Add-on/Connection Process: Extensions and collaboration connectors (e.g., BIMcloud/Teamwork)
Render Engine: Photorealistic rendering tasks and image export workers

Is archicad.exe Safe?

Yes, archicad.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from GRAPHISOFT and obtained from an official installer or licensed distribution.

Is archicad.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real archicad.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may disguise itself with similar names. Always verify path and signature.

How to Tell if archicad.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe. Any archicad.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click ARCHICAD.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show GRAPHISOFT SE as the signer.
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 5-40% CPU per active view, 300-1200 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when not actively editing is suspicious.
Behavior: ARCHICAD should launch when you start the application. If archicad.exe runs with no ARCHICAD window open, or spawns unexpected background tasks, investigate for tampering.

Red Flags: If archicad.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Local, or System32), runs when ARCHICAD isn't open, has no valid digital signature, or uses persistent high resources, scan with antivirus. Be wary of similarly named files such as "archicad32.exe" from untrusted sources.

Why Is archicad.exe Running on My PC?

archicad.exe runs when you open GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD, and may also run background tasks for collaboration, autosave, and rendering when configured.

Reasons it's running:

Active Project Work: You have ARCHICAD open with a project; each view and module can keep related processes active for responsiveness.
Background Collaboration: Teamwork/BIMcloud tasks keep synchronization and sharing active even when not actively editing in a focused view.
Autosave and Backups: ARCHICAD periodically saves backups and autosaves to prevent data loss, which maintains background activity.
Render or Viewport Updates: Viewport changes, renders, or photorender tasks may spawn dedicated worker threads or sub-processes.
Startup and Add-ons: Startup tasks or enabled add-ons (plugins) may initialize background workers to support features like synchronization or data exchange.

Can I Disable or Remove archicad.exe?

Yes, you can disable archicad.exe. It's safe to close ARCHICAD when not in use, and you can uninstall ARCHICAD if you prefer another solution.

How to Stop archicad.exe

Close ARCHICAD: Exit ARCHICAD normally to stop the main process and related workers.
End Background Tasks: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find archicad.exe, right-click → End Task
Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD
Disable Background Collaboration: In ARCHICAD settings, disable background Teamwork or BIMcloud sync if available
Uninstall ARCHICAD: Windows Settings → Apps → Google ARCHICAD → Uninstall (or use Control Panel) and follow prompts

How to Uninstall ARCHICAD

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD → Uninstall
✔ Consider alternative CAD/BIM software if desired

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If archicad.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Large, complex models: Simplify the model, reduce active views, and use layer filtering to limit visible geometry.
Background collaboration: Pause BIMcloud/Teamwork sync or schedule synchronization to lighter intervals.
Plugins or add-ons: Disable unnecessary add-ons via ARCHICAD add-ons manager and update essential ones.
Outdated hardware drivers: Update GPU and chipset drivers; ensure OpenGL/Vulkan support is current.
Outdated ARCHICAD version: Update to the latest ARCHICAD release to benefit from performance fixes.
Corrupted preferences or project file: Reset preferences or open a new project to isolate issues; consider repairing the project file.

Quick Fixes:
1. Close unused views and reduce visible geometry in the viewport
2. Pause or limit BIMcloud sync in ARCHICAD settings
3. Update ARCHICAD to the latest version
4. Disable unnecessary add-ons in the add-ons manager
5. Check for large caches and purge unused data if applicable

Frequently Asked Questions

Is archicad.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate archicad.exe from GRAPHISOFT is not a virus. Validate path: C:\Program Files\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe and ensure a valid digital signature from GRAPHISOFT SE.

Why is archicad.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU is usually due to large or complex models, active rendering, or background synchronization. Use ARCHICAD task manager and disable or reduce heavy tasks, then update to the latest version.

Can I delete archicad.exe?

You can uninstall ARCHICAD from Windows Settings or Control Panel. Deleting the executable manually is not advised as it may leave the uninstall entry broken.

Can I disable archicad.exe?

Yes. Close ARCHICAD when finished, disable startup in Task Manager, and turn off background sync in ARCHICAD settings to prevent background processes from running.

Where is archicad.exe located?

Typical path: C:\Program Files\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\GRAPHISOFT\ARCHICAD 26\ARCHICAD.exe

How do I uninstall ARCHICAD?

Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → GRAPHISOFT ARCHICAD → Uninstall. You can also use the Control Panel uninstaller if preferred.