Quick Answer
bandicam.exe is safe. Bandicam is a legitimate screen recording tool; it runs when you start Bandicam or begin a capture, and uses a dedicated encoding path to record desktop, games, or windows.
What is bandicam.exe?
bandicam.exe is the launcher for Bandicam Screen Recorder, a lightweight Windows program that captures desktop, windowed apps, games, and webcams with hardware-accelerated encoding. The executable starts when you install Bandicam or when you begin a new recording.
Bandicam uses a multi-threaded capture pipeline with a dedicated recorder thread and a hardware-accelerated encoder (NVENC/AMF) to compress video in real time, while the UI remains responsive during recording.
Quick Fact: Bandicam pioneered efficient desktop and game capture with low overhead and high‑quality H.264 encoding since its early versions.
Types of Bandicam Processes
- Main UI and Recorder: Bandicam.exe manages the user interface and the recording session
- Encoder Thread: Real-time video encoding using hardware acceleration
- Overlay/Watermark: Overlay, FPS, chat notifiers and watermark components
- Audio Capture: Audio input handling for microphone and system sound
- Helper/Tray: Tray icon and background helpers for quick control
- Capture Driver: Low-level capture driver interfaces (desktop/game)
Is bandicam.exe Safe?
Yes, bandicam.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Bandicam downloaded from official sources (bandicam.com or indicated installer).
Is bandicam.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real bandicam.exe is NOT a virus. Malware can masquerade with similar names; verify by path and signature.
How to Tell if bandicam.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\Bandicam\Bandicam.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Bandicam\Bandicam.exe. Any bandicam.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show Bandicam Co., Ltd. as signer.
- Resource Usage:: During recording, expect moderate CPU and memory; consistently high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Bandicam should run only during capture sessions; background processes with no UI may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: Bandicam.exe located outside the Program Files folder (like Temp or AppData), lacks a valid signature, or runs constantly in the background without a Bandicam UI—scan with antivirus and compare with the official installer.
Why Is bandicam.exe Running on My PC?
bandicam.exe runs whenever Bandicam is installed and you start a capture, or if you have background recording enabled. It may also stay active for quick start via hotkeys or overlays.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Capture: You're recording or preparing to record; Bandicam creates capture threads for screen, window, or game regions.
- Background Recording: Bandicam can run in the background to support hotkeys, overlays, and scheduled captures.
- Overlay and Notifications: Overlay components and on-screen notifications keep a presence even when the main UI is minimized.
- Game/Desktop Capture Mode: In game or desktop capture mode, Bandicam maintains a dedicated capture path to ensure smooth frames.
- Fast Startup/Tray Helpers: Tray helpers and quick-start features can keep a lightweight process resident for instant recording.
Can I Disable or Remove bandicam.exe?
Yes, you can disable bandicam.exe. It's safe to close Bandicam when not recording, and you can uninstall Bandicam entirely if you no longer need it.
How to Stop bandicam.exe
- End Active Capture: Click the Stop button in Bandicam or use the Stop hotkey to end recording.
- Close Bandicam UI: Click the X button to close the main window.
- End Background Helpers: Right-click the Bandicam tray icon and choose Exit, or end bandicam.exe in Task Manager.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Bandicam
- Stop Background Recording: In Bandicam Settings → General, disable 'Run in background' or 'Start minimized' if enabled.
How to Uninstall Bandicam
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Bandicam → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Bandicam → Uninstall
- ✔ Restart your PC after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If bandicam.exe is consuming excessive resources during capture, try the following fixes to stabilize performance.
Common Causes & Solutions
- High frame rate or resolution: Lower FPS (e.g., 60→30) and reduce capture resolution; enable hardware encoding.
- Hardware encoder not available: Switch to software encoding or update GPU drivers; enable NVENC/AMF in Bandicam.
- Too many overlays or hotkeys: Disable unnecessary overlays; limit hotkeys during recording.
- Background apps consuming resources: Close other heavy applications or set Bandicam to a lower priority in Task Manager.
- Outdated Bandicam version: Update Bandicam to the latest version from bandicam.com
- Disk bottleneck or USB capture: Record to an internal drive or fast SSD; ensure USB bandwidth is sufficient for live capture
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Bandicam Task Manager (within Bandicam) to identify heavy components
3. Lower resolution and frame rate
4. Switch to hardware encoding (NVENC/AMF)
5. Update GPU drivers and Bandicam
6. Test recording to a local SSD with enough free space
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bandicam.exe safe?
Yes. The legitimate bandicam.exe from Bandicam Co., Ltd. is safe when located in C:\Program Files\Bandicam or C:\Program Files (x86)\Bandicam and signed by Bandicam Co., Ltd.
Can Bandicam record gameplay at high FPS without lag?
Yes, with hardware encoding (NVENC/AMF), appropriate GPU drivers, and a suitable frame rate, Bandicam can record games smoothly.
Does Bandicam watermark recordings?
The free version adds a watermark. Purchasing a license removes the watermark and unlocks features like unlimited recording length.
What formats does Bandicam save?
Bandicam can save to MP4 (H.264) or AVI, with options for audio codecs and container settings accessible in the Video settings.
How do I uninstall Bandicam?
Open Windows Settings → Apps & Features → Bandicam → Uninstall, or use Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Bandicam.
Why is Bandicam not starting after installation?
Ensure you have the latest version, run the installer as administrator, and check for conflicting software. Reboot and try again.