Quick Answer
bandicam.exe is safe. It’s Bandicam’s core screen-recording engine that coordinates capture, overlays, audio, and encoding. It may spawn multiple helper processes during active recording.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\Bandicam\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Bandicam\Bandicam.exe
Warning
Multiple processes normal during capture
Bandicam may spawn renderer, encoder, and overlay threads per recording session
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Bandicam when not recording; disable startup or background tasks from Bandicam settings
What is bandicam.exe?
bandicam.exe is the principal executable for Bandicam Screen Recorder. It coordinates screen capture, webcam overlays, audio input, and real‑time encoding, while managing settings for video format, frame rate, and region capture. When you start recording, you may see multiple bandicam.exe processes as the capture, encoding, and overlay tasks run in parallel.
Bandicam uses direct capture hooks and hardware-accelerated encoding with multi-threaded processing to minimize dropped frames. It can operate with CPU or GPU encoding depending on your hardware and settings, and it manages overlays and audio synchronized to the video stream.
Quick Fact: Bandicam supports hardware-accelerated encoding and can offload work to the GPU to improve performance during high‑resolution recordings.
Types of Bandicam Processes
- Bandicam Core Process: Main capture and control interface for recording sessions
- Video Encoder Process: Handles H.264/HEVC encoding and file writing
- Overlay/HUD Process: Renders on-screen overlays, watermark, and webcam window
- Audio Capture Process: Records microphone and system sound as part of the video stream
- Background Scheduler: Responds to hotkeys and scheduled recording events
- Game/Display Capture Helper: Optimizes capture for full-screen or exclusive mode games
Is bandicam.exe Safe?
Yes, bandicam.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Bandicam downloaded from official sources (bandicam.com) or pre-installed by the manufacturer.
Is bandicam.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real bandicam.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names. Always verify the file location 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 bandicam.exe in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "Bandicam Co., Ltd".
- Resource Usage: During recording, CPU usage typically spikes with encoding, not constant idle high usage. Abnormally high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Bandicam should be active only when recording or when the app is open. Hidden processes outside of Bandicam UI warrant malware checks.
Red Flags: If bandicam.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, System32) or lacks a valid digital signature, or runs without Bandicam UI for extended periods, scan with reputable antivirus software. Be wary of similarly named files like "bandicam0.exe" or "bandicam64.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is bandicam.exe Running on My PC?
bandicam.exe runs when Bandicam is active for recording or when its background components are enabled (overlay, hotkeys, or scheduled tasks). It may also remain resident to support quick-start recording or streaming.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Recording or Preview: You're currently recording or previewing; Bandicam spawns capture, encoding, and overlay tasks to maintain sync.
- Background Overlays and Widgets: Watermark, FPS display, webcam window, and other overlays keep processing in the background.
- Scheduled Tasks or Hotkeys: Bandicam monitors hotkeys or scheduled events, which may keep the process alive to respond promptly.
- Hardware Encoding Readiness: Encoder threads and GPU interaction may stay ready to minimize startup delays during recording.
- Startup or Tray Persistence: If Bandicam is configured to launch at startup or stay minimized in the system tray, bandicam.exe may run even when not actively recording.
Can I Disable or Remove bandicam.exe?
Yes, you can disable bandicam.exe. You can stop recording, disable background features, or uninstall Bandicam if you no longer need it.
How to Stop bandicam.exe
- End Active Recording: In Bandicam, click Stop, or press the stop hotkey to end the capture session.
- Close Bandicam: Close the Bandicam window completely; ensure the tray icon isn’t running hidden.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Bandicam (if present)
- Disable Background Tasks: In Bandicam settings → General → uncheck background tasks like automatic start or overlay persistence
How to Uninstall Bandicam
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Bandicam → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Bandicam → Uninstall
- ✔ Restart computer after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If bandicam.exe is consuming excessive resources during or after recording:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Recording at very high resolution/frame rate: Lower resolution or FPS settings in Bandicam; enable hardware encoding if available
- Heavy overlays or webcam capture: Disable or simplify overlays; reduce webcam resolution or disable background widgets
- Outdated drivers or Bandicam version: Update GPU drivers and Bandicam to the latest version
- Background processes or conflicting software: Close other resource-heavy apps; check for other screen-recording tools
- Malicious extensions or malware impersonation: Run antivirus/anti-malware scans; verify file location and signer
- Hardware acceleration issues: Try toggling hardware acceleration in Bandicam or system settings; update runtime libraries
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Bandicam Task Manager to identify resource-heavy elements
2. Lower capture resolution and frame rate
3. Disable unnecessary overlays and webcam overlay
4. Update Bandicam and GPU drivers
5. Enable hardware encoding if supported by your hardware
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bandicam.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate bandicam.exe from Bandicam Co., Ltd is not a virus. Verify the file location in C:\Program Files\Bandicam or C:\Program Files (x86)\Bandicam and ensure it is digitally signed by Bandicam Co., Ltd.
Why does Bandicam show multiple bandicam.exe processes?
Bandicam uses separate processes for capture, encoding, and overlays to optimize performance. You may see multiple bandicam.exe processes during active recording, but they are part of the normal workflow.
How can I reduce Bandicam's CPU usage?
Lower the recording resolution or frame rate, enable hardware encoding, update drivers, and disable unnecessary overlays or webcam capture when not needed.
Can I remove the watermark from Bandicam recordings?
Yes, Bandicam offers a paid version that removes the watermark. Free version may include a watermark or time limit depending on the release.
Where is bandicam.exe located on Windows?
Typically in C:\Program Files\Bandicam\bandicam.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Bandicam\bandicam.exe. Use the task manager or file search to confirm location.
How do I uninstall Bandicam?
Use Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Bandicam → Uninstall, or use Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Bandicam → Uninstall.