bigbluebutton.exe

What is bigbluebutton.exe?

bigbluebutton.exe is the Windows desktop client for BigBlueButton, the open-source web conferencing platform. It provides the conference user interface, audio/video streams, screen sharing, chat, and whiteboarding. The executable launches when you start or join a BBB session, often alongside browser components.

BBB's desktop client uses a multi-process design to separate UI, media, and network tasks, leveraging WebRTC for real-time communication and a local media pipeline to reduce latency and improve stability during BBB conferences.

Types of BBB Processes

• Main UI Process: Handles the conference window, controls, and user input
• Media Engine Process: Encodes/decodes audio and video streams
• Screen Sharing/Whiteboard Process: Manages screen sharing and real-time whiteboarding tasks
• Audio/Video Signaling Process: WebRTC signaling and network coordination
• Background Sync Process: Keeps chat, presence, and room state synchronized
• Updater/Background Service: Checks for updates and maintains background health

Is bigbluebutton.exe Safe?

Yes, bigbluebutton.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from BigBlueButton distributed by the official client.

Is bigbluebutton.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real bigbluebutton.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if bigbluebutton.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\BigBlueButton\bigbluebutton.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\BigBlueButton\bigbluebutton.exe. Any bigbluebutton.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click bigbluebutton.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signer from the BigBlueButton project.
3. Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU per process, 50-250 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when the app is idle is suspicious.
4. Behavior: BigBlueButton Desktop should run when you join a conference or start the app. Multiple invisible instances when idle may indicate malware.

Why Is bigbluebutton.exe Running on My PC?

bigbluebutton.exe runs when you start the BigBlueButton Desktop Client or when BBB components are configured to launch at login, to ensure real-time conferencing capabilities and background presence for notifications.

Reasons it's running:

• Active BBB Conference: You're currently in a BigBlueButton conference; the client creates processes for UI, media, and signaling to handle streams and controls.
• Background Notifications: Chat, room updates, and presence indicators run in background processes to keep you informed without blocking the UI.
• Startup and Auto-Launch: BBB is configured to launch automatically at system startup or user login for quick access to conferences.
• Screen Sharing or Recording: Starting screen sharing, annotation, or recording sessions can spawn additional processes to manage the task.
• Network Reconnection and Signaling: WebRTC signaling re-establishes connections after temporary network interruptions, keeping the conference stable.

Can I Disable or Remove bigbluebutton.exe?

Yes, you can disable bigbluebutton.exe. It's safe to close the client when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you no longer need BBB.

How to Stop bigbluebutton.exe

• End Conference or Leave Room: Use the BBB UI to leave the current conference or end the session
• Close the Desktop Client: Click the X button or use the menu to exit the application
• End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find bigbluebutton.exe, right-click → End Task
• Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable BigBlueButton Desktop Client
• Stop Background Services: In the BBB client settings, disable background notifications or background presence if available

How to Uninstall BBB Desktop Client

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → BigBlueButton Desktop Client → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → BigBlueButton Desktop Client → Uninstall
• ✔ If you still need BBB, you can reinstall later from the official BigBlueButton website

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If bigbluebutton.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Active screen sharing or video rendering: Reduce shared content quality or limit participants; consider lowering video resolution in settings
• Many participants or streams: Close unused chats/streams; use speaker view instead of gallery when bandwidth is limited
• Outdated BBB client: Update BigBlueButton Desktop Client to the latest version
• Resource-heavy extensions or plugins: Disable non-essential add-ons within the BBB client or operating system
• Hardware acceleration issues: In BBB settings, disable Hardware Acceleration and restart the client
• Poor network conditions: Check network stability, switch to wired Ethernet, or reduce bitrate in the conference settings

Related Processes