Quick Answer
brave-audio-service.exe is safe. It's Brave's background audio service that handles audio routing, WebRTC audio, and media playback, running separately from the main UI for stability.
Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave-audio-service.exe
Warning
Multiple processes may run
Audio service runs alongside the main Brave process; abnormal spikes may indicate issues with extensions or audio content
Can I Disable?
YES
Disabling may affect background audio and WebRTC. You can stop it temporarily via Brave Task Manager or settings.
What is brave-audio-service.exe?
brave-audio-service.exe is the background audio service for the Brave Browser. It manages audio routing, volume control, WebRTC audio capture, and media playback coordination, operating as a separate process to keep the UI responsive.
This process handles audio mixing, WebRTC streams, and background playback, running under Brave-Browser with sandboxing and OS audio interfaces to ensure stable and isolated audio operations.
Quick Fact: Brave’s audio service isolates audio tasks from the UI, reducing stutter during media playback and improving overall browser responsiveness.
Types of Brave Audio Processes
- Browser Process: Main Brave window and user interface (1 instance)
- Renderer Process: Each tab and iframe (multiple instances)
- Audio Service Process: Brave audio routing and WebRTC handling (this executable)
- Extension Process: Each extension can have its own process
- Plugin Process: For media plugins or codecs used by Brave
- Utility Process: Background tasks and network services related to audio
Is brave-audio-service.exe Safe?
Yes, brave-audio-service.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from Brave Software, obtained from official Brave sources or pre-installed by the system.
Is brave-audio-service.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real brave-audio-service.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may mimic names; verify location and signature.
How to Tell if brave-audio-service.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave-audio-service.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave-audio-service.exe. Any brave-audio-service.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signature from Brave Software, Inc..
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is low CPU and modest memory. Abnormally high usage when Brave is closed is suspicious.
- Behavior: Brave Audio Service should run in support of Brave when audio is active. Persistent background activity with no Brave session may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: If brave-audio-service.exe is found in unusual folders (Temp, AppData), runs when Brave isn’t open, lacks a digital signature, or uses constant high resources, scan with antivirus. Be aware of similarly-named files like "brave-audio-service(1).exe".
Why Is brave-audio-service.exe Running on My PC?
brave-audio-service.exe runs to support Brave’s audio features. It may start when Brave is opened or when audio content is played in the background, and can continue if background audio is enabled.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Browser Use: You’re actively using Brave for media, video, or audio; the service routes and mixes audio for all tabs.
- Background Audio/WebRTC: WebRTC calls, background music, or audio from web apps can keep the service active.
- Startup or Background Launch: Brave may launch the audio service at startup or to support background tasks.
- Extensions with Audio Features: Extensions that play audio or manage media may trigger the service to run.
- Hardware Acceleration and Audio Backend: Hardware acceleration or multimedia backends may initialize the audio service for efficient playback.
Can I Disable or Remove brave-audio-service.exe?
Yes, you can disable brave-audio-service.exe. You can stop it when Brave is closed or disable background audio to minimize resource usage.
How to Stop brave-audio-service.exe
- End Audio Tasks: Open Brave Task Manager (Shift+Esc) and end the audio-related processes or tabs with audio activity.
- Close Brave: Close all Brave windows to stop the audio service for the session.
- End All Brave Tasks: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate brave-audio-service.exe, and End Task.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Brave Browser.
- Stop Background Audio: Brave Settings → System → Disable 'Continue running background apps when Brave is closed'.
How to Uninstall Brave Browser
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Brave Browser → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Brave Browser → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternatives: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Opera
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If brave-audio-service.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Excessive audio tabs or streams: Close unused tabs with audio. Use Brave Task Manager (Shift+Esc) to identify audio-heavy tabs.
- Audio-related Extensions: Disable or remove extensions that manage or stream audio in chrome://extensions.
- WebRTC-heavy websites: Refresh problematic sites or disable media-heavy features in site settings.
- Outdated Brave Version: Update Brave to the latest version: brave://settings/help
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Toggle hardware acceleration off: Brave Settings → System → "Use hardware acceleration when available"
- Conflicting Audio Drivers: Update audio drivers and ensure no conflicting software is intercepting audio data.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Brave Task Manager (Shift+Esc) and identify audio-heavy tasks
2. Restart Brave to clear transient audio processes
3. Update Brave to the latest version
4. Disable unnecessary audio extensions in brave://extensions
5. Turn off hardware acceleration if you notice audio glitches
Frequently Asked Questions
Is brave-audio-service.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate brave-audio-service.exe is part of Brave Browser and handles audio tasks. Verify location at C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application and ensure a valid signature from Brave Software, Inc.
Why is brave-audio-service.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can be caused by intensive audio processing, WebRTC calls, or audio-heavy pages. Use Brave Task Manager (Shift+Esc) to identify culprits and update Brave.
Can I delete brave-audio-service.exe?
Deleting the file will disrupt Brave’s audio features. It’s recommended to uninstall Brave or disable background audio if you don’t use Brave.
Can I disable brave-audio-service.exe?
Yes, you can stop it when Brave is closed or disable background audio via Brave Settings and Windows Startup options.
Where is brave-audio-service.exe located?
Common location: C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave-audio-service.exe. If installed in Program Files (x86), adjust accordingly.
How do I reduce Brave's audio-related resource use?
Close unnecessary audio tabs, disable unused extensions, update Brave, and consider turning off hardware acceleration if issues persist.