Quick Answer
communicator.exe is safe. It's the legitimate Communicator Pro Client, handling chat, calls, and presence with a multi-process architecture to isolate tasks and improve stability.
What is communicator.exe?
communicator.exe is the executable for the Communicator Pro Client, an enterprise-grade collaboration tool that handles instant messaging, voice/video calls, and presence information. It uses a multi-process architecture to separate UI, chat rendering, media, and background services, which improves responsiveness and security.
The Communicator client employs separate processes for UI, chat rendering, media streams, and sync tasks, allowing isolation of functions and fault containment to prevent a single issue from affecting the entire app.
Quick Fact: Communicator introduced modular processes for real-time collaboration, enabling smoother calls and more reliable messaging across devices.
Types of Communicator Processes
- UI Process: Main window, menus, and user interactions
- Chat Engine Process: Message rendering and chat history per session
- Media/Call Process: Voice/video capture, encoding, and decoding
- Background Sync Process: Syncing contacts, presence, and settings with server
- Notification Process: Desktop notifications and alert handling
- Updater/Utility Process: Auto-update checks and background maintenance
Is communicator.exe Safe?
Yes, communicator.exe is Safe when it is the legitimate file produced by Communicator, Inc. and obtained from trusted distribution channels (official website or enterprise packaging).
Is communicator.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real communicator.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may imitate names, so verify the vendor and location.
How to Tell if communicator.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Communicator\Communicator.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Communicator\Communicator.exe. Any communicator.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click communicator.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signer associated with the vendor (e.g., "Communicator, Inc.").
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU and 100-400 MB memory per user session. Constantly high usage even when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Communicator should launch when the app starts or you open the client. Unsolicited background activity or background-only processes could indicate malware.
Red Flags: If communicator.exe is located outside the Program Files\Communicator tree (e.g., Temp, AppData, or System32), has no digital signature, or runs when the app isn't launched, scan with antivirus immediately. Be wary of similarly named files like "communicator32.exe".
Why Is communicator.exe Running on My PC?
communicator.exe runs when you start the Communicator client or when background services are enabled to provide presence, messaging, and call capabilities without requiring the app to be in the foreground.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Communication Use: You're actively using Chat, Calls, or Presence; the app maintains processes to handle messages and media streams in real time.
- Background Services: Presence updates, message syncing, and call signaling may run in background to stay responsive.
- Startup Launch: The client is configured to start automatically when Windows boots or when you log in.
- Notification Delivery: Desktop notifications and call alerts run in background to deliver real-time events.
- Background Updates: Updater or maintenance tasks run to check for new versions and patch security fixes.
Can I Disable or Remove communicator.exe?
Yes, you can disable communicator.exe. You can exit the client or remove it entirely if you don't need the communicator functionality.
How to Stop communicator.exe
- Quit Communicator App: Use the in-app Exit/Quit option to gracefully shut down the client and stop background tasks.
- Close App Windows: Close all open Communicator windows or use the Quit option from the system tray.
- End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate communicator.exe, right-click → End Task.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Communicator.
- Stop Background Features: In Communicator settings, disable background sync and 'start at login' options.
How to Uninstall Communicator
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Communicator → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Communicator → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative collaboration tools if needed
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If communicator.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Many chat sessions or active calls: Close inactive chats or minimize video calls; reduce media quality if possible.
- Resource-heavy extensions or plugins: Disable or remove extensions within Communicator; restart client.
- Large message history or media cache: Clear chat cache and remove large attachments; consider archiving chats.
- Outdated software: Update Communicator to the latest version from the official site or auto-update.
- Hardware acceleration issues: Disable hardware acceleration in Settings → Performance.
- Background syncing: Limit or configure sync frequency in account settings.
Quick Fixes:
1. Use in-app task manager to identify heavy chats
2. Close idle chats or mute participants
3. Clear cache and history
4. Update app and OS
5. Toggle hardware acceleration off and on
Frequently Asked Questions
Is communicator.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate communicator.exe from a trusted vendor is not a virus. Verify the file path (C:\Program Files\Communicator\Communicator.exe) and ensure the digital signature matches the vendor.
Why is communicator.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU is typically caused by active calls, video processing, or many concurrent chats. Use the in-app task manager to locate the culprit and reduce load by muting videos or ending sessions.
Can I delete or remove communicator.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall the Communicator client via Windows Settings or Control Panel. Your data may be preserved if signed in; otherwise, local data will be removed.
Can I disable communicator.exe at startup?
Yes, disable startup in Windows Task Manager → Startup tab to stop automatic launching.
Why does communicator.exe run when I haven't opened the app?
Background services such as presence, sync, and notifications may run even when the app isn't in the foreground. Disable via settings or exit the app.
How do I reduce memory usage of communicator.exe?
Close unused chats, disable unnecessary features, clear cache, and enable any memory-saving options in Preferences. Consider updating to the latest version for efficiency.