google-meet.exe

Google Meet Desktop Client

Application ProcessSafeWeb Conferencing

CPU Usage

2-20%

Memory

60-300 MB

Location

C:\Program Files\Google\Meet

Publisher

Google LLC

Quick Answer

google-meet.exe is safe. It's Google's official Meet desktop client, used to join and host Google Meet meetings via a standalone application.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\Google\Meet\Meet.exe

Warning

Many processes normal

Each meeting window may spawn renderer/utility processes

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close the app or disable startup to stop background activity

What is google-meet.exe?

google-meet.exe is the executable for Google Meet's standalone desktop client. It launches to connect you to Google Meet meetings, offering video, audio, screen sharing, and chat outside a browser. The app provides a dedicated, responsive experience and tighter integration with system notifications and hardware access.

Google Meet Desktop uses a multi‑process design to separate UI, media, and network tasks, keeping meetings stable under varying bandwidth. It manages camera and mic input, video encoding/decoding, and web view content through dedicated threads for better performance.

Quick Fact: The Meet desktop client can run as multiple processes to isolate UI, media, and network functions for smoother meetings.

Types of Google Meet Processes

Meet Main Process: Primary UI and meeting controls, coordinates sessions.
Renderer Process: WebView rendering for Meet content within the app.
Media Process: Handles camera, microphone, and media streams.
GPU Process: Hardware acceleration and graphics rendering.
Background/Update Process: Background services for updates and syncs.
Notification/Chat Process: Manages in-app notifications and chat features.

Is google-meet.exe Safe?

Yes, google-meet.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Google downloaded from official sources or pre-installed by the device manufacturer.

Is google-meet.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real google-meet.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can imitate names to mislead users.

How to Tell if google-meet.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\Google\Meet\Meet.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Meet\Meet.exe. Any google-meet.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click the process in Task Manager → Open file location → Right-click Meet.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Google LLC".
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-20% CPU per instance, 60-300 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: Meet.exe should launch when you start a meeting or open the app. If it runs constantly without user action, it could indicate malware.

Red Flags: If google-meet.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\\Roaming, or System32), runs when Meet isn't opened, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus. Beware of similarly-named files from untrusted sources.

Why Is google-meet.exe Running on My PC?

google-meet.exe runs when you launch the Google Meet desktop client or when Meet is configured to run in the background to provide quick joining, notifications, and status updates.

Reasons it's running:

Active Meeting Use: You're in or have Meet open; the app handles video, audio, and screen sharing.
Background Notifications: The app maintains notification services and meeting statuses to alert you to invites and messages.
Startup Launch: Meet may be configured to start with Windows to enable faster joining.
Background Sync: The app syncs settings, themes, and preferences with your Google account for a consistent experience.
Background Services: Some components run in the background to support checks for updates and meeting readiness.

Can I Disable or Remove google-meet.exe?

Yes, you can disable google-meet.exe. It's safe to close Meet when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer another conferencing solution.

How to Stop google-meet.exe

End Application: Close Google Meet from the app or system tray if running.
Exit from Task Manager: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find google-meet.exe, right-click → End Task.
Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Google Meet.
Stop Background Tasks: In Meet settings, disable background activity and notifications.

How to Uninstall Google Meet Desktop App

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Google Meet → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Google Meet → Uninstall
✔ Note: You can still join Meet via browser if you remove the desktop app

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If google-meet.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Too Many Meetings or Windows Open: Close unused Meet windows or reduce the number of active meetings; the app may spawn multiple processes per meeting window.
Resource-Heavy Background Features: Disable or limit background notifications and auto-start features in the settings.
Poor Network or Bandwidth Limitations: Switch to a wired connection, reduce video quality, or pause nonessential data streams.
Outdated Meet Client: Update Google Meet to the latest version via Settings or the installer.
Conflicting Extensions or Plugins: Disable or uninstall extensions that interact with Meet or web views.
Hardware Acceleration Issues: Toggle hardware acceleration in Settings → Performance; restart Meet.

Quick Fixes:
1. Use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to identify high-usage Meet components
2. Restart Google Meet or the entire system to clear stuck processes
3. Update Meet to the latest version
4. Disable unnecessary features: background tasks and extensions
5. Reinstall the Google Meet desktop app if issues persist

Frequently Asked Questions

Is google-meet.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate google-meet.exe from Google is not a virus. However, always verify the file is located in C:\Program Files\Google\Meet\Meet.exe and has a valid digital signature from Google LLC.

Why is google-meet.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU can occur during active video meetings, screen sharing, or when background tasks are enabled. Identify the culprit in Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and close or disable it.

Can I delete google-meet.exe?

Yes, you can uninstall the Google Meet desktop app via Windows Settings → Apps. You can still join Meet from a browser if needed.

Can I disable google-meet.exe from starting with Windows?

Yes. Use Task Manager → Startup tab to disable Google Meet from launching at startup. This will not remove the app, just prevent automatic launches.

How do I fix audio/video issues in Google Meet Desktop?

Check microphone and camera permissions, ensure the device is selected in Meet settings, test hardware, update drivers, and consider toggling hardware acceleration in Settings → Performance.

Where is google-meet.exe located on my PC?

Typically in <code>C:\Program Files\Google\Meet\Meet.exe</code> or <code>C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Meet\Meet.exe</code>. If you find the file elsewhere, be cautious and scan with antivirus.