Quick Answer
loom-desktop.exe is safe. It's Loom's official desktop recorder used to capture screen, window, or camera and share videos. It uses multiple processes to separate recording, UI, and background tasks for stability.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Loom\loom-desktop.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Loom\loom-desktop.exe
Warning
Many loom-desktop.exe processes possible
Loom uses separate processes for recording engine, UI, and background tasks
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close Loom when not recording or disable startup to stop automatic launches
What is loom-desktop.exe?
loom-desktop.exe is the executable for Loom's desktop recording application. It lets you capture your screen, an application window, or your webcam and quickly share the result via Loom. Loom employs multiple processes to separate the capture engine, the user interface, and background tasks for stability and privacy.
Loom Desktop uses a multi-process architecture to isolate the capture engine from the UI. The recording service handles video/audio capture and cloud uploads; the UI renders controls; background tasks manage sync and telemetry.
Quick Fact: Loom popularized desktop screen recording; its multi-process setup helps maintain responsiveness when recording.
Types of Loom Processes
- Launcher/Browser Process: Initial UI and application bootstrap (1 instance)
- Renderer Process: UI panels and previews (multiple instances)
- Recorder Process: Actual screen/window/camera capture
- Background Service: Uploads, sync, and telemetry
- Helper/Tray Process: System tray icon and quick actions
- Updater Process: App updates and maintenance tasks
Is loom-desktop.exe Safe?
Yes, loom-desktop.exe is safe when obtained from loom.com/download or the official app store. It should reside in C:\Program Files\Loom\ and be digitally signed by Loom, Inc.
Is loom-desktop.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real loom-desktop.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with a similar name. Always verify location and signature.
How to Tell if loom-desktop.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Loom\loom-desktop.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Loom\loom-desktop.exe. Any loom-desktop.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from Loom, Inc. or Loom LLC.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU during recording, 100-400 MB memory. Constant 100% CPU is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Loom should run when recording or installing; if it auto-launches at startup with no user action, inspect startup items and malware risk.
Red Flags: loom-desktop.exe located outside the Loom install path (e.g., Temp or AppData), runs on startup without user action, lacks a valid digital signature, or uses abnormally high CPU/memory continuously.
Why Is loom-desktop.exe Running on My PC?
loom-desktop.exe runs when you actively record, use Loom's in-app features, or when Loom is configured to run in the background for quick recording.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Recording Use: You're recording your screen, window, or camera; the recorder process stays active to capture frames and audio.
- Background Sync and Upload: Loom uploads recordings to the cloud and processes thumbnails in the background, keeping your library up to date.
- Startup and Sign-in: Loom is configured to launch on system startup or to restore a previous session for immediate recording after login.
- System Tray and Hotkeys: Global hotkeys or the tray icon keep Loom ready; the tray process may run even when the main window is closed.
- Background Maintenance Tasks: Updates, analytics, and maintenance tasks run in the background to ensure recordings render and upload correctly.
Can I Disable or Remove loom-desktop.exe?
Yes, you can disable loom-desktop.exe. It's safe to close Loom when not recording, and you can uninstall Loom if you prefer a different recorder.
How to Stop loom-desktop.exe
- Quit from the system tray: Right-click the Loom tray icon and choose Quit or Exit.
- Close the Loom window: Close the Loom main window to minimize background activity.
- End Loom processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate loom-desktop.exe and loom-service.exe, right-click → End Task.
- Disable startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Loom; or in Loom Settings → General → Launch on startup, toggle off.
- Stop background apps: Loom Settings → General → Disable 'Continue running background apps when Loom is closed'.
How to Uninstall Loom
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Loom → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Loom → Uninstall
- ✔ After uninstall, remove residual data in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Loom and %APPDATA%\Loom if present
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If loom-desktop.exe is consuming excessive resources during recording or idle time:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active Recording of high-resolution content: Reduce capture area or frame rate, or stop recording a long session; consider lowering resolution in Loom settings.
- Background Uploads: Pause or delay uploads from Loom Settings during heavy editing or recording.
- Outdated Loom version: Update Loom to the latest version via Loom Settings → Help → Check for updates.
- Hardware acceleration issues: Disable hardware acceleration: Loom Settings → Advanced → Hardware acceleration, restart Loom.
- Conflicting extensions or apps: Temporarily disable other recording tools or overlays that may compete for resources.
- Insufficient RAM or background processes: Close other apps; add more RAM or free disk space; consider using the Memory Saver in Loom if available.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Use Loom Tray menu to quit Loom when not recording
3. Pause background uploads in Loom settings during heavy work
4. Update Loom to the latest version
5. Lower capture resolution or frame rate in Loom settings
6. Restart Loom after changing settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loom-desktop.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate loom-desktop.exe from Loom, Inc. is not a virus. Verify the file is located in C:\Program Files\Loom\ and has a valid digital signature from Loom, Inc.
Why is loom-desktop.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can occur when recording high-resolution content, many overlays, or during encoding. Use Loom Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc in Loom) to identify culprits and adjust settings or close apps.
Can I delete loom-desktop.exe?
Yes, uninstall Loom if you no longer need it. Your recordings may be stored locally unless you use cloud storage.
Can I disable loom-desktop.exe?
Yes, you can quit Loom or disable startup to prevent automatic launching. You can also disable background behavior in Loom settings.
Why does Loom start on startup?
Loom can be configured to launch on system startup to be ready for quick recording. Disable in Task Manager → Startup or in Loom Settings → General.
How do I reduce Loom's memory usage?
Close unused recording sources, reduce capture resolution, disable unnecessary overlays, and update to the latest Loom version with fixes for memory leaks.