shadowplay.exe

What is shadowplay.exe?

shadowplay.exe is the NVIDIA ShadowPlay recording component bundled with GeForce Experience. It coordinates the in-game overlay, instant replay, and screen capture using GPU-accelerated encoding. When active, it manages hooks into running titles, routes video data to your chosen destination, and updates overlay UI.

ShadowPlay uses the NVENC/NVDEC pipeline through GeForce Experience to perform GPU-accelerated capture while minimizing CPU load. It integrates with the overlay and hotkeys to start, stop, and stream or save gameplay footage.

Types of ShadowPlay Processes

• Overlay and Capture: Coordinates in-game overlay, instant replay, and recording workflow
• Encoding Process: NVENC hardware-accelerated encoder for video streams and recordings
• Background Services: GeForce Experience components that maintain readiness for capture
• UI/Control: User interface elements and hotkey handlers for recording controls

Is shadowplay.exe Safe?

Yes, shadowplay.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from NVIDIA downloaded from official sources (nvidia.com/geforce-experience) or pre-installed by the system manufacturer.

Is shadowplay.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real shadowplay.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Always verify the file path and digital signature.

How to Tell if shadowplay.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\GeForce Experience\ShadowPlay\shadowplay.exe or C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\ShadowPlay\shadowplay.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature: Right-click shadowplay.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show 'NVIDIA Corporation' as the signer.
3. Resource Usage: Normal recording use shows NVENC-accelerated encoding with moderate CPU/GPU load; unusual activity outside recording is suspicious.
4. Behavior: ShadowPlay should not run without GeForce Experience/overlay activation. Persistent background execution without UI may indicate malware.

Why Is shadowplay.exe Running on My PC?

shadowplay.exe runs when GeForce Experience overlays are active or when you start a recording, streaming, or instant replay session with ShadowPlay enabled.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Gameplay Recording: You are actively recording or preparing to record; each session uses NVENC and may spawn a dedicated process.
• In-Game Overlay Enabled: The GeForce Experience overlay is enabled to provide screenshots, recording controls, and stream functionality.
• Background ShadowPlay Modules: Background components keep ShadowPlay ready to capture on hotkeys even when the main UI is hidden.
• Startup or Auto-Launch: GeForce Experience may start shadowplay.exe at Windows boot to ensure quick capture availability.
• Driver/Software Updates: NVIDIA driver or GeForce Experience updates may trigger shadowplay.exe to run to apply new encoding pipelines.

Can I Disable or Remove shadowplay.exe?

Yes, you can disable shadowplay.exe. It's safe to close ShadowPlay when not in use, and you can disable it or uninstall GeForce Experience if you prefer a different setup.

How to Stop shadowplay.exe

• Turn Off Overlay: Open GeForce Experience → Settings → In-Game Overlay and toggle Off
• Disable Recording Shortcuts: In-GeForce Experience, adjust or remove hotkeys for Instant Replay or Record
• End ShadowPlay Process: Open Task Manager, find shadowplay.exe, and End Task
• Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable GeForce Experience to stop auto-launch of shadowplay components
• Stop Background Apps: Within GeForce Experience, ensure 'Continue running background apps when Closed' is disabled

How to Uninstall GeForce Experience (and ShadowPlay)

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → GeForce Experience → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → NVIDIA GeForce Experience → Uninstall
• ✔ Optionally uninstall related NVIDIA graphics drivers only if you plan to switch to a different suite (keep GPU drivers if needed)

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If shadowplay.exe and the GeForce Experience overlay are using excessive resources, try the following steps to stabilize recording and reduce overhead.

Common Causes & Solutions

• Many active recording sessions or overlays: Close unnecessary recordings and disable Instant Replay when not needed; keep overlays limited to essential tasks
• Outdated GeForce Experience or GPU drivers: Update GeForce Experience and GPU drivers to the latest version
• NVENC encoding settings: Adjust NVENC preset in GeForce Experience to a balance between quality and performance (e.g., switch to Quality or Performance as appropriate)
• Conflicting software overlays: Disable other screen recording or overlay tools to avoid conflicts
• Background recording not paused on demand: Explicitly pause/stop Instant Replay and ensure overlay hotkeys are correctly mapped
• Hardware acceleration issues: Update or roll back GPU drivers, and consider disabling hardware acceleration where conflicts occur

Related Processes