NVIDIA Share.exe

NVIDIA ShadowPlay Recording and Streaming Service

Application Process Safe Graphics
CPU Usage
2-15%
Memory
50-150 MB
Location
Program Files
Publisher
NVIDIA

Quick Answer

NVIDIA Share.exe is safe. It's the ShadowPlay recording and streaming service that comes with GeForce Experience, allowing you to capture gameplay, take screenshots, and stream to platforms like Twitch.

Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in NVIDIA folder
Warning
Uses GPU encoder
May reduce gaming FPS by 5-10%
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
No recording/streaming features

What is NVIDIA Share.exe?

NVIDIA Share.exe is the process that powers NVIDIA's ShadowPlay recording and streaming features. It runs as part of GeForce Experience and allows gamers to capture gameplay footage, take screenshots, record highlights, and stream to platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

The process uses NVIDIA's NVENC hardware encoder built into GeForce GPUs to record gameplay with minimal performance impact. It can capture instant replays automatically in the background, allowing you to save the last 30 seconds to 20 minutes of gameplay at any time.

Quick Fact: ShadowPlay can record gameplay at up to 4K resolution at 130 Mbps using NVIDIA's dedicated hardware encoder, which has much less impact on gaming performance than software-based recorders like OBS.

Is NVIDIA Share.exe Safe?

Yes, NVIDIA Share.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from NVIDIA Corporation installed with GeForce Experience.

Is NVIDIA Share.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real NVIDIA Share.exe is NOT a virus. It's an official component of NVIDIA GeForce Experience, digitally signed by NVIDIA Corporation.

How to Tell if NVIDIA Share.exe is Legitimate or Malware

  1. File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA GeForce Experience\. Any NVIDIA Share.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
  2. Digital Signature: Should show "NVIDIA Corporation" as the verified publisher
  3. Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-15% CPU when recording, 50-150 MB RAM. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
  4. Behavior: Should only be active when GeForce Experience is running or when you're using ShadowPlay features

Red Flags: File in System32 or Temp folders, no digital signature from NVIDIA, high CPU usage when not recording, network activity to unknown servers, multiple instances running.

Why Is NVIDIA Share.exe Running on My PC?

NVIDIA Share.exe runs automatically because GeForce Experience is installed and the ShadowPlay overlay feature is enabled.

Reasons it's running:

Can I Disable or Remove NVIDIA Share.exe?

Yes, you can disable NVIDIA Share.exe. Disabling it will stop ShadowPlay recording features but won't affect your GPU's gaming performance or driver functionality.

What You'll Lose:

How to Disable NVIDIA Share

Disable Steps:
1. Open GeForce Experience
2. Click the Settings gear icon
3. Click "General" tab
4. Toggle OFF "In-Game Overlay"
5. NVIDIA Share.exe will stop running

Alternative: Prevent Auto-Start

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If NVIDIA Share.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Quick Fixes:
1. Press Alt+Z → Settings → Recordings → Lower quality to "High" instead of "Ultra"
2. Reduce instant replay buffer from 20 minutes to 5 minutes
3. Restart GeForce Experience service in Task Manager → Services tab

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NVIDIA Share.exe a virus?

No, NVIDIA Share.exe is not a virus. It's a legitimate component of NVIDIA GeForce Experience that powers ShadowPlay recording features. Verify it's located in C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\ and digitally signed by NVIDIA Corporation.

Why is NVIDIA Share.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU usage usually occurs when recording at high quality settings or when instant replay is constantly recording. Lower your recording quality, reduce the replay buffer length, or disable instant replay when not gaming to reduce CPU usage.

Can I delete NVIDIA Share.exe?

You shouldn't delete the file directly, but you can disable it through GeForce Experience settings by turning off the In-Game Overlay. If you don't need ShadowPlay features at all, you can uninstall GeForce Experience entirely while keeping your graphics drivers.

Can I disable NVIDIA Share.exe?

Yes, open GeForce Experience, click Settings, go to General tab, and toggle off "In-Game Overlay". This will stop NVIDIA Share.exe from running. Your GPU and games will work normally without it.

Why is NVIDIA Share.exe running at startup?

GeForce Experience is set to start automatically with Windows, which launches NVIDIA Share to enable instant replay and overlay features. You can disable auto-start in Task Manager's Startup tab or turn off the overlay in GeForce Experience settings.

Does NVIDIA Share reduce FPS in games?

NVIDIA Share uses the NVENC hardware encoder, which has minimal impact on FPS (typically 0-5% with instant replay, 5-10% when actively recording at high quality). It's much more efficient than software recorders, but disabling it can give a slight performance boost.

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