Quick Answer
scilab.exe is safe. It is the official executable for SciLab, a scientific computing environment that runs the interpreter, plotting, and scripting within a dedicated process.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe
Warning
Only a few scilab.exe processes expected
If you see many scilab.exe processes, they may be worker threads or modules; use Task Manager to inspect
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close the SciLab GUI; disable startup in Task Manager > Startup; or uninstall if SciLab not needed
What is scilab.exe?
scilab.exe is the Windows executable for SciLab, a high-level numerical computation environment used for engineering, data analysis, and scientific visualization. The process hosts the interpreter, GUI, plotting, and script execution, and may spawn helper threads for responsive operation.
SciLab uses a modular architecture with a main scilab.exe process and worker threads for the interpreter, plotting, and GUI. It relies on Java-based components in older builds and communicates with SciLab libraries for numerical routines.
Quick Fact: SciLab began as an open-source alternative for numerical computation and visualization, with a modular design that separates computation from the GUI.
Types of Scilab Processes
- Main Process: Core interpreter and user interface (scilab.exe)
- Plotting Engine: Graphics generation and figure handling
- Console/Interpreter Thread: Interactive command execution and scripting
- Workspace Loader: Loads and manages workspace data and variables
- Solver/Library Worker: External solver or numerical libraries loaded on demand
- GUI Helpers: Background GUI components and event handlers
Is scilab.exe Safe?
Yes, scilab.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Scilab Enterprises downloaded from official sources (scilab.org or bundled by a trusted distributor).
Is scilab.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real scilab.exe is NOT a virus when located in a proper Scilab installation. Malware may mimic names; verify source and signature.
How to Tell if scilab.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer or Task Manager > Open file location > Right-click scilab.exe > Properties > Digital Signatures. Should show "Scilab Enterprises".
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 2-20% CPU per core when idle, 100-800 MB total memory during typical work. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Scilab should run when you start the application. If you see scilab.exe running without launching the GUI, investigate for tampering.
Red Flags: If scilab.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when you haven't launched Scilab, has no digital signature, or uses resources constantly, scan with antivirus. Look for similarly named files from untrusted sources.
Why Is scilab.exe Running on My PC?
scilab.exe runs when you start SciLab or when SciLab is configured to run background tasks, plots, or scripting sessions.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Scilab Session: You're actively using SciLab—interpreter, plotting, or script execution keeps the process alive.
- Background Plotting: SciLab may maintain a plotting server for figures while you work on data visualization.
- Workspace and Script Tasks: Background tasks such as loading workspaces, evaluating scripts, or running simulations keep scilab.exe active.
- Startup Programs: SciLab can be configured to launch at Windows startup or during system login.
- Automation Tools: External automation or batch scripts invoking SciLab (via scilab-cli) will start scilab.exe in the background.
Can I Disable or Remove scilab.exe?
Yes, you can disable scilab.exe. You can exit SciLab when not in use and uninstall Scilab if you no longer need it.
How to Stop scilab.exe
- Exit SciLab GUI: Close the SciLab window or use File > Exit to terminate the process.
- End Background Tasks: Check Task Manager for scilab.exe and end the process if needed.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable SciLab entry
- Stop Background Services: In SciLab settings, disable any background plotting or auto-run features.
- Uninstall: Windows Settings > Apps > SciLab > Uninstall; use the installer to remove leftover files.
How to Uninstall Scilab
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → SciLab → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → SciLab → Uninstall
- ✔ Remove residual directories: C:\Program Files\scilab-6.1.2 and C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\scilab if needed
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If scilab.exe is consuming excessive resources during heavy computations or plotting:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Large-scale computations: Break tasks into smaller batches or increase memory limits within Scilab; consider using parallel computing features if available.
- Extensive plotting: Close unnecessary figures; reuse figures; reduce simultaneous plots to minimize memory usage.
- Inefficient scripts: Profile scripts to identify bottlenecks; optimize loops and avoid unnecessary global variable usage.
- Background processes: Disable background plotting and auto-run scripts in preferences; exit SciLab when not needed.
- Outdated software: Update SciLab to the latest version from scilab.org and install all patches.
- Insufficient memory: Upgrade RAM or close other memory-heavy applications; allocate swap space if necessary.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open the SciLab console and identify the most memory-intensive operations.
2. Close unnecessary figures and clear the workspace variables you don't need.
3. Update SciLab to the latest version from scilab.org.
4. Limit the number of simultaneously loaded datasets and plots.
5. Restart SciLab to reclaim memory and reset caches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is scilab.exe?
scilab.exe is the legitimate Windows executable for SciLab, the open-source numerical computation environment. It should reside in the official installation path and be signed by Scilab Enterprises.
Is scilab.exe a virus?
No, when located in the proper installation folder such as C:\Program Files\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe and properly signed by Scilab Enterprises.
Why is scilab.exe using so much CPU?
Heavy computations, large data sets, or plotting tasks can drive CPU usage up. Use the SciLab task manager or inspect running scripts to identify the culprit.
Can I disable scilab.exe?
Yes. Exit SciLab, disable startup in Task Manager, or uninstall SciLab if you no longer need it.
Where is scilab.exe located on Windows?
Common locations include C:\Program Files\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\scilab-6.1.2\scilab.exe depending on the installation.
How do I uninstall SciLab?
Use Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → SciLab → Uninstall or Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → SciLab → Uninstall. Remove leftover folders if needed.