When checking out the various processes in the Windows Task Manager, you may come across nvnodejslauncher.exe or NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher and wonder what it is. Is it safe, or is it a virus? In this post, we will see what NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher is and what you can do if it consumes high resources.
What is NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher or nvnodejslauncher.exe?
The nvnodejslauncher.exe, if located in the C:\Program Files\NVIDIA folder, is a legitimate executable file that belongs to NVIDIA’s software suite, specifically, the NVIDIA GeForce Experience, which is an application designed to optimize gaming performance, provide automatic driver updates, and offer game streaming services for NVIDIA graphics cards.
Node.js is a cross-platform, open-source JavaScript runtime environment that allows JavaScript code to run. So, NodeJS Launcher links GeForce Experience and Node.js to allow GeForce Experience to function. That is why whenever you open GeForce Experience, you will notice the nvnodejslauncher.exe process running in the background.
Is nvnodejslauncher.exe or NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher a virus?
Because of the mysterious nature of NodeJS Launcher, a lot of users mistake it for being a virus. In reality, it is a legitimate process and part of the NVIDIA GeForce Experience. You can go to Program Files > NVIDIA Corporation folder to find it.
However, it is crucial to be careful while dealing with files, especially if they have a similar name to known ones. There is a possibility that such files might be malicious and can harm your system. To ensure that nvnodejslauncher.exe is genuine, it is essential to check its digital signature and file location. For that, right-click on the process, click on Properties, and check the Software or Copyright section. It should say NVIDIA GeForce Experience. If you still have any doubts, do run your antivirus once.
Fix NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher High CPU usage and Application Error
If your NVIDIA NodeJS Launcher shows high CPU usage or throws an Application error, follow the solutions mentioned below.
- Update NVIDIA Driver
- Rollback NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
- Reinstall the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
Let us talk about them in detail.
1] Update NVIDIA Driver
First and foremost, we will try to get rid of the main villain that’s an outdated driver. If you have an outdated driver, your first responsibility should be to update it to the latest version to resolve these kinds of issues. To update the NVIDIA Graphics Driver, follow the steps mentioned below.
- Open the GeForce Experience app.
- Click on the Drivers tab.
- Download the latest version of the driver if it’s available.
- Once downloaded, click on Express Installation.
Alternatively, update NVIDIA Graphic Card Drivers using NV Updater for Windows. After updating your NVIDIA driver, reboot your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
Read: Best free Cloud Antivirus for Windows computers
2] Rollback NVIDIA Graphics Driver
If there is no new update available or you started experiencing this issue after updating our best bet is to roll back the driver to a previous version. To do the same, follow the steps mentioned below.
- Open Device Manager by digging it out of the Start Menu.
- Expand Display adapters, right-click on the NVIDIA driver, and select Properties.
- Then, go to the Drivers tab and select Roll Back Driver.
If it is grayed out, you have not updated your drivers recently, so, skip this solution.
3] Reinstall the NVIDIA Graphics Driver
In case, there is no update available and the Roll Back button is greyed out, you need to reinstall the NVIDIA Graphics Driver. So, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click on the NVIDIA driver, and select Uninstall device. Then go ahead and download the NVIDIA driver from their official website. This should do the job for you.
Hopefully, you can resolve the issue using the aforementioned solutions.
Read: Fix NVIDIA Container high Disk, GPU, Memory usage
What is Nvidia GeForce experience and do I need it?
NVIDIA GeForce Experience is an NVIDIA utility that comes preinstalled with computers having NVIDIA GPU. It allows the user to keep their drivers up-to-date, optimize their GPU for gaming, and use other features such as Overlay. Even though it is a preinstalled application, it’s not a must-have. However, since it streamlines the Graphics-management part, NVIDIA GeForce is recommended.
Read: NVIDIA Container stopped working on Windows.
How do I get GeForce Experience?
You can download GeForce Experience from nvidia.com. Just go to the mentioned URL and click on DOWNLOAD NOW. Once the file is downloaded, just run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install GeForce Experience.
Also Read: How to Fix NVIDIA GPU Error Code 45.
