Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus\avast-telemetry.exe
Warning
Telemetry runs in the background
Avast telemetry may spawn multiple background tasks to collect and upload anonymized data
Can I Disable?
YES
You can disable telemetry from Avast UI: Settings > Privacy > Telemetry, or stop the service via Windows Services
What is avast-telemetry.exe?
avast-telemetry.exe is Avast's telemetry client that runs in the background to collect anonymized usage data, diagnostic information, and product feedback to help improve the antivirus suite. It operates continuously, reporting events such as feature usage, performance metrics, and crash data, while respecting your privacy settings and consent choices as configured in Avast.
It runs as a background service or scheduled task, communicates with Avast servers over encrypted channels, and is designed to minimize impact on system performance. It uses lightweight data collection and respects user opt-out options in the Avast UI.
Quick Fact: Avast Telemetry is designed to be privacy-conscious, collecting only anonymized data unless you opt in for more detailed diagnostics.
Types of Avast Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Client Service: Core background service that collects telemetry data and interacts with Avast components
- Data Uploader Service: Uploads anonymized data to Avast servers for analysis
- Diagnostic Agent: Gathers crash reports and diagnostic information when issues occur
- Scheduler Task: Scheduled tasks to perform periodic health checks and data uploads
- Update Helper: Checks for telemetry-related updates and configuration changes
- UI Telemetry: Gathers lightweight usage metrics from the Avast user interface
Is avast-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, avast-telemetry.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Avast downloaded from official sources (avast.com or Avast Update).
Is avast-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real avast-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if avast-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus\avast-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus\avast-telemetry.exe. Any avast-telemetry.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click avast-telemetry.exe -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show 'AVAST Software s.r.o.'
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-5% CPU and 20-60 MB memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Avast telemetry should run as part of the Avast suite and not launch without Avast being installed.
Red Flags: If avast-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or System32), runs when Avast isn't installed, has no digital signature, or uses persistent high resources, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly named files such as "avast-telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is avast-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
avast-telemetry.exe runs to collect and report telemetry data that helps Avast improve protection, performance, and user experience. It may operate even when you are not actively using Avast, depending on your privacy settings.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Avast Installation: If Avast is installed, telemetry runs to monitor protection status and collect anonymized usage data
- Background Data Sync: Telemetry participates in background synchronization of settings, feature usage, and crash reports
- Startup and Maintenance: Telemetry tasks may run at Windows startup to ensure timely updates and health checks
- Diagnostics and Crash Reporting: When issues occur, telemetry captures crash data to help developers fix bugs
- Privacy and Consent: Data collection respects user choices configured in Avast Privacy settings and opt-outs
Can I Disable or Remove avast-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable avast-telemetry.exe. You can pause or limit telemetry via Avast settings, or uninstall Avast entirely if you prefer not to use its telemetry features.
How to Stop avast-telemetry.exe
- Open Avast UI: Launch the Avast user interface from the Start menu
- Access Privacy Settings: Go to Settings > Privacy > Telemetry
- Turn Off Telemetry: Disable sharing of anonymous data or diagnostic information
- Disable Startup: In Windows Task Manager > Startup tab, disable Avast Telemetry if present
- Stop Background Apps: In Avast, ensure 'Continue running background apps when Avast is closed' is turned off
How to Uninstall Avast Telemetry
- ✔ Windows Settings f Apps f Apps & Features f Avast Antivirus f Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel f Programs f Uninstall a program f Avast Antivirus f Uninstall
- ✔ Follow prompts to remove Avast Antivirus entirely
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Performance
If avast-telemetry.exe affects system performance or network usage, use these checks to diagnose and mitigate issues.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Much Data Being Collected: Review privacy settings in Avast to reduce telemetry scope and disable nonessential data sharing
- High Network Activity: Ensure a stable network, limit background data usage, and check firewall rules allowing Avast telemetry
- Outdated Avast Version: Update Avast to the latest version to benefit from performance fixes (Go to Avast > Settings > Update)
- Conflicting Security Tools: Disable other security tools that may interfere with Avast telemetry communication
- Telemetry Service Stuck: Restart Avast services or reboot the system to reinitialize telemetry tasks
- Insufficient System Resources: Close unnecessary applications to free CPU/memory resources; consider increasing RAM if needed
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Avast UI and verify Telemetry settings are as desired
2. Restart Avast or reboot the computer
3. Update Avast to the latest version
4. Check Task Manager for avast-telemetry.exe processes and end unnecessary ones
5. Temporarily disable Telemetry to confirm impact on performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is avast-telemetry.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate avast-telemetry.exe is part of Avast Antivirus and handles telemetry. Verify the path is in C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus and that the digital signature shows AVAST Software s.r.o.
Why is avast-telemetry.exe using CPU?
Telemetry activity can spike CPU during data collection or uploads. Check Avast UI for telemetry activity, adjust privacy settings, or temporarily pause telemetry to see if usage drops.
Can I delete avast-telemetry.exe?
You should not delete the file individually. Telemetry is part of Avast. To remove it, uninstall Avast Antivirus from Windows Settings and consider alternative security software.
Can I disable avast-telemetry.exe?
Yes. Use Avast Settings > Privacy > Telemetry to reduce data sharing or disable it entirely. You can also disable startup and stop background tasks via Windows Task Manager.
Why is telemetry running after I turned it off?
Some Avast components may restart telemetry tasks after updates. Ensure you disable all telemetry options after updating and restart the system.
Where is avast-telemetry.exe located?
Typically in C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus\avast-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\AVAST Software\Avast Antivirus\avast-telemetry.exe. If found elsewhere, treat with caution.