Quick Answer
BrotherService.exe is safe. It's the legitimate Brother Printer Service that manages driver communication, job queuing, and status updates for Brother printers.
What is BrotherService.exe?
BrotherService.exe is the Windows background service responsible for coordinating Brother printer software. It starts with Windows and handles driver communication, job processing, and status updates between your PC and Brother hardware.
The service uses a lightweight, multi-threaded model to manage print jobs, status polling, and driver events. It communicates with the Windows spooler and network printers, keeping queues in sync and enabling reliable print operations.
Quick Fact: Brother introduced modular printer software architecture to streamline driver communication and background tasks across its printer lines.
Types of BrotherService Processes
- Service Process: Main Windows service for Brother printers (1 instance)
- Driver Helper: Handles communication with printer drivers
- Status Monitor: Monitors printer status and queues
- Firmware Update: Checks and applies firmware updates
- UI Companion: Support processes for the Control Center UI
- Background Tasks: Background maintenance tasks
Is BrotherService.exe Safe?
Yes, BrotherService.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Brother Industries, signed and installed from official Brother software.
Is BrotherService.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real BrotherService.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names, so verify the path and signature.
How to Tell if BrotherService.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Brother\PrinterService\BrotherService.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\PrinterService\BrotherService.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show 'Brother Industries, Ltd.' as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 0-5% CPU and 40-120 MB memory. Constant high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: Should run as a Windows service with a service name like 'Brother Printer Service'. If it runs as a user process outside Services, rootkit suspicion increases.
Red Flags: If BrotherService.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, or System32), runs when you aren't printing, lacks a digital signature, or uses resources constantly, scan with reputable antivirus. Look for similarly named files.
Why Is BrotherService.exe Running on My PC?
BrotherService.exe runs to support active printing tasks, monitor printer status, and enable background functionality for Brother devices.
Reasons it's running:
- Active print jobs: A print job is being processed; the service manages the queue and communicates with the printer
- Background printer status monitoring: The service polls printer status and notifies of errors or low ink
- Startup and auto-launch: Windows is configured to start Brother software on boot
- Driver and firmware events: Driver events and firmware check tasks trigger the service to keep devices up-to-date
- Control Center and UI integration: The service supports the Brother Control Center UI for settings
Can I Disable or Remove BrotherService.exe?
Yes, you can disable BrotherService.exe. Stopping the service will pause printing. You can uninstall Brother software if you don't need it.
How to Stop BrotherService.exe
- Stop via Services: Open Services (services.msc), find 'Brother Printer Service' or similar, right-click Stop
- Stop via Task Manager: Open Task Manager, switch to Details tab, find BrotherService.exe, End Task
- Disable startup: In Services, set Startup type to Disabled for the Brother service
- Prevent background operation: In Brother software settings, disable 'Start on Windows startup' and 'run in background'
- Test printing: Try a print job to verify service is stopped
How to Uninstall Brother Software
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & features -> Brother software -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Brother software -> Uninstall
- ✔ Restart the computer after uninstall
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If BrotherService.exe is consuming excessive resources or causing issues:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Active print queue with large jobs: Pause or cancel queued jobs and restart the service
- Outdated drivers: Update drivers from Brother Support site or via Control Center
- Driver conflicts with Windows spooler: Restart spooler service and re-add Brother printers
- Corrupted service files: Reinstall Brother software to repair service files
- Background tasks misbehaving: Disable nonessential background tasks and update firmware if available
- Malware masquerading as BrotherService.exe: Scan with antivirus, verify signer and path (see verification steps)
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Services and restart the Brother service
2. Update drivers from Brother Support
3. Clear print queue and check for stuck jobs
4. Run a malware scan
5. Reinstall Brother software if issues persist
Frequently Asked Questions
Is brother-service.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate BrotherService.exe from Brother Industries is not a virus. Ensure the path is in C:\Program Files\Brother\PrinterService and that the binary is signed by Brother Industries, Ltd.
Why is brother-service.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can occur during heavy print jobs or firmware checks. Check the print queue, update drivers, and monitor for malicious extensions or malware if usage remains high when idle.
Can I delete brother-service.exe?
If you no longer need Brother printers, you can uninstall the Brother software via Settings > Apps. Deleting the file manually may leave other components inoperable.
Can I disable brother-service.exe at startup?
Yes, you can disable startup via Services (set to Disabled) or in the software's settings to prevent automatic launch.
Why is it starting at Windows startup?
The Brother software is configured to launch on startup to provide printer readiness and driver services as soon as Windows boots.
How do I reduce BrotherService.exe memory usage?
Close unnecessary print jobs, update drivers, and consider turning off background checks or firmware updates via the software settings.