BrotherTelemetry.exe

Brother Telemetry Service

Application ProcessSafePrinter/Device Telemetry
CPU Usage
1-8%
Memory
50-200 MB
Location
Program Files\Brother
Publisher
Brother Industries, Ltd.

Quick Answer

BrotherTelemetry.exe is safe. It's Brother's official telemetry service that runs to collect device status data to improve printer drivers and user experience. It operates in the background with low resource impact.

Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe
Warning
Many processes normal
Telemetry runs as a background service; multiple related processes may appear during printer activity
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can disable via Brother software settings or Windows startup; this will stop background reporting

What is BrotherTelemetry.exe?

BrotherTelemetry.exe is the executable for Brother Telemetry, a background service bundled with Brother printer software. It runs to collect device status, usage metrics, and error data to help support and driver updates. It typically starts with Windows or Brother software and uses minimal resources.

This component uses a lightweight, privacy-respecting protocol to report anonymized printer health data to Brother servers. It enables proactive diagnostics and firmware recommendations while preserving user privacy and not affecting core printing tasks.

Quick Fact: Brother Telemetry was designed to aid remote diagnostics and driver improvements without interrupting printing tasks.

Types of Brother Telemetry Processes

Is brothertelemetry.exe Safe?

Yes, brothertelemetry.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from Brother Industries, located in the official install directories and signed by Brother Industries, Ltd.

Is brothertelemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?

The legitimate brothertelemetry.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if brothertelemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware

  1. File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
  2. Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signature from "Brother Industries, Ltd.".
  3. Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 1-8% CPU and 50-200 MB memory. Constant high usage or spikes when printers are idle is suspicious.
  4. Behavior:: Telemetry should run when Brother software is active or Windows starts with the Brother suite; persistent activity without software is suspicious.

Red Flags: If brothertelemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Roaming, System32), runs when no Brother software is active, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.

Why Is BrotherTelemetry.exe Running on My PC?

BrotherTelemetry.exe runs to collect printer status, diagnostics data, and usage metrics to help with remote support, driver optimization, and firmware recommendations. It may start with Windows or when Brother software initializes a printer connection.

Reasons it's running:

Can I Disable or Remove BrotherTelemetry.exe?

Yes, you can disable BrotherTelemetry.exe. It is safe to disable if you do not want telemetry data sent, and you can remove the Brother software if you prefer a different printer experience.

How to Stop BrotherTelemetry.exe

How to Uninstall Brother Telemetry

Common Problems: Telemetry High CPU/Memory or Network Activity

If BrotherTelemetry.exe is consuming excessive resources or causing issues:

Common Causes & Solutions

Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Brother Telemetry settings in the Brother software and disable nonessential reports
3. Update Brother software to the latest version
4. Restart the Brother Telemetry service via Services.msc
5. Check for malware by scanning the system with a trusted AV
6. Uninstall or re-install Brother software if issues persist

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BrotherTelemetry.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate BrotherTelemetry.exe is not a virus. Ensure it is located in C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe and has a valid digital signature from Brother Industries, Ltd.

Why is BrotherTelemetry.exe running on startup?

It may start with Windows to monitor connected Brother printers and to provide timely updates or alerts. You can disable it from the Task Manager Startup tab if you don’t want it running at startup.

How do I disable BrotherTelemetry.exe?

Open Brother software settings and disable telemetry reporting, or use Task Manager to end the process and disable startup. Uninstalling the Brother software is another option if you don’t need telemetry at all.

Where is BrotherTelemetry.exe located?

Common locations are C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\Telemetry\BrotherTelemetry.exe. If you find it elsewhere, verify the digital signature and publisher.

Can I uninstall Brother Telemetry without losing printing capability?

Yes, you can uninstall the telemetry component or the entire Brother software package. Printing functionality generally remains, but you may lose certain driver updates and remote diagnostics features.

Does BrotherTelemetry affect printer performance?

When enabled, telemetry has a minimal resource footprint. If you notice performance issues, consider disabling telemetry or updating to the latest Brother software.

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