Quick Answer
brother-telemetry.exe is safe. It's Brother's official telemetry service used to collect device health, usage, and configuration data to improve printers and firmware updates.
What is brother-telemetry.exe?
brother-telemetry.exe is the Brother Telemetry Service that runs in the background to collect printer health, usage, and configuration data and report it to Brother servers for support and updates. It helps optimize device performance and provide proactive support.
The process gathers device model, firmware version, print counts, error logs, and usage metrics, then transmits encrypted data to Brother analytics servers at intervals. It runs as a lightweight background service to minimize impact on printing tasks.
Quick Fact: Brother Telemetry helps tailor printer support and firmware updates based on real-world usage and device health data.
Types of Brother Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Service: Background service collecting and sending device health data
- Update Checker: Checks for firmware and software updates for Brother devices
- Diagnostics Reporter: Gathers anonymized diagnostics when enabled by the user
Is brother-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, brother-telemetry.exe is safe when it is the legitimate Brother Telemetry Service installed from Brother official software.
Is brother-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real brother-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. Malware can imitate names, so verify location and signature.
How to Tell if brother-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\Brother\Telemetry\. Any brother-telemetry.exe elsewhere 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 0.5-2% CPU with 20-50 MB memory. Constant high usage outside expected activity warrants review.
- Behavior: Telemetry should run in the background with UI only when the Brother software is active. Continuous background activity with no Brother UI may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: If brother-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when Brother software isn't installed, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with antivirus software immediately. Be wary of similarly named files like "telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is brother-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
brother-telemetry.exe may run to monitor printer health, transmit usage data for support, or check for firmware updates. It can operate in the background even when the main UI is closed to ensure continuous monitoring.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Brother Software Use: Printer utility or management software is open, triggering telemetry to gather current device status.
- Background Telemetry: Telemetry runs in the background to periodically report health data and usage metrics.
- Startup Program: Brother Telemetry is configured to launch at Windows startup to ensure initial device monitoring.
- Firmware Update Checks: Telemetry initiates checks for available firmware updates and reports device state as part of the process.
- Diagnostics and Support: Telemetry may collect diagnostics to help Brother resolve issues more quickly when you contact support.
Can I Disable or Remove brother-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable brother-telemetry.exe. It is safe to stop telemetry if you prefer privacy, and you can uninstall Brother software if you no longer need it.
How to Stop brother-telemetry.exe
- End Telemetry via Brother Software: Open Brother Utilities or the printer software and turn off telemetry reporting.
- Close Brother Applications: Close the Control Center and any Brother printers utilities
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Brother Telemetry or Brother Utilities
- Stop Background Services: In Services (services.msc), locate Brother Telemetry Service and set Startup type to Disabled
- Uninstall Telemetry (Optional): If you do not want telemetry at all, uninstall the Brother software via Settings → Apps (Windows) or Control Panel → Programs and Features
How to Uninstall Brother Telemetry
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Brother Software (Telemetry components) → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Brother Software → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider clean reinstall of Brother software if issues persist
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Issues
If brother-telemetry.exe is causing problems, follow these causes and solutions to restore expected behavior.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Telemetry uses too much CPU in background: Limit transmissions by adjusting Telemetry settings in the Brother software or temporarily disable telemetry during heavy editing tasks
- Firewall or network blocks telemetry traffic: Allow outbound connections for Brother Telemetry in your firewall or security software
- Outdated Brother software: Update to the latest Brother software and drivers from the official site
- Conflicts with antivirus repeatedly scanning telemetry data: Add telemetry process to antivirus exceptions or temporarily disable scanning for the executable during troubleshooting
- Telemetry cache or config corruption: Clear telemetry cache or reset the telemetry configuration via Brother Utilities
- Telemetry not starting after Windows restart: Verify Startup entries and ensure the Telemetry Service is enabled; reboot if necessary
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Brother Utilities and disable telemetry temporarily to test impact
2. Restart Brother software and printers
3. Update Brother software to latest version
4. Ensure telemetry is allowed through Windows Firewall
5. If issues persist, reinstall Brother software
Frequently Asked Questions
Is brother-telemetry.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate brother-telemetry.exe is not a virus. Ensure the file is located in C:\Program Files\Brother\Telemetry\ and has a valid digital signature from Brother Industries, Ltd.
Why is brother-telemetry.exe running on my PC?
It runs to monitor printer health, report usage data, and check for firmware updates. It can operate in the background to ensure timely support and maintenance.
Can I disable brother-telemetry.exe?
Yes. You can disable telemetry in Brother Utilities or stop the service via Services or Task Manager. You can also uninstall Brother software if desired.
Where does telemetry data go and what is collected?
Telemetry sends encrypted device health, model, firmware version, error logs, and usage metrics to Brother servers to aid support and product improvement.
How do I uninstall Brother Telemetry without breaking printing?
Uninstall the Brother software from Windows Settings or Control Panel. Printer functionality may require the core driver; ensure you keep the printer driver if you remove telemetry.
Is telemetry optional during printer setup?
Telemetry collection is typically configurable during software installation. You can opt out of optional data collection in some setups, but enabling it may enhance support and updates.