Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\JetBrains\CLion\bin\clion-telemetry.exe
Warning
Many processes normal
Telemetry-related subprocesses may operate in the background while CLion runs, each serving a part of data collection and reporting.
Can I Disable?
YES
Telemetry can be disabled from within CLion settings or by stopping the background telemetry service.
What is clion-telemetry.exe?
clion-telemetry.exe is the JetBrains CLion telemetry component responsible for collecting anonymous usage analytics, crash reports, and feature usage data to help improve the IDE. It runs as a background service to monitor how CLion is used and to transmit data to JetBrains servers when allowed by user preference.
The telemetry module collects non-identifying events like IDE actions, plugin interactions, and crash diagnostics. Data is aggregated and anonymized before transmission to JetBrains, with opt-out options available in the IDE settings.
Quick Fact: JetBrains introduced telemetry across its IDEs to drive product quality; you can disable data sharing per installation.
Types of CLion Telemetry Processes
- Launcher/IDE UI Process: Main CLion window and user interface
- Telemetry Collector: Gathers anonymous usage data for reporting
- Crash Reporter: Captures crash diagnostics and sends reports
- Plugin Telemetry: Collects telemetry from plugin interactions
- Indexer/Code Analysis: Indexes and analyzes code for telemetry signals
- Uploader Service: Transmits data to JetBrains telemetry endpoints
Is clion-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, clion-telemetry.exe is safe when it's the legitimate JetBrains file installed by CLion from JetBrains official distribution.
Is clion-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real clion-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself using similar names to trick users.
How to Tell if clion-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Program Files\JetBrains\CLion\bin\clion-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\JetBrains\CLion\bin\clion-telemetry.exe. Any clion-telemetry.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "JetBrains s.r.o." as the signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-5% CPU and 50-150 MB memory. Extremely high usage when CLion is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: CLion telemetry should only run while CLion is installed and running or as a background service if enabled. Unexpected persistent activity when CLion is not running indicates a problem.
Red Flags: If clion-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when CLion isn't open, has no valid signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files that mimic JetBrains components.
Why Is clion-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
clion-telemetry.exe runs as part of JetBrains CLion to collect usage data that helps improve performance, stability, and user experience. It may run when CLion is active or configured to operate in the background.
Reasons it's running:
- Active CLion Use: You're actively using CLion; telemetry collects events from editing, building, and navigation to improve features.
- Background Data Sharing: Data sharing may be enabled to collect anonymized usage metrics even when the IDE is minimized.
- Project Scanning: CLion indexes projects and analyzes code, triggering telemetry-related background tasks.
- Crash/Diagnostics Collection: When CLion experiences crashes or diagnostic events, telemetry may run to report issues.
- Update and Health Checks: Telemetry components may run during update checks or health diagnostics to report status.
Can I Disable or Remove clion-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable clion-telemetry.exe. You can turn off telemetry in CLion's settings and, if desired, remove the component by uninstalling CLion or using the JetBrains Toolbox.
How to Stop clion-telemetry.exe
- Disable Telemetry in CLion: In CLion, open Settings/Preferences (Ctrl+Alt+S) > Appearance & Behavior > Privacy/Data Sharing and turn off data sharing.
- Turn Off Background Telemetry: In Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Compiler or Data Sharing sections, disable background telemetry options if available.
- End Individual Telemetry Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find clion-telemetry.exe, and End Task.
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable CLion or related telemetry startup entries.
- Stop Background Apps at Closure: In CLion settings, disable the option 'Continue running background apps when CLion is closed' if present.
How to Uninstall CLion Telemetry/CLion
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> JetBrains CLion -> Uninstall
- ✔ If installed via JetBrains Toolbox, open Toolbox and uninstall CLion from the list
- ✔ Delete config and caches: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\JetBrains\CLion*, C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\JetBrains\CLion*
- ✔ Remove remaining telemetry data directories if present and restart your system to complete cleanup
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Performance or Privacy Issues
If clion-telemetry.exe is causing issues, review these common scenarios and recommended actions.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Excessive telemetry data due to large projects: Limit data sharing in CLion settings or exclude large projects from telemetry collection.
- Outdated CLion version with telemetry bug: Update CLion to the latest version via
- Firewall blocks outbound telemetry: Allow outbound connections to telemetry.jetbrains.com on port 443 in your firewall settings.
- Antivirus quarantines telemetry binaries: Add clion-telemetry.exe to the antivirus allowlist or exclusions.
- Telemetry opt-out not respected: Recheck Data Sharing settings after restart; verify that the opt-out is saved.
- Telemetry consumes disk space: Clear cache/logs from CLion data folders and ensure data-sharing is set to minimal collection.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open CLion Task Manager (if available) to identify high-usage telemetry-related tasks
2. Disable data sharing in Settings: Privacy/Data Sharing
3. Update CLion to the latest version
4. Add clion-telemetry.exe to antivirus/firewall exclusions
5. Restart CLion after changing telemetry settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is clion-telemetry.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate clion-telemetry.exe is a JetBrains component used by CLion for anonymous usage analytics and crash reporting. Verify its location at C:\Program Files\JetBrains\CLion\bin and that it is signed by JetBrains s.r.o.
Why is clion-telemetry.exe running on startup?
If CLion is configured to start with Windows or a startup task is enabled, the telemetry service may launch to collect data as soon as the IDE is opened or closed.
Can I disable clion-telemetry.exe without uninstalling CLion?
Yes. In CLion, go to Settings/Preferences > Appearance & Behavior > Privacy/Data Sharing and disable data sharing. You can also end the telemetry process in Task Manager as a temporary measure.
Where is CLion telemetry data stored and who sees it?
Telemetry data is anonymized and sent to JetBrains servers. Local copies are kept in the IDE's caches; the exact storage path varies by version and OS, typically under AppData or ProgramData paths.
How do I disable telemetry for a specific project?
Telemetry is generally configured per IDE installation rather than per project. Disable at the IDE level via Data Sharing settings, or wipe project analytics on request via CLion privacy controls.
Can I still use CLion if I disable telemetry?
Yes. Disabling telemetry only stops data collection; CLion will continue to function with your existing projects and settings. You may need to reconfigure privacy settings after updates.