Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Located in Discord's app data folder (e.g., C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Discord\app-1.0.9001\DiscordTelemetry.exe)
Warning
Telemetry appears as multiple background tasks
Discord runs several background processes for telemetry, diagnostics, and syncing; this is expected behavior.
Can I Disable?
YES
Reduce data collection via Discord Settings > Privacy & Safety > Data Collection, if available; full disable may vary by build.
What is DiscordTelemetry.exe?
discord-telemetry-exe is a lightweight background processor within the Discord desktop client that collects anonymous usage data, performance metrics, and crash reports. It helps developers diagnose issues, track feature usage, and improve reliability and user experience across supported platforms.
Discord uses a multi-process architecture; discord-telemetry-exe operates as a separate background process to gather metrics, error data, and anonymized telemetry, sending it to Discord servers for analysis while minimizing impact on the main user interface.
Quick Fact: Telemetry helps improve app stability and performance by logging crashes, latency, and feature usage patterns, all while attempting to anonymize personal data.
Types of Discord Processes
- Telemetry Processor: Gathers usage metrics, crash reports, and performance data
- Crash Reporter: Collects crash dumps and sends them to Discord
- Background Sync Service: Synchronizes settings and data with the cloud in the background
- Update Manager: Checks for updates to Discord components including telemetry
- Telemetry Gatekeeper: Controls data collection toggles and privacy checks
Is discord-telemetry-exe Safe?
Yes, discord-telemetry-exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Discord downloaded from official sources (discord.com or the official app).
Is discord-telemetry-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real discord-telemetry-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names; verify signatures and paths.
How to Tell if discord-telemetry-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Discord\app-1.0.9001\DiscordTelemetry.exe or a similar app- folder. Any DiscordTelemetry.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show "Discord Inc."
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is about 0.5-6% CPU and 10-70 MB RAM. Constant high resource usage without Discord running is suspicious.
- Behavior: DiscordTelemetry.exe should run only with Discord. If it runs when Discord is not installed or active, investigate.
Red Flags: If discord-telemetry-exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Discord isn't open, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software immediately. Beware of similarly-named files like "DiscordTelemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is discordTelemetry.exe Running on My PC?
discordTelemetry.exe runs when Discord is active or when its telemetry services are configured to operate in the background.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Discord Usage: You're actively using Discord; telemetry runs to collect performance data and feature usage.
- Background Telemetry: Telemetry collects crash reports, diagnostics, and anonymized usage data while the app runs in the background.
- Startup Launch: Discord may be configured to start with Windows; telemetry starts as part of the Discord process.
- Crash Reporting: If Discord experiences a crash, telemetry may generate crash dumps for analysis.
- Data Sync: Telemetry may participate in diagnostic data syncing across devices for a consistent experience.
Can I Disable or Remove discord-telemetry-exe?
Yes, you can limit telemetry. You can reduce data collection via Discord settings where available, and you can disable background telemetry by adjusting privacy-related options or by closing Discord when not in use.
How to Stop discordTelemetry.exe
- Close Discord: Quit the Discord app to stop telemetry activity temporarily.
- Exit All Discord Processes: End the Discord processes from Task Manager if necessary.
- Disable Startup: Windows Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Discord.
- Adjust Privacy: In Discord settings, limit data collection or telemetry options if available.
- Reinstall or Change Client: Reinstall Discord or switch to a build with stricter telemetry controls if needed.
How to Uninstall Discord
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> Apps & Features -> Discord -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> Discord -> Uninstall
- ✔ Consider using a different client (e.g., other builds) if telemetry concerns persist
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If discord-telemetry-exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Frequent Diagnostics: Ensure Discord is up to date and disable optional telemetry in Privacy settings if available; restart the app.
- Background Synchronization: Limit or disable periodic data sync in Discord settings; reduce activity by closing other Discord tasks.
- Crash Reporting: Upload or review crash reports after updating; ensure system stability.
- Outdated Build: Update Discord to the latest version via the built-in updater.
- Malware Impersonation: Run a full antivirus scan and verify the file path and digital signatures.
- Network-Intensive Telemetry: If on slow networks, telemetry can appear to stall; ensure network stability and limit background tasks.
Quick Fixes:
1. Restart Discord to reset telemetry sessions
2. Update Discord to the latest version
3. Check Privacy & Safety settings for telemetry options
4. Run a malware scan to rule out spoofed files
5. Close unused Discord tabs and background tasks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is discord-telemetry-exe safe?
Yes, when located in the official Discord app folder (for example: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Discord\app-1.0.9001\DiscordTelemetry.exe) and signed by Discord Inc. It collects anonymized telemetry to help improve the app.
What data does discord-telemetry-exe collect?
It collects anonymous usage statistics, performance metrics, and crash reports intended to help developers diagnose issues and improve stability.
Can I disable discord-telemetry-exe?
You can disable or limit telemetry through Discord settings where available, or by closing Discord when not in use. Some builds may require alternate privacy configurations.
Where is discord-telemetry-exe located on Windows?
Common locations include C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Discord\app-<version>\DiscordTelemetry.exe within the Discord installation folder.
Will disabling telemetry affect my Discord experience?
Disabling telemetry may limit diagnostics and some quality-of-service improvements, but the core chat and call features should remain functional.
Is telemetry mandatory for Discord?
Telemetry is generally optional or configurable, but some builds may enable limited data collection by default to improve reliability.