Quick Answer
hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is safe. It's a low‑impact OEM telemetry agent that monitors hardware sensors and reports anonymous data to help optimize drivers, cooling, and performance.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located in C:\Program Files\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe.exe
Warning
Many telemetry components can appear as separate processes
Each sensor group or data stream may run in its own process; this is normal for OEM telemetry
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
You can pause or disable telemetry via OEM software settings or Windows startup/Services controls
What is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe?
hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is a background agent installed by the device OEM to collect hardware sensor data. It monitors temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, and system health, then transmits anonymous telemetry to the vendor for analytics and optimization. It runs quietly in the background.
The telemetry agent runs as a small background service that reads sensors from OEM drivers, samples data at intervals, and reports results to vendor servers for analytics and optimization. It typically maintains low CPU usage and minimal impact on performance.
Quick Fact: OEM telemetry agents like this enable proactive cooling, driver optimization, and hardware health monitoring without user intervention.
Types of Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Service: Core service collecting and transmitting hardware telemetry
- Sensor Collector: Reads sensor data from OEM drivers for various components
- Data Uploader: Uploads anonymized telemetry to vendor servers
- Health Checker: Performs periodic health checks and status reporting
- Event Logger: Logs telemetry events to local files for diagnostics
Is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe Safe?
Yes, hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is safe when it's the legitimate OEM binary installed by the device manufacturer or from official OEM software sources.
Is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe a Virus or Malware?
The real hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade under similar names to mislead users.
How to Tell if hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe.exe. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signature from the OEM vendor (e.g., 'OEM Manufacturer').
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 1-7% CPU and 20-120 MB RAM. Abnormally high usage from a non-native path is suspicious.
- Behavior: Telemetry should run in the background only when hardware monitoring is active; persistent activity after uninstall or idle state may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: If hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp or AppData), runs when the system is idle, has no digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan with a trusted antivirus. Watch for similarly named files as well.
Why Is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe Running on My PC?
hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe runs to monitor hardware sensors and report telemetry to the vendor. It may start at boot or run when hardware monitoring is active.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Hardware Monitoring: You're actively monitoring system sensors; the agent collects data from sensors such as temps, fan speeds, and voltages.
- Background Data Upload: Telemetry data is sent to the OEM servers for analytics and optimization, often in small, batched transmissions.
- Startup Launch: OEM software may configure the telemetry component to start with Windows to ensure continuous monitoring.
- Driver and Firmware Checks: The agent can check for updates to drivers/firmware to improve hardware compatibility and stability.
- Diagnostics and Health Checks: Periodic health checks run to detect overheating, sensor faults, or abnormal operating conditions.
Can I Disable or Remove hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe?
Yes, you can disable hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe. It is generally safe to pause or stop telemetry if you prefer not to share hardware data, though some OEM features may rely on it for optimization.
How to Stop hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe
- End Active Telemetry Processes: Open Task Manager, locate hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe under Processes, and end the task.
- Disable Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable 'Hardware Monitor Telemetry' entry.
- Stop the Telemetry Service: Open Services (services.msc), find 'Hardware Monitor Telemetry Service', stop it, and set Startup type to Disabled.
- Disable Background Data: In OEM control panel or hardware software, turn off 'Continue running background telemetry' if available.
- Uninstall or Reconfigure: If you want to remove telemetry completely, uninstall via Settings > Apps > Hardware Monitor Telemetry, or use OEM-provided uninstaller.
How to Uninstall Hardware Monitor Telemetry
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Hardware Monitor Telemetry → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Hardware Monitor Telemetry → Uninstall
- ✔ Check OEM software for a dedicated toggle to disable or remove telemetry components
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Issues
If hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe exhibits problems, use these common causes and solutions.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Frequent sampling at high rate: Lower the telemetry polling frequency in the OEM software or disable non-critical sensors.
- Resource-heavy extensions or modules: Disable unnecessary telemetry-related modules in the OEM control panel.
- Outdated telemetry component: Update the OEM software and drivers to the latest version.
- Conflicting security software: Add exceptions for hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe and related components in antivirus/firewall settings.
- Excessive disk or log growth: Archive or prune telemetry logs located in C:\ProgramData\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\logs and adjust retention.
- Uninstall did not remove traces: Run OEM cleanup tool or reinstall and then uninstall again to ensure all files are removed.
Quick Fixes:
1. Open OEM Telemetry settings and reduce polling frequency to lower CPU usage
2. Pause or disable background telemetry in the OEM control panel
3. Restart the telemetry service and clear logs in C:\ProgramData\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\logs
4. Update hardware drivers and firmware via OEM software
5. Add an antivirus exception for hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe and related files
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe safe?
Yes, the legitimate hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe from the device OEM is safe. Verify it is located in C:\Program Files\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry and has a valid signature from the OEM.
Why is hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe running at startup?
Many OEMs configure telemetry to start with Windows to ensure continuous hardware monitoring and timely driver optimization. You can disable this in Task Manager > Startup.
Can I disable hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe without breaking my system?
Disabling telemetry will not usually impact core system functions, but it may limit OEM optimization capabilities. You can re-enable it later if needed.
Does hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe collect personal data?
Telemetry typically collects non-identifiable hardware metrics and usage patterns. Personal data is not typically included unless you opt into broader OEM analytics.
Where are telemetry logs stored and how can I manage them?
Logs are usually stored under C:\ProgramData\HardwareMonitor\Telemetry\logs. You can archive or delete old logs to reclaim disk space, or adjust retention in the OEM software.
How do I update or reinstall hardware-monitor-telemetry-exe?
Use the OEM software updater or Windows Settings > Apps to check for updates, or reinstall the hardware monitor software from the OEM support site.