Quick Answer
kodi-telemetry.exe is safe. It's Kodi's official telemetry component that collects anonymous usage data to help improve stability, performance, and feature relevance.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in Program Files\Kodi\kodi-telemetry\kodi-telemetry.exe
Warning
Background data collection
Telemetry runs in the background and submits non-personal usage metrics according to Kodi privacy settings
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disable in Kodi: Settings → Privacy → Telemetry, then restart Kodi
What is kodi-telemetry.exe?
kodi-telemetry.exe is the Kodi Telemetry Service that runs in the background to collect anonymous usage data, device information, and user interactions to help developers improve stability, performance, and feature relevance across Kodi builds.
Kodi telemetry operates as a small, separate process that batches non-personal metrics and sends them to Kodi servers over TLS. It intentionally avoids personal content and respects privacy configurations configured in Kodi.
Quick Fact: Kodi telemetry began to aggregate non-personal usage data to guide crash fixes and feature prioritization without exposing personal data.
Types of Kodi Telemetry Processes
- Telemetry Main Process: Orchestrates data collection, configuration, and policy enforcement for Kodi telemetry
- Data Sender: Packages and transmits telemetry payloads over TLS to Kodi servers
- Storage/Queue Processor: Queues collected metrics before submission to ensure efficient batching
- Config Loader: Applies privacy and reporting settings at startup and during runtime
- Error Reporter: Sends non-personal crash and diagnostic information to assist debugging
- Background Listener: Wakes on timers or events to trigger submissions and health checks
Is kodi-telemetry Safe?
Yes, kodi-telemetry.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Kodi Foundation downloaded from official sources.
Is kodi-telemetry a Virus or Malware?
The real kodi-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names, so verify file location and signature.
How to Tell if kodi-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\Kodi\kodi-telemetry\kodi-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\Kodi\kodi-telemetry\kodi-telemetry.exe. Any kodi-telemetry.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a certificate from "Kodi Foundation".
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 0.5-3% CPU and 5-40 MB memory. Constant high usage or spikes when Kodi is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Kodi telemetry should run while Kodi is active or per privacy settings. If it appears when Kodi is closed with no reason, investigate.
Red Flags: If kodi-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (System32, AppData, or Temp), runs when Kodi isn’t open, lacks a valid digital signature, or uses constant high bandwidth, run a full system antivirus scan and verify the file with Kodi official sources.
Why Is kodi-telemetry Running on My PC?
kodi-telemetry runs to collect anonymous usage data that helps improve Kodi across devices. It may start with Kodi or run in the background if privacy settings allow data submission.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Kodi Use: Kodi is running and telemetry collects usage data according to the configured privacy options.
- Background Submissions: Telemetry can submit non-personal metrics in the background to inform developers about feature usage and stability.
- Privacy Settings: If privacy options permit data sharing, telemetry may run to gather the permitted data.
- Error Reporting: Non-personal crash and diagnostic reports may trigger telemetry submissions to aid debugging.
- Software Updates: Telemetry may run during or after Kodi updates to report compatibility and crash data for newer builds.
Can I Disable or Remove kodi-telemetry?
Yes, you can disable kodi-telemetry. It is safe to turn off telemetry, and you can stop sending data without removing Kodi entirely.
How to Stop kodi-telemetry
- Open Kodi Settings: Launch Kodi and open Settings from the main menu.
- Go to Privacy: Navigate to Privacy and Telemetry settings.
- Disable Telemetry: Turn off options related to sending anonymous usage data and diagnostics.
- Restart Kodi: Restart Kodi to apply changes.
- Verify: Ensure telemetry-related options remain disabled after restart.
How to Uninstall Kodi Telemetry (if applicable)
- ✔ Uninstall Kodi entirely: Windows Settings → Apps → Kodi → Uninstall
- ✔ Alternatively, delete the Kodi installation folder if you are removing the app completely
- ✔ Note: Telemetry cannot be removed as a separate component; disabling in settings is sufficient to stop data collection
Common Problems: Kodi Telemetry High CPU or Network Usage
If kodi-telemetry.exe is using more resources than expected, use these guidance items to troubleshoot telemetry-related behavior.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Frequent data submissions: Check Kodi privacy settings and adjust telemetry submission frequency or disable non-essential data sharing.
- Outdated Kodi or telemetry module: Update Kodi to the latest stable release which includes the latest telemetry optimizations.
- Background network activity: Ensure firewall allows Kodi outbound TLS traffic and that no aggressive antivirus blocks telemetry packets.
- Misconfigured privacy policy: Review Kodi privacy policy and ensure settings align with your data sharing preferences.
- High memory usage due to batch size: Restart Kodi, and if needed, reconfigure data batching in telemetry settings or reduce history retention.
- Conflicting add-ons or scripts: Disable add-ons that interact with telemetry or reports and test Kodi without them.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Kodi Settings → Privacy → Telemetry and disable sending data
3. Restart Kodi to apply changes
4. Check for Kodi updates and install the latest version
5. Review and disable unnecessary add-ons that may influence telemetry
6. Ensure Kodi is allowed through the firewall for outbound connections
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kodi-telemetry?
kodi-telemetry.exe is Kodi's Telemetry Service that collects anonymized usage data to help developers improve stability, performance, and features. It respects your privacy settings.
Is kodi-telemetry safe to have on my PC?
Yes, when it is the legitimate Kodi file from Kodi Foundation. Verify the location at C:\Program Files\Kodi\kodi-telemetry\kodi-telemetry.exe and a valid Kodi Foundation signature.
Can I disable kodi-telemetry?
Yes. In Kodi, go to Settings → Privacy → Telemetry and turn off data sharing. Then restart Kodi to ensure changes take effect.
Where does kodi-telemetry send data?
Telemetry data is transmitted to Kodi Foundation servers over TLS. Data is non-personal by design unless you opt in to additional diagnostics.
Does kodi-telemetry collect personal information?
No. Kodi telemetry is designed to collect non-personal usage metrics. Personal data is not included unless you explicitly provide it through other Kodi features.
How do I opt out of Kodi telemetry?
Open Kodi Settings → Privacy → Telemetry and disable the related options. Consider disabling related error reporting if available and restart Kodi.