Is it a Virus?
NO - Safe
Must be in Program Files\PasswordManager\Telemetry\password-manager-telemetry.exe
Warning
Telemetry runs in background
Data collection runs in the background; may spawn multiple tasks for data categories
Can I Disable?
YES
Disable telemetry in Password Manager Settings > Privacy > Telemetry
What is password-manager-telemetry.exe?
password-manager-telemetry.exe is the background telemetry component for the Password Manager desktop application. It collects anonymized usage statistics, performance metrics, and crash data to help improve reliability, security, and user experience. The executable runs with minimal privileges and communicates securely with Password Manager servers based on your privacy choices.
Telemetry runs as a small, sandboxed Windows process that gathers data locally, hashes sensitive fields, and transmits results securely over TLS. It minimizes privileges and uses a dedicated service to avoid impacting the main application experience.
Quick Fact: Password Manager telemetering is designed for privacy; data is aggregated and does not include plaintext passwords.
Types of Password Manager Processes
- Telemetry Service: Core data collection daemon for usage metrics and health data
- Data Processor: Aggregates and anonymizes telemetry before sending
- Uploader: Secure transmission of telemetry to Password Manager servers
- Crash Reporter: Captures crash dumps to assist debugging
- Background Sync: Manages periodic synchronization with cloud services
- Update Helper: Coordinates telemetry-related feature updates and opt-out changes
Is password-manager-telemetry.exe Safe?
Yes, password-manager-telemetry.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Password Manager's official distribution.
Is password-manager-telemetry.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real password-manager-telemetry.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes mimics file names to confuse users.
How to Tell if password-manager-telemetry.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location:: Must be in
C:\Program Files\PasswordManager\Telemetry\password-manager-telemetry.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\PasswordManager\Telemetry\password-manager-telemetry.exe. Any other location is suspicious.
- Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "Password Manager Inc." as the signer.
- Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 0.5-3% CPU per thread, 15-60 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when the app is idle is suspicious.
- Behavior:: Password Manager Telemetry should run when the app is active or configured to run in background. Multiple incongruent instances when the app is closed may indicate tampering.
Red Flags: If password-manager-telemetry.exe is located in unusual folders (like Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Password Manager 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 "password-manager-telemetry.exe" from untrusted sources.
Why Is password-manager-telemetry.exe Running on My PC?
password-manager-telemetry.exe runs to collect anonymized usage data, help diagnose issues, and keep Password Manager features up to date. It may run continuously in the background or during specific app events depending on user settings.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Password Manager Use: Telemetry runs to collect feature usage data while you interact with the app.
- Background Data Sync: Telemetry coordinates periodic data uploads and cloud sync tasks in the background.
- Error and Crash Reporting: Crash dumps and error reports are captured to assist with debugging and quality improvements.
- Update Checks: Telemetry supports version checks and feature telemetry during updates.
- Startup and Background Run: Telemetry may start with Windows or sign-in and continue running to monitor health and usage.
Can I Disable or Remove password-manager-telemetry.exe?
Yes, you can disable password-manager-telemetry.exe. It's safe to limit or stop telemetry if you prefer greater privacy. You can also uninstall the Password Manager app entirely if desired.
How to Stop password-manager-telemetry.exe
- Disable Telemetry in Settings: Open Password Manager > Settings > Privacy > Telemetry and set data collection to 'Off' or 'Minimal'.
- Close the Password Manager: Quit the Password Manager application completely to stop telemetry activity.
- Disable Startup Entry: Task Manager > Startup tab > Disable Password Manager Telemetry or Password Manager entry.
- Stop Background Apps: Password Manager Settings > Privacy > Background Data and disable 'Continue running background apps when Password Manager is closed'.
- Uninstall Telemetry (if available): From Apps & Features, select Password Manager and choose Uninstall Telemetry or the main app to remove all components.
How to Uninstall Password Manager
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Password Manager → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Password Manager → Uninstall
- ✔ Follow on-screen prompts to remove the product and its telemetry components
- ✔ Consider alternative browsers or password managers if needed
Common Problems: Telemetry-Related Resource Use
If password-manager-telemetry.exe is consuming resources or behaving unexpectedly, try the following structured guidance tailored to the Password Manager Telemetry component.
Common Causes & Solutions
- Telemetry set to verbose collection: Open Settings > Privacy > Telemetry and set data collection to 'Basic' or 'Off'.
- Large volume of events from new features: Reduce data retention or pause non-critical telemetry in Settings; update to the latest version.
- Background data uploads during peak network usage: Change upload schedule or disable background uploads in Settings.
- Crashes causing repeated crash reports: Update to the latest app version and review crash details; limit crash reporting if available.
- Outdated telemetry components: Check for software updates and install the latest Password Manager release.
- Antivirus or firewall interference: Add an exception for password-manager-telemetry.exe and related folders in your security software.
Quick Fixes:
1. Quick Fixes:
2. 1. Open Password Manager Task Manager (if available) and identify telemetry-related tasks
3. Restart the Password Manager app
4. Clear cache/data related to the app
5. Update to the latest Password Manager version
6. Disable or reduce telemetry in Settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is password-manager-telemetry.exe safe?
Yes. The legitimate password-manager-telemetry.exe is part of the Password Manager desktop application and should be located in C:\Program Files\PasswordManager\Telemetry\ and signed by Password Manager Inc.
Why is password-manager-telemetry.exe using CPU?
Telemetry processes may run in the background to collect usage data and crash reports. If CPU usage is consistently high, review telemetry settings and consider temporarily disabling data collection.
Can I delete password-manager-telemetry.exe?
You should not delete the file directly. Use the Password Manager settings to disable telemetry or uninstall the app if you no longer need it.
Can I disable password-manager-telemetry.exe without affecting the app?
Yes. Telemetry can be disabled or minimized in the app's Privacy settings. This will stop data collection while preserving the core password management features.
Why is telemetry running at startup?
Telemetry may run at startup if the Password Manager is configured to launch with Windows or to run background health checks. You can disable this in Task Manager > Startup or in Password Manager Settings.
What data does telemetry collect?
Telemetry collects anonymized usage metrics, performance data, and crash reports. It does not capture plaintext passwords; sensitive fields are hashed or excluded.