Многие пользователи Windows сталкиваются с тем, что процессор ПК или ноутбука постоянно нагружается до 100% — это может происходить в простое, при определённых действиях, в играх и других ситуациях.
В этом материале подробно о том, как выяснить, чем вызвано то, что процессор загружен на 100% в Windows 11 и 10 и вариантах действий. На близкую тему: Что делать, если диск нагружен на 100% в Windows.
Определение процесса, который нагружает процессор
Независимо от конкретной ситуации, нагрузка процессора вызывает выполнение какого-либо процесса Windows и первая задача, чтобы выяснить причины и пути к их устранению — определить этот процесс. Подойти к этому можно по-разному:
- Использовать стандартный диспетчер задач Windows 11/10, запустить который можно с помощью комбинации клавиш Ctrl+Shift+Esc или в контекстном меню кнопки пуск. В нём вы можете отсортировать процессы по столбцу «ЦП», нажав по его заголовку.
- Используя альтернативные диспетчеры задач, в частности — Process Explorer, скачать который можно с официального сайта, а запускать следует от имени администратора. Это предпочтительный вариант, поскольку для ряда процессов, часто вызывающих высокую нагрузку, он позволяет получить дополнительную информация, которая не представлена в стандартном диспетчере задач: например, дважды нажав по процессу svchost мы можем увидеть информацию о параметрах командной строки, с которыми он был запущен и определить конкретную службу, вызывающую нагрузку.
Выяснив имя процесса, который грузит процессор на 100% можно приступать к тем или иным действиям, в зависимости от конкретной ситуации и закономерностей появления нагрузки: постоянная, в периоды простоя, в определённых играх и программах.
Возможные итоги этого этапа:
- Нагрузка на процессор пропадает сразу при открытии диспетчера задач и возобновляется, стоит его закрыть — с большой вероятностью, на компьютере есть что-то вредоносное. Рекомендую выполнить проверку с помощью KVRT, Kaspersky Rescue Disk, Miner Search
- Нагрузка вызвана системным процессом Windows.
- Нагрузка исходит от процесса какой-либо сторонней программы.
Решение проблемы с высокой нагрузкой на процессор
В случае, если нагрузка вызвана каким-либо системным процессом Windows 11/10, следует разобраться, за что он отвечает и найти решения конкретно для этого процесса. Наиболее частые системные процессы, вызывающие высокую нагрузку и решения для них:
- svchost.exe
- WmiPrvSE.exe (WMI Provider Host)
- Служба узла SysMain
- MsMpEng.exe
- System
- TiWorker.exe (Windows Module Installer Worker)
- Системные прерывания
- Wsappx
- Csrss.exe
- Sihost.exe (Shell Infrastructure Host)
Если процесс, с которым возникла проблема, не представлен в списке, попробуйте выполнить поиск по этому сайту или в Интернете — с большой вероятностью описание задач процесса и решений высокой нагрузки с его стороны найдётся.
Несколько примечаний, касающихся системных процессов:
- Нагрузка на процессор в Windows 11/10 со стороны системных процессов может возрастать после некоторого периода простоя и исчезать через короткое время после начала использования компьютера. Связано это с функциями автоматического обслуживания системы, которое запускается в периоды простоя.
- Одна из самых частых причин повышенной нагрузки при штатном функционировании системы — фоновая установка обновлений Windows, что также можно увидеть, если зайти в «Центр обновлений» в «Параметрах». Такого рода нагрузка пропадёт по завершении их установки.
В ситуации, когда речь идёт о каком-то стороннем процессе (либо вы не знаете, что это за процесс), достаточно выполнить поиск в Интернете по его имени и, в зависимости от ситуации и конкретного процесса принять соответствующие решения, например:
- Удалить ПО, если необходимости в его использовании нет.
- Убрать соответствующую программу или стороннюю службу из автозагрузки, если она не нужна.
- Попробовать выполнить переустановку, обновление программы, вызывающей проблемы.
Как итог, универсальное решение 100-процентной нагрузки на процессор нет — всё зависит от конкретных обстоятельств и процесса, приводящего к нагрузке. Если вы не можете разобраться самостоятельно, опишите эти обстоятельства в комментариях, и я постараюсь подсказать решение.
Некоторые дополнительные нюансы и подходы к решению рассмотренной проблемы:
- Кратковременный всплеск нагрузки на процессор до 100% при открытии диспетчера задач — нормальное явление, затем она автоматически падает до приемлемых значений (при этом для «Бездействие системы» будет отображаться высокая «нагрузка», которая по факту является свободными ресурсами, а не нагрузкой). При отсутствии иных проблем и признаков повышенной нагрузки что-либо делать не следует.
- Высокая нагрузка на процессор в современных играх, в «тяжёлых» программах может быть нормальным явлением, повлиять на которое не всегда возможно, либо только изменением настроек самой игры или ПО.
- Если вы наблюдаете 100% нагруженный процессор при включении ПК или ноутбука (после «Завершения работы»), но она пропадает если использовать опцию «Перезагрузка» в меню завершения работы, попробуйте отключить быстрый запуск Windows.
- Если на компьютере установлены сторонний антивирус, проверьте, решает ли проблему его удаление с последующей перезагрузкой (при необходимости его можно установить повторно в дальнейшем). Некоторые пользователи устанавливают несколько антивирусов одновременно — это почти всегда приводит к проблемам, схожим с тем, которые изучаются в статье.
- В случае, если вы меняли настройки схемы электропитания, включали режим энергосбережения на вашем компьютере или выполняли другие аналогичные действия, проверьте, изменится ли ситуация, если вернуть соответствующие параметры в исходное состояние: включить схему электропитания с максимальной производительностью (или «Сбалансированная»), отключить энергосбережение, проверить выбранный режим питания в Параметры — Система — Питание и батарея.
- Проверьте, решает ли проблему чистая загрузка Windows — при её использовании в системе отключаются все сторонние службы и элементы автозагрузки. Если это решило проблему, останется выяснить, какой из этих элементов приводит к повышенной нагрузке.
- Аппаратные проблемы, связанные с питанием, могут приводить к тем же симптомам. Речь идёт о выходящем из строя блоке питания, не выдающего необходимые напряжения и мощность, использовании неоригинального зарядного устройства ноутбука.
- В некоторых случаях неисправность периферии и каких-либо внутренних компонентов компьютера (например, дисков) или проблемы с их подключением также вызывают «зависания» с высокой нагрузкой на процессор.
Надеюсь, что-то из предложенного поможет устранить 100-процентную нагрузку на процессор, либо определить, что в вашем случае она является результатом обычной работы системы и программного обеспечения.
The Central Processing Unit or CPU is the primary component of a computer system. It acts as the brain of any computer as it is responsible for running the operating system installed on it. It takes input from the user and the OS, processes it, and then produces the output that is displayed on the monitor/screen. Many modern computers today have multi-processors or multi-cores installed in the CPU. Even though the CPU is the most powerful component of your PC and is capable of handling several tasks simultaneously, your PC may sometimes experience high or near 100% CPU usage. When this happens, your system will slow down, the programs and features will hang or freeze, and applications will become unresponsive. Continue reading to learn how to check CPU usage on Windows 10 and how to fix high CPU usage issue.
Table of Contents
How to Check CPU Usage on Windows 10
To check for high or near 100% CPU usage on your Windows 10 system, simply follow these steps:
1. Type Task manager in Windows search box and launch it from the search result, as shown.
2. Click on More details visible at the bottom of the screen, if you get a blank screen.
3. Switch to the Performace tab on the Task Manager window, as depicted.
4. Check the Percentage written under CPU or Utilization, as shown highlighted in the above pic.
If your CPU usage is high or nearing 100%, continue reading!
Why is CPU Usage High or 100%?
- Running Background processes: Windows computers need background processes that complement and support the main processes to run. Therefore, the more software your computer contains, the more background processes are required in order to run these. This may lead to a 100% CPU usage issue.
- Netscvs Process: The Netscvs process, also called Svchost.exe, is a critical Windows process that causes high CPU usage. This process, coupled with other processes, can cause high CPU usage.
- Application Management: This process runs on Windows to troubleshoot problems with computer systems on a particular network. The WMI Provider Host, or Wmi.PrvSE.exe, is a critical process that can overpower the CPU.
- Third-party Antivirus Program or Virus: A third-party antivirus program can cause high CPU usage. On the other hand, if there is a virus in your system, it can lead to further CPU usage and slow down your computer.
Listed below are various solutions for how to reduce CPU usage on Windows 10.
Method 1: Restart Application Management Service
As explained earlier, the WMI Provider Host can cause 100 % CPU usage. To fix this, you need to restart the service using the Services application as follows:
1. Type services in the Window search bar and launch it from the search result, as shown.
2. Right-click on Windows Management Instrumentation in the Services window and select Restart or Refresh, as depicted.
3. Repeat the same process for Windows Management Service.
Method 2: Identify Issues using Event Viewer
If CPU usage caused by the WMI Provider Host could not be reduced, then you need to identify the problem using Event Viewer, as explained below:
1. Type Event Viewer in Windows search bar. Launch it by clicking on Open.
2. Click on the downward arrow next to each file while navigating the following file path:
Applications and Service Logs > Microsoft > Windows > WMI-Activity > Operational
3. From the middle pane of the Event Viewer, look for errors, if any.
4. For each error, note down the ClientProcessId, as shown highlighted.
5. Now, launch Task manager as explained in Method 1, Step 1.
6. Then, go to the Details tab and click on PID to arrange the given processes according to increasing order of ClientProcessId.
7. Use the ClientProcessId you noted in Step 4, and identify the process associated with it.
8. Right-click the Identified process and select End task.
Note: Below is an example shown using Google Chrome.
Also Read: Fix Service Host: Diagnostic Policy Service High CPU Usage
Method 3: Update Windows
If you do not update Windows operating system regularly, outdated drivers can lead to high CPU usage on your PC. Here’s how to fix high CPU usage by updating Windows to the latest version:
1. Type Updates in Windows search box. Launch Windows Update Settings from here.
2. Click on Check for updates button from the right pane, as shown.
3. Windows will search for and install available updates, if any.
4. Restart the PC and check if the issue is resolved. If not, try the next fix.
Method 4: Turn Windows Notifications Off
When Windows notifications are turned on, it can cause significantly high CPU usage. This implies that turning it off could help relieve some load off. Here’s how to fix high CPU usage:
1. Type notifications in the Windows search box. Click on Notification and Action Settings from the search results, as depicted below.
2. Turn the toggle off for the option titled Get notifications from apps and other senders.
Check if the CPU usage has reduced by following the steps outlined under How to check CPU Usage on Windows 10.
Method 5: Turn off P2P Share
The Peer-to-Peer or P2P Sharing feature helps send & receive files over the internet. If enabled, it can increase CPU usage. Here’s how to reduce CPU usage on Windows 10 laptop/desktop by turning it off:
1. Type Windows update settings in the Windows search box and click on it as shown.
2. Click Delivery Optimization available from the left-hand side menu.
3. Turn the toggle off for the option titled Allow downloads from other PCs to disable P2P sharing.
Also Read: How to Fix High CPU Usage by System Idle Process
Method 6: End High CPU Usage Processes
You can use Task Manager to identify and shut down processes that are using too many CPU resources. Many laptop manufacturers like Intel host a dedicated page to this effect. Given below are the steps to do so.
1. Launch Task Manager as explained in Method 1, Step 1.
2. In the Processes tab, click on CPU as highlighted below. This will sort all the running processes in order of CPU Usage.
3. Identify the Process that has High CPU usage. Right-click on it and select End task.
Here’s how to fix high CPU usage due to SoftThinks Agent Service on Dell PCs by freeing up CPU resources. If you wish to remove more load off the CPU, implement the methods explained below.
Method 7: Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Programs
Windows comes with an inbuilt virus and threat protection called Windows Defender Firewall. It is capable of protecting your computer from vicious attacks by viruses and malware. In case you have third-party antivirus software installed on your computer for added security, you can disable it. Such programs may be causing near 100% CPU usage and slowing down your PC. We shall discuss the steps in detail, to disable as well as uninstall third-party antivirus programs.
Option 1: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Program
1. Launch the third-party antivirus program that you use on your PC.
Note: We have used Avast Antivirus for illustration purposes.
2. Go to Protection Settings in the left pane. Disable Firewall by toggling it Off.
Option 2: Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Program
1. Launch Control Panel from Windows search, as shown below.
2. Click on View by > Large Icons and then, select Programs and Features, as depicted.
3. Click on Avast and then, select Uninstall.
If the above method did not work for you, there might be malware in your system. Clearly, you will now need to run a scan and eliminate threats using Windows Defender to fix high CPU usage.
Also Read: Fix Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation high CPU usage
Method 8: Run Windows Defender Scan
Windows Defender will scan all the files in the system and check for malware. If threats are found, you can then remove them from your device. Here are the steps to scan your PC:
1. Type Virus and threat protection in Windows search. Launch it by clicking on it.
2. Click on Scan options as shown below.
3. Select Full Scan and click on Scan Now, as highlighted.
Note: Make sure that your laptop is charged and nobody disturbs the scanning process in between.
Full Scan checks all files and running programs on your hard disk. This scan could take longer than an hour.
Method 9: Change Power Plan Settings to Default
If the power plan of your PC is set to Power Saver Mode, then your computer will experience high CPU usage. Here’s how to fix high CPU usage by rolling back the settings to default, as explained below:
1. Type Control Panel and launch it from Windows search option, as shown.
2. Click on View by > Small icons. Then, go to Power Options, as depicted.
3. Select Balanced, if your PC is on Power Saver mode.
4. Now, click on Change plan settings, as shown highlighted.
5. Here, click on Restore default settings for this plan.
6. Lastly, click Yes to confirm and apply these changes.
Also Read: Fix Desktop Window Manager High CPU (DWM.exe)
Method 10: Change Registry Settings
If you are a frequent user of Windows Cortana, then you may experience 100% CPU usage. If you are willing to sacrifice some Cortana features, here’s how to reduce CPU usage in Windows 10:
1. Type Registry Editor in Windows search option. Launch it from here.
2. Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TokenBroker
3. Now, right-click on Start from the right pane of the window.
4. Select Modify from the drop-down menu, as depicted.
5. Type number 4 in the Value data field. Then, click on OK to save changes.
After you complete the above process, all Cortana features will not work. However, CPU usage should be reduced. You can now check for it by implementing the steps under How to check CPU usage on Windows 10 heading.
Method 11: Reset Windows
If all of the above-mentioned solutions did not work, the final solution left is to reset your Windows system.
Note: Back up all the essential files on your system before you begin to reset your computer.
1. Type reset in Windows search box and click Reset this PC, as shown.
2. Click on Get started under Reset this PC, as shown below.
3. Then, click on the Keep my files option in the next screen.
Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the process to complete. Windows OS will reset and all possible issues will be rectified.
Recommended:
- Fix Mouse Wheel Not Scrolling Properly
- Fix Sound Keeps Cutting Out in Windows 10
- How to Enable User Account Control in Windows Systems
- Fix Command Prompt Appears then Disappears on Windows 10
We hope this article was helpful and you were able to fix high CPU usage on Windows 10. Let us know which method worked the best for you. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding this article, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is responsible for executing tasks, and when it reaches 100% usage, Windows may struggle to run smoothly. High CPU usage in Windows 10 can lead to sluggish performance, system freezes, overheating, and decreased battery life in laptops. Well, Several factors such as background applications, faulty drivers, malware, or misconfigured system settings, can contribute to excessive CPU consumption. To address this, you can try closing unnecessary applications, restarting your system, scanning for malware, updating drivers, and disabling startup programs. Here is How to fix High CPU Usage in Windows 10.
Post Contents :-
- 1 How to Fix High CPU Usage in Windows 10
- 1.1 Restart Your Computer
- 1.2 Scan for Malware and Viruses
- 1.3 Disable Unnecessary Background Apps
- 1.4 Disable Startup Programs
- 1.5 Adjust Power Plan Settings
- 1.6 Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Scan
- 1.7 Disable Windows Search Indexing
- 1.8 Perform a Clean Boot
- 1.9 Update Device Drivers
High CPU usage in Windows 10 usually means your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) is working harder than usual, potentially leading to slow performance, lag, and even crashes. Several factors contribute to this issue, including running too many applications, outdated software, malware, or hardware issues.
- Background Applications – Unnecessary apps running in the background can consume excessive CPU power.
- Faulty or Outdated Drivers – Incompatible or corrupt drivers can trigger system resource mismanagement.
- Malware or Virus Infections – Malicious software can run hidden processes that consume CPU cycles.
- Corrupt System Files – Damaged or missing Windows files can lead to abnormal CPU behavior.
- Too Many Startup Programs – Multiple applications launching at startup can overload the CPU.
- System Processes Running Excessively – Certain Windows processes, such as Windows Search Indexer or Runtime Broker, may overuse CPU.
Restart Your Computer
Restarting your system is one of the quickest ways to reduce CPU usage. Over time, background processes accumulate, causing excessive resource consumption. A reboot clears these processes, refreshes system memory, and resets CPU-intensive tasks.
- Click the Start Menu, then select Restart.
- Allow the system to reboot and check CPU usage in Task Manager.
Scan for Malware and Viruses
Malware infections often run hidden background processes that consume high CPU resources. Some types of malware disguise themselves as system files, making them difficult to detect manually.
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Privacy & security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
- Select Full Scan or select Microsoft Defender Offline scan for an in-depth check.
- Remove any detected threats and restart your PC.
Disable Unnecessary Background Apps
Many applications run background processes even when not in active use, consuming CPU power. Disabling unnecessary apps frees up CPU resources.
- Go to Settings using the Windows key + I
- Nevigate Privacy then Background apps
- Here toggle off the “Let apps run in the background” switch or individually manage apps in the “Choose which apps can run in the background” section
Disable Startup Programs
Many programs automatically launch when Windows starts, causing high CPU usage. Disabling unnecessary startup applications can significantly improve system performance.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to Open Task manager
- Click on the “Startup” tab, this will show you the list of all the programs that automatically run with the PC startup.
- Right-click on the applications that needn’t to be run at startup and select “Disable”.
-
Restart your PC and check if CPU usage decreases.
Adjust Power Plan Settings
Windows power plans can affect CPU performance. Setting the system to High Performance can prevent unnecessary CPU throttling, but for users experiencing excessive CPU usage, choosing Balanced or Power Saver mode can help.
- Press Win + R, type
powercfg.cpl, and press Enter. - Select Balanced or Power Saver instead of High Performance.
- Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Processor power management > Maximum processor state.
- Set the value to 80-90% and click Apply.
Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Scan
Corrupt system files can cause system processes to behave abnormally, leading to excessive CPU usage. Running an SFC and DISM scan can detect and repair these issues.
- First open Command Prompt as Administrator
- First run sfc /scannow command to scan and repair corrupt system files
- Next, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command to repair the Windows system image.
- Let the scanning complete 100%. Once done Reboot your PC and check if this help fix windows 10 high CPU problem.
Disable Windows Search Indexing
Windows Search Indexing continuously scans files and folders to improve search speed but can consume high CPU resources. Disabling it helps few users fix 100 CPU usage on Windows 10.
- Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Scroll down and locate Windows Search.
- Right-click and select Properties.
- Change the Startup type to Disabled then stop
- Click Apply, then OK, and restart your PC.
Perform a Clean Boot
A clean boot starts Windows with essential drivers and services only, it helps identify problematic third-party applications that may consume high CPU.
- Press Win + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
- Click Disable all, then switch to the Startup tab in Task Manager.
- Disable all startup programs and restart your PC.
If CPU usage improves, re-enable services one by one to identify the problematic software.
Update Device Drivers
Again outdated or corrupt drivers can cause CPU-intensive tasks to run inefficiently, leading to excessive CPU consumption. Keeping all device drivers updated ensures smooth operation and reduces CPU load.
- Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters, Network adapters, and System devices.
- Right-click each device and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart your PC after updating drivers to apply the changes.
Also, you can visit the device manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest driver for Windows 10.
Windows updates often include performance improvements and fixes that can reduce high CPU usage. Open settings, Navigate to Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install any available updates and restart your PC
Windows updates are meant to improve performance, security, and stability. However, sometimes you may experience high CPU usage after updating Windows 10. Users report CPU shows extremely high usage (99% or 100%) even if nothing is running in the background. Well, this issue can affect both desktop and laptop users, slow down the system, and cause overheating or unresponsive. There are Various reasons for Windows 10 High CPU usage, including a buggy Windows update, System file corruption, incompatible drivers, corrupted registry entry, Virus malware infection, and more. Whatever the reason, here are several methods help you resolve the problem and reduce CPU usage Windows 10.
Contents
- 1 Why is my CPU at 100% when nothing is running
- 1.1 Restart Your Computer
- 1.2 Check for Pending Updates
- 1.3 Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
- 1.4 Uninstall unwanted programs
- 1.5 Check for Corrupted System files on your computer
- 1.6 Disable Windows Search Indexing
- 1.7 Adjust Windows 10 for best performance
- 1.8 Make sure Installed Drivers Are updated
- 1.9 Reset Your Power Plan
- 1.10 Disable runtime broker
Why is my CPU at 100% when nothing is running
A 100% CPU usage, even when nothing appears to be running, can be due to various factors, including background processes, malware, outdated software, or hardware issues.
- Windows Update Processes Running in the Background – After installing updates, Windows may continue indexing files or downloading additional components, consuming high CPU power.
- Corrupt or Incomplete Windows Updates – If an update fails or installs incorrectly, it can cause processes to consume excessive CPU.
- Driver Compatibility Issues – Outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to high CPU usage due to continuous system conflicts.
- Malware or Background Applications – Malicious software or unnecessary programs running in the background can strain the CPU.
- Windows Search and Indexing – The indexing process may spike CPU usage temporarily, especially after an update.
- Third-Party Software Conflicts – Some applications may not be optimized for the latest Windows updates, leading to performance issues.
Restart Your Computer
First of all, restart your PC. This helps if any program or service is stuck running and eating up system resources, and that also fixes any temporary glitch causing 100 CPU usage as well.
- Click the Start button.
- Select Power > Restart.
- Wait for the system to reboot and check if the CPU usage has returned to normal.
Restarting allows Windows to finalize updates, close stuck processes, and free up system resources.
In addition Disconnect all external devices such as a printer, scanner, audio jack and check if CPU usage comes to normal.
Certain Windows processes or third-party applications may be consuming excessive CPU. Open task manager using the keyboard shortcut, ctrl + shift + Esc. Right-click programs that are taking high memory and CPU usage then click “End Task” to close selected programs or apps.
Pro Tip: If due to this problem system freezes continuously, don’t allow to perform any solution that causes start Windows in safe mode and apply the solutions below.
If you notice Google Chrome causing High CPU usage, then apply the solutions listed here.
Check for Pending Updates
Sometimes, a Windows update may not have installed properly, causing system conflicts and increased CPU usage. Installing the latest Windows updates also ensures that bug fixes and performance improvements are applied and reduces unnecessary CPU consumption.
- Press
Win + Ito open Settings. - Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
- Restart your PC and check if the CPU usage improves.
Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
Whenever you start your Windows PC, some of the programs automatically get started by themselves without your knowledge. For example, antivirus software, Java updaters, downloaders, etc. Again, too many startup applications can undoubtedly lead to Unnecessary system resource usage and sluggish PC performance.
- Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt+ Del key on the keyboard.
- Then Move To the Start tab, which will display the list of all programs that automatically run with the PC startup.
- Right-click on the applications that needn’t be run at startup and select “Disable”.
In addition, some background apps continue running even when not in use, leading to high CPU consumption.
- Open Settings (
Win + I). Go to Privacy > Background apps. - Toggle Let apps run in the background to Off, or disable apps individually.
Uninstall unwanted programs
Uninstall unwanted or preinstalled applications as many you can. Doesn’t matter whether you work on some software or not. But if it is installed on your PC then it will surely use up space, and consume system resources.
To uninstall unwanted programs on Windows 10
- Press the Windows + R key, Then Type appwiz.cpl and hit the Enter key.
- This will open the Programs and Features window.
- Here, you see all the programs installed on your system
- Right-click on the program that you want to remove, then click uninstall.
Check for Corrupted System files on your computer
Corrupt system files after an update can lead to high CPU usage and slow down the system performance. Run built-in SFC and DISM reatorehealth command helps with restore missing system files with the correct one.
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator (
Win + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator). - First, run sfc /scannow command to scan the system for missing corrupted system files.
- Next, run the DISM restore health command, DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, to scan and repair the Windows system image.
Once the scanning process is complete, restart your PC and check if the CPU usage comes to normal.
Disable Windows Search Indexing
Windows Search Indexing helps speed up file searches but can cause high CPU usage, especially after an update.
- Press
Win + R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter. - Find Windows Search in the list.
- Right-click it and select Properties.
- In the Startup type dropdown, select Disabled.
- Click Apply > OK, then restart your PC.
In addition, look for Bits and Sysmain service and disable them as well.
Now, check if disabling these services reduces background CPU usage.
Adjust Windows 10 for best performance
- Search for performance and select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.
- Here, under the Visual Effects tab select the radio button Adjust for Best Performance.
- Click Apply and ok to close and take effect the changes.
Make sure Installed Drivers Are updated
As we already discussed, incompatible drivers can result in a memory leak and different system problems, Make the system slower. So it’s important to check and install the latest updated Device drivers on your system to fix all the driver issues
To check and update Drivers’ open Device manager by right-clicking on the Windows Start menu and select Device Manager. Here, you can update all the drivers, but the most important drivers that need to be updated are:
- Graphics Card driver
- Chipset driver
- Networking/LAN drivers
- USB drivers
- audio drivers
Now expand and right-click on the Driver that you want to update (Ex, Graphics driver) and select update driver. Or you can visit the device manufacturer’s website and get the up-to-date drivers from there. Check how to update/reinstall the device driver on windows 10.
Updated drivers improve compatibility and ensure better performance after a Windows update.
Reset Your Power Plan
Power Options have a significant impact on your PC’s performance. If your computer is on a Power saver, especially if you have changed its plan settings, it will cause your CPU to become higher.
- Open the control panel,
- Search for and select power options,
- If you’re on “High Performance” or “Power Saver,” then switch to “Balanced.”
- Then click Change plan settings which is next to the Balanced.
- Now, you just need to click Restore default settings for this plan and click OK to make the changes.
Disable runtime broker
Note: Disabling the Runtimeborker didn’t affect your Windows 10 computer. The Runtime Broker isn’t a necessary process.
- Press the Windows key + R, type regedit and click ok to open the Windows registry editor.
- Now, first backup registry database then navigate to the following path:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TimeBroker
- Here On the right side of the pane, double-click on Start and change the Value data from 3 to 4.
Note: 4 is Disabled, 3 is Manual and 2 is Automatic startup.
That’s all. Now restart Windows and check if there is no more high Disk usage or 100% CPU usage problem with Windows 10.
Also, Read
- How to remove activate Windows 10 watermark permanently
- Fix Windows Cannot Connect to the Printer Error in Windows 10
- Solved: Windows 10 brightness not working (can’t adjust screen brightness)
- Microsoft Windows search indexer high CPU usage Windows 10 !!!
- 9 Ways to Fix 100% Disk Usage Problem in Windows 11
- 8 Ways to fix Windows Explorer High CPU Usage on windows 11
Many Windows 10 users report on Reddit and Microsoft forums that some processes (e.g., ntoskrnl.exe) in Windows 10 are slowing down the OS by consuming tons of RAM and CPU power. Here are some ways to fix high RAM and CPU usage in Windows 10.
What is the ntoskrnl.exe process?
Today, I’m here to tell you about a bug in Windows 10 that is worrying the Windows 10 users. According to them, processes like ntoskrnl.exe Windows 10 are slowing down the OS by consuming tons of RAM and CPU power.
The primary process that is being observed as troublesome is the System (ntoskrnl.exe) process. This process uses an increasing amount of RAM after the PC starts. It remains calm for a few hours, but it eats up all the free RAM and a large portion of CPU juice.
Is ntoskrnl.exe process a virus?
Just because you saw numbers crunching in the Task Manager, it doesn’t mean the System process is some malware. It’s an internal process present in Windows 10. Still, if you’re skeptical, make sure it’s located in the System32 folder on the Windows installation drive.
Here, we are sharing some simple fixes to fix the memory leak in Windows 10 due to the high RAM and CPU usage issue.
Instead of changing any advanced system settings on your PC, make sure that your PC isn’t affected by some malware. It’s probable that malware affects your PC and eats up its resources.
You can install anti-malware tools like MalwareBytes to deep scan your Windows 10 PC and take the first step in fixing Windows 10 high memory leakage. After the scan, reboot your PC. If this problem persists, move to the next solution to fix high RAM and CPU usage.
How to Fix High RAM and CPU Usage of Windows 10
While it’s difficult to determine the cause of high RAM and CPU usage, you can try the following methods to solve the problem:
1. Registry Hack
- Hit Win Key + R
- Type in “Regedit” and then hit Enter.
- Go to ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management’
- Find ‘ClearPageFileAtShutDown’ and change its value to 1
- Restart the computer.
2. Get rid of malware
- Open the Windows Security app, and run a full scan.
- If it locates, any threats, remove them.
- Use a third-party app like MalwareBytes to remove any undetected malware.
3. Adjust your Windows 10 for the best performance
- Right click on “Computer” icon and select “Properties.”
- Select “Advanced System settings.”
- Go to the “System properties.”
- Select “Settings”
- Choose “Adjust for best performance” and “Apply.”
- Click “OK” and Restart your computer.
4. Disable startup programs
- Hit Win Key + R
- Type ‘msconfig’ and press enter
- The Task manager window will open. Click on the “Startup” tab, and you will see a list of programs that run at startup.
- Right-click on the applications that you don’t want to run at startup and select “Disable”.
5. Defragment Hard Drives
- Hit Win Key + R
- Type “dfrgui” and press enter
- In the new window click on the hard drives you want to defragment (Prefer the drive in which Windows is installed)
- Click “Optimize” and follow the instructions on the screen to finish the defragment process.
- Restart your computer.
6. Increase physical memory
If you have less than 8GB of memory, it’s pretty standard that you would run into issues. Windows is a relatively heavy operating system that requires a certain amount of RAM to function smoothly. Hence, make sure you have 8GB or more RAM to run things smoothly.
7. Close and uninstall as many unwanted applications as you can.
The above steps should be sufficient to solve the high CPU uses problem in Windows 10, and High RAM uses in Windows 10. Below are the steps on containing memory leaks and High CPU/ RAM problems due to the ntoskrnl.exe process.
Here are the steps on How To Remove Pre-installed And Suggested Apps In Windows 10
How To Fix System ntoskrnl.exe Process High CPU/RAM uses in Windows 10?
- Clean your PC using a trusted antivirus
- Update the faulty and outdated drivers
- Disable Runtime Broker to fix high CPU and memory usage
- Go to Start menu > Settings app and then open System > Notifications & Actions. Deselect the option “Show me tips about Windows” and reboot the computer.
On Reddit and Microsoft forums, people have claimed that the root cause of this Windows 10 memory leak is some faulty driver. If you have a RAID disk drive setup, update those drivers. Also, try updating the remaining hardware drivers as it’s a problem caused due to unmatching OS and drivers. It is a known fact that Microsoft has taken control of the update process. Still, we recommend updating the network, graphics, and sound drivers manually. This step has worked for most people and fixed their high RAM and CPU usage.
Some discussion threads suggest that Runtime Broker is a system process that eats a large chunk of CPU power due to poor memory optimization. This ntoskrnl.exe Windows 10 doesn’t deliver any functionality, so you can disable it to solve the Windows 10 high memory leakage problem.
Open the Settings app and go to System to disable the Runtime Broker. Inside the System window, locate Notifications & Actions and unselect “Show me tips about Windows.” Now restart the PC to bring it back to normal and fix high RAM and CPU usage.
If you are having any alternate solution to fix this high RAM and CPU usage due to ntoskrnl.exe Windows 10, do let us know in the comments below.
Other Windows processes that could cause high system usage
The Windows 10 OS is crowded with many processes that could run into problems. If the Ntoskrnel process is not the culprit in your case, then you should read about other Windows processes. High CPU usage or memory leak in Windows 10 could be caused by other Windows processes, including DWM.exe, System Interrupts, Service Host, Runtime Broker, etc.
Also read: How to Enable Full Disk Encryption in Windows 10 in Simple Steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can RAM cause 100% CPU usage?
No, if your CPU is at 100% usage, the RAM isn’t an issue.
Does faster RAM reduce CPU usage?
Yes, having more memory can reduce CPU usage, but the effect is insignificant.