How to Fix High CPU Usage on Windows

High CPU usage slows down your Windows computer and causes programs to freeze or crash. This guide walks you through identifying the cause and resolving the issue systematically.

1. Open Task Manager to identify problem processes. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Click the Processes tab if not already selected. Click the CPU column header to sort processes by CPU usage from highest to lowest. Look for any process consistently using more than 50% CPU.
2. End problematic non-essential processes. Right-click any high-usage process you recognize as non-essential software. Select End task from the context menu. Avoid ending Windows system processes like dwm.exe, winlogon.exe, or csrss.exe. Focus on third-party applications and browser processes first.
3. Check for malware with Windows Defender. Open Windows Security by typing it in the Start menu search. Click Virus & threat protection, then Quick scan. If threats are found, follow the recommended actions to remove them. Restart your computer after cleanup completes.
4. Disable unnecessary startup programs. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Startup tab. Right-click programs you don't need at startup and select Disable. Focus on programs with High startup impact first. Keep essential programs like antivirus software enabled.
5. Update device drivers and Windows. Press Windows+X and select Device Manager. Look for devices with yellow warning triangles and right-click to Update driver. Then open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install all available updates and restart.
6. Adjust power settings for performance. Type Power Options in the Start menu search and open it. Click Additional power settings, then select High performance or Balanced power plan. Click Change plan settings next to your selected plan, then Change advanced power settings. Set Processor power management > Maximum processor state to 99% to prevent thermal throttling.
7. Run System File Checker and memory diagnostic. Press Windows+X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin). Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for completion, then type mdsched.exe and press Enter. Select Restart now and check for problems to test your RAM. Your computer will restart and run the memory test automatically.