How to Fix High CPU Usage in Windows 11

When a Windows 11 PC experiences excessively high CPU usage, you will typically experience poor overall performance. Individual apps slow down, it can take a long time to perform simple tasks or switch between windows, and apps may even crash. At 100 percent CPU usage, Windows 11 can become entirely unusable, and you may even need to restart your computer.

Why Is My CPU Usage So High in Windows 11?

Every program you run on your computer takes up some of the processing power of your CPU, including Windows 11 itself. Most Windows 11 PCs can run many programs simultaneously, but it’s possible to overload even high-end CPUs if you try to run too many things simultaneously.

Here are the most common causes of high CPU usage in Windows 11:

Running too many apps: You will see high CPU usage if you have too many high-end games and other processor-hungry apps running simultaneously.

Background apps: If you minimize apps instead of closing them, you’re likely, over time, to end up with enough apps running in the background to cause high CPU usage. Antivirus apps are a common culprit due to background virus scans.

Malware: If your computer is infected with malware, you will often experience performance issues. Malware that runs background processes will often cause high CPU usage.

Windows services: In some cases, a Windows service will make excessive demands on your CPU for a short time or get stuck and cause extended high CPU usage. Every program you run on your computer takes up some of the processing power of your CPU, including Windows 11 itself. Most Windows 11 PCs can run many programs simultaneously, but it’s possible to overload even high-end CPUs if you try to run too many things simultaneously.

How Do I Fix 100 CPU Usage in Windows 11?

Since there are a lot of causes for high CPU usage in Windows 11, there is no one solution to solve the problem. Closing unnecessary apps or restarting your computer will fix the problem. In other cases, you should dig a little deeper.

If you’re having trouble with high CPU usage, try each of the following fixes until you find one that works for you.

Close unnecessary apps: The easiest fix is to close apps you aren’t currently using, mainly if they use a lot of CPU. This process doesn’t require restarting your computer, so it should be your first try.

Restart your computer: If closing a few apps doesn’t fix your problem, the next easiest fix is to restart your computer. It will solve your CPU usage problem in most situations. If the problem reoccurs, return to this list and try the next fix.

Update Windows 11: There may be an issue with a Windows service on your computer or another issue Microsoft resolved. In that case, you can fix the problem by downloading and installing the latest Windows 11 updates.

Scan for malware Your computer may have malware that’s causing high CPU usage in addition to causing other potentially unnoticed issues in the background. Start with the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, perform a full scan with your antivirus software, and scan everything with another antimalware tool.

We recommend you download Geekway Pro Safeguard for better security.

Check your antivirus program and make changes if necessary: Antivirus programs are helpful, but they can also cause issues with excessive CPU usage. To check if this is your problem, open Task Manager and locate your antivirus software in the list of apps. If it’s using excessive CPU usage, try uninstalling it and switching to a different program; there are many free antivirus options.

Disable background apps: Windows 11 allows apps to run in the background, which is convenient but can lead to excessive CPU usage. You can’t disable background apps in Windows 11, but you can prevent specific unwanted apps from running in the background and using system resources.

Disable SysMain. Some Windows services, like SysMain (formerly called Superfetch), can cause high CPU usage. SysMain, in particular, is designed to pre-load data for commonly used apps, so they open faster when you open them. Sometimes, this leads to excessive CPU usage, so disabling the service may fix your problem.

Check your hardware In some cases, hardware issues are the root cause of excessive CPU usage. An issue with your power supply may prevent the CPU from receiving enough power, or the CPU may be running too hot due to a buildup of dust on the heatsink. If it’s a dust issue, cleaning your PC may fix it.

How Do I Check CPU Usage in Windows 11?

You can usually tell if you’re having a problem with high CPU usage by the performance of your PC. If tasks that typically take no time at all are taking a lot longer, apps don’t load, or you’re having trouble switching between apps, you may be dealing with high CPU usage. You can check CPU usage in Windows 11 in Task Manager to know for sure.

Here’s how to check CPU usage in Windows 11:

Open Task Manager, One way is to search for it from the taskbar.

Select CPU from the Processes tab.

Apps that are using a lot of CPU can now be found at the top of the list.