How to Fix Windows Update High CPU Usage

Windows updates help fix various issues with older versions and introduce new features. However, many users reported that Windows 11 update is causing high CPU usage, including Service Host Windows update high CPU usage and other services high CPU usage.

Generally, Windows update high CPU usage is caused by these reasons: too many actively running background applications, insufficient RAM, corrupted Windows update process, virus infection, and more.

Here we list several feasible solutions to help you resolve the issue.

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How to Fix Windows Update High CPU Usage

Fix 1. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Startup programs will get started automatically every time you boot your computer. This may cause Windows update high CPU usage. So, you can follow the steps below to disable unnecessary startup programs.

Step 1. Right-click the Windows logo button to select Task Manager.

Step 2. Under the Startup tab, select the target program and then click the Disable button.

Step 3. Repeat similar steps to disable all unnecessary programs. The disabled startup program will not get started the next time your Windows boots.

See Also: Windows 10 High Memory Usage [Causes and Solutions].

Fix 2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows offers you a built-in troubleshooter that helps detect and repair Windows update related issues. Here you can see how to run the Windows Update troubleshooter.

Step 1. Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Select the Update & Security option. Then move on to the Troubleshoot tab and click the Additional troubleshooters from the right panel.

Step 3. In the new window, click Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.

Step 4. Subsequently, the troubleshooter will start to detect and repair Windows update relevant issues. You need to wait patiently until the whole process completes.

Fix 3. Restart Windows Update Relevant Services

Restarting Windows update relevant services is also an effective way to reduce Windows update CPU usage.

Step 1. Type Services in the Windows search box and click Services from the best match result.

Step 2. Scroll down to find and right-click Windows Update, then select Restart from the context menu.

Step 3. Repeat the steps to restart the “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” service and the “Cryptographic Services” service.

After that, check if the CPU and disk usage are still high.

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Fix 4. Change Windows Update Settings

Facing high disk and CPU usage during Windows update, you can also try to change Windows update settings.

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I key combination.

Step 2. Click Update & Security, then go to the Delivery Optimization section.

Step 3. In the right panel, make sure the Allow downloads from other PCs option is turned off.

Fix 5. Perform a Virus Scan

Viruses can consume large amounts of system memory and slow down your computer, leading to the “Windows update high CPU usage” issue. In this case, you need to perform a virus scan by using third-party antivirus software or Windows built-in antivirus – Windows Defender.

Here this article may be helpful: How to Open and Use Windows Defender in Windows 11/10.

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Bottom Line

This article talks about how to fix Windows update high CPU usage in Windows 10/11. Hope you can get rid of this issue by applying the approaches above.

If you need to recover deleted files from Windows 11/10/8/7, try MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free.

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Should you have found other good solutions to the high CPU issue or have any questions about MiniTool Power Data Recovery, please feel free to send an email to [email protected].