In this guide we will discuss about : “How to Fix High CPU Usage (100%) in Windows 11“. High CPU usage is a situation where the CPU of a computer is held busy with tasks it needs to accomplish. It can make your system sluggish, applications to freeze, or may reach a stage where your system nearly overheats, to say the least. Possible offenders are background services, startup applications, viruses or trojans, or pending application updates.

Restart Your Windows 11 PC

Sometimes, the simplest solution works best. Restarting your computer terminates all running processes, giving your CPU a fresh start.

Steps to Restart:

• Save your work.
• Click the Start button.
• Choose Restart from the Power menu.

Identify Resource-Heavy Programs

Use Task Manager to pinpoint which programs are hogging your CPU.

Steps to Identify:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Click the CPU column to sort processes by usage.
• Right-click any high-usage program and select End Task.

Disable Startup Apps

Startup apps can slow down your computer right from boot.

Steps to Disable:

• Press Windows + S and type “Startup Apps.”
• Open the Startup Apps settings.
• Toggle off unnecessary programs.

Turn Off SysMain (Superfetch)

SysMain preloads applications into memory but can lead to high CPU usage.

Steps to Disable:

• Press Windows + S and type Services.
• Find SysMain in the list.
• Right-click it, choose Properties, and set Startup Type to Disabled.

Pause or Stop Windows Updates

Pending Windows updates can cause spikes in CPU usage.

Steps to Pause:

• Open Settings and go to Windows Update.
• Click Pause Updates for 1 Week.

Scan for Malware

Malware often runs in the background, consuming CPU resources.

Recommended Tools:

• Bitdefender
• Malwarebytes
• Run a deep system scan and remove any detected threats.

Update Your Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause performance issues.

Steps to Update:

• Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X.
• Right-click on devices and select Update Driver.
• Follow the prompts to update.

Adjust Power Settings

Using a balanced or high performance power plan one can lessen the workload on the CPU.Following this opens the Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.High Performance or Balanced can be chosen as per the requirement of an organization. to a balanced or high-performance power plan can reduce CPU strain.

Steps to Optimize:

• Open Control Panel and go to Power Options.
• Choose High Performance or Balanced.

Disable Background Apps

Prevent apps from running in the background.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > Privacy > Background Apps.
• Turn off unnecessary apps.

Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with minimal drivers and startup programs.

Steps to Perform:

• Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
• Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable All.

Check for Corrupted System Files

Corrupted system files can cause abnormal CPU behavior.

Run SFC:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Run DISM:

• Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

Optimize Windows Settings

Disabling visual effects and optimizing virtual memory can help.

Steps:

• Press Windows + S and type Advanced System Settings.
• Under Performance, choose Adjust for best performance.

Reinstall Windows 11

If all else fails, reinstalling Windows can fix persistent issues.

Steps to Reinstall:

• Open Settings > Recovery.
• Click Reset this PC and follow the instructions.

Upgrade Your Hardware

If you have a consistent high CPU usage, it’s probably best to think about purchasing new hardware, e.g. more RAM or a better SSD.

Read More : “Windows 11’s Multi-App Camera Support: How to Enable and Use New Creator Tool“

Conclusion

There are many causes of high CPU usage on Windows 11, but these tips should help you to bring your computer back under control. From describing resource-consuming programs to improving equipment, know all about it in this comprehensive guide.

FAQs

What is normal safe level of CPU usage?
This should be usually below 80% CPU load while working and below 20% during idle time.

obsolete drivers can it lead to high CPU usage?
Indeed, expectations to previous drivers to become out-dated or even corrupted can result in low performance.

When is the best time to restart my pc?
It is recommended to restart the system once a week to maintain a better functionality of the system.

Is it safe however to ever disable SysMain?
Of course, disabling SysMain is harmless and may even help to decrease the load on the processor.

Which of the hardware enhancements enhances the CPU most?
This might be as simple as replacing an old processor with a new one or increasing memory size.