In this article, we will explore 10 effective methods to reduce high CPU usage on Windows 10 and improve the overall performance of your computer.
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What is High CPU Usage on Windows 10?
High CPU Usage on Windows 10 refers to the situation where your computer’s processor is being overworked and is using more resources than necessary. This can lead to slow performance, freezing, and even crashes. High CPU usage can be caused by various factors, including running too many applications at once, malware infections, outdated software, and hardware issues. To fix high CPU usage on Windows 10, you need to identify the root cause and apply the appropriate solution. This article will provide 10 ways to fix high CPU usage on Windows 10, including updating your operating system, removing malware, disabling unnecessary startup programs, and optimizing your computer’s performance. By following these tips, you can improve your computer’s performance and prevent high CPU usage from affecting your productivity.
Causes of High CPU Usage on Windows 10
- Run a full scan using your antivirus software.
- If no malware is found, download and run a malware removal tool such as Malwarebytes.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 2: Update Windows and Drivers
- Check for and install any available Windows updates.
- Update your drivers, especially for your graphics card and processor.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 3: Disable Startup Programs
- Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- Click on the Startup tab.
- Select any programs that are not necessary to run at startup and click Disable.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 4: Disable Background Apps
- Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
- Click on Privacy.
- Scroll down to Background apps and toggle off any apps that are not necessary.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 5: Adjust Power Settings
- Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Click on Power Options.
- Select High performance as your power plan.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 6: Disable Search Indexing
- Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Click on Indexing Options.
- Click on Modify.
- Deselect any folders that you do not want to be indexed.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 7: Clean Up Disk Space
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click on your main drive (usually C:).
- Select Properties.
- Click on Disk Cleanup.
- Select the files you want to delete and click OK.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 8: Adjust Visual Effects
- Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Click on System and Security.
- Click on System.
- Click on Advanced system settings.
- Under the Advanced tab, click on Settings under Performance.
- Choose Adjust for best performance or select which visual effects you want to keep.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 9: Disable Superfetch
- Open Services by searching for it in the Start menu.
- Scroll down to Superfetch.
- Right-click on it and select Properties.
- Under Startup type, select Disabled.
- Restart your computer and check for high CPU usage again.
Repair Method 10: Reset Your PC
- Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, click on Get started.
- Choose whether to keep or remove your personal files.
- Follow the prompts to reset your PC.
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Methods to Fix High CPU Usage on Windows 10
- Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
- Click on the Processes tab to see what programs are currently running
- Sort the list by CPU usage to see which programs are using the most resources
- Select the program(s) you want to close and click End Task
- If you’re unsure about a program, do a quick search online to see if it’s necessary for your system
Method 2: Scan Your Computer for Malware
- Install and run a trusted antivirus program
- Perform a full system scan to detect any malware or viruses
- Follow the program’s instructions to remove any threats
Method 3: Update Your Drivers
- Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager
- Expand each category and right-click on the device you want to update
- Select Update Driver and follow the prompts to download and install the latest driver
- Repeat for all devices with outdated drivers
Method 4: Adjust Power Settings
- Open Power Options by typing “power options” into the search bar and selecting Power Options
- Select the High Performance power plan
- Click on Change plan settings and then Change advanced power settings
- Scroll down to Processor power management and set the Maximum processor state to 90% or lower
- Click Apply and then OK
Method 5: Disable Startup Programs
- Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
- Select the Startup tab to see which programs are set to launch at startup
- Select the program(s) you want to disable and click Disable
- If you’re unsure about a program, do a quick search online to see if it’s necessary for your system
Method 6: Disable Windows Tips and Tricks
- Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I
- Select System and then Notifications & actions
- Toggle off the option for Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows
Method 7: Run System Maintenance
- Open Control Panel by typing “control panel” into the search bar and selecting Control Panel
- Select System and Security and then Security and Maintenance
- Click on Start maintenance and follow the prompts to complete the process
Method 8: Clean Out Junk Files
- Install and run a trusted system cleaner program
- Select the option to scan for junk files
- Follow the program’s instructions to remove any unnecessary files
Method 9: Disable Visual Effects
- Open Control Panel by typing “control panel” into the search bar and selecting Control Panel
- Select System and then Advanced system settings
- Under the Performance section, click on Settings
- Select Adjust for best performance and click Apply and then OK
Method 10: Reset Your PC
- Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I
- Select Update & Security and then Recovery
- Under Reset this PC, click on Get started and follow the prompts to reset your system
- Note: This will erase all of your personal files and settings, so make sure to back up important data before proceeding
Optimizing Windows 10 for Better CPU Usage
Windows 10 is a powerful operating system, but sometimes it can have high CPU usage, which can slow down your computer. Here are some tips to optimize your Windows 10 for better CPU usage:
1. Close unnecessary programs – Close any programs that you aren’t using to free up CPU resources.
2. Disable unnecessary startup programs – Disable any programs that start up with Windows that you don’t need.
3. Uninstall unused programs – Uninstall any programs that you don’t use to free up hard drive space and CPU resources.
4. Update Windows – Make sure you have the latest Windows updates installed to fix any bugs that could be causing high CPU usage.
5. Update drivers – Make sure your drivers are up to date to ensure your hardware is running smoothly.
6. Use the Performance troubleshooter – Run the built-in Performance troubleshooter to diagnose and fix any performance issues.
7. Adjust power settings – Adjust the power settings to optimize your computer’s performance.
8. Disable visual effects – Disable unnecessary visual effects to free up CPU resources.
9. Adjust virtual memory settings – Adjust the virtual memory settings to optimize your computer’s performance.
10. Upgrade hardware – If all else fails, consider upgrading your hardware to improve CPU performance.
Tools to Monitor and Manage CPU Usage on Windows 10
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Task Manager | A built-in Windows utility that displays the CPU usage of each running process and allows you to terminate processes that are using too much CPU. |
| Resource Monitor | An advanced tool in Windows that allows you to monitor CPU, memory, disk, and network usage in real time. It also allows you to identify which processes are consuming high CPU usage. |
| Process Explorer | A free tool from Microsoft that provides a detailed view of the processes running on your system, including CPU usage, memory usage, and other system information. |
| Core Temp | A lightweight tool that monitors the temperature of your CPU and displays it in real time. It can also alert you if the temperature goes above a certain threshold. |
| CPU-Z | A free tool that provides detailed information about your CPU, including clock speed, voltage, and cache size. It also displays real-time CPU usage and temperature. |
| HWMonitor | A free tool that monitors your system’s temperature, voltage, and fan speed. It also displays real-time CPU usage and can alert you if any of the values go above a certain threshold. |
| SpeedFan | A free tool that monitors your CPU temperature, fan speed, and voltage. It also allows you to control your system’s fan speed to help reduce CPU temperature. |
| Process Lasso | An advanced CPU optimization tool that allows you to control how your system’s CPU resources are allocated to different processes. It can help reduce high CPU usage by limiting the CPU usage of certain processes. |
| System Explorer | A free tool that provides detailed information about your system, including CPU usage, memory usage, and running processes. It also allows you to terminate processes and uninstall programs. |
| Process Hacker | A free, open-source tool that provides detailed information about your system’s processes, including CPU usage, memory usage, and network activity. It also allows you to terminate processes and modify their priority. |
