How to Fix High CPU or Disk Usage in Windows

Fix High Disk - CPU Usage

Let’s Dive In

Experiencing slow performance, system lags, or your laptop heating up for no reason? One of the most common culprits behind this sluggish behavior is high CPU or disk usage. Whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11, these performance issues can drastically reduce your productivity and damage long-term system health.

Let’s walk you through how to identify and fix high CPU or disk usage in Windows.

What Causes High CPU or Disk Usage? 🔍

Before we fix the problem, it’s essential to understand what might be causing it:

• Too many startup apps running in the background

• Malware or cryptojacking scripts

• Windows Services like Superfetch, Windows Search, or SysMain

• Outdated drivers or system bugs

• Heavy processes like Google Chrome, antivirus, or OneDrive sync

• Corrupt system files or Windows updates stuck in a loop

How to Fix High CPU Usage 🛠️

1. Identify the Culprit with Task Manager

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

• Click the CPU column to sort processes by usage

• Look for apps using excessive CPU (above 80%)

🔧 Tip: Right-click and “End Task” for temporary relief, but for a permanent fix, you’ll need to change settings or uninstall that program.

2. Disable Background Apps

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps

• Disable unnecessary apps from running in the background

• Turn off auto-startup apps under Task Manager > Startup tab

3. Turn Off Windows Services Like SysMain or Windows Search

• Press Win + R, type services.msc

• Find SysMain (Superfetch) or Windows Search

• Right-click > Properties > Change Startup Type to Disabled

• Click Stop to end the service

4. Update Drivers & Windows

Outdated drivers or a buggy Windows update can lead to performance spikes.

• Go to Settings > Windows Update

• Also, update drivers via Device Manager

How to Fix High Disk Usage 💾

1. Disable Windows Search Indexing

• In Services, find Windows Search

• Stop it temporarily or disable it permanently

• You can also run this command: net.exe stop "Windows Search" in Command Prompt

2. Turn Off Superfetch (SysMain)

   
   

   Superfetch preloads apps into RAM, but on older systems, it can hog disk resources. Disable it from Services, as shown above.

3. Check for Malware

   
   

   Run a full scan using Windows Security or tools like Malwarebytes.Malware can cause abnormal system resource usage in the background.

4. Clear Temporary Files

• Press Win + R, type %temp%, and delete all files

• Also, use Disk Cleanup to remove system junk

  
  

• Consider running cleanmgr or tools like CCleaner

5. Reset Virtual Memory (Pagefile)

A corrupt or misconfigured pagefile can cause high disk usage.

1. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings

   
   

2. Under Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory

   
   

3. Click Change, uncheck "Automatically manage", and set a custom size or let Windows reset it.

6. Turn Off Tips and Notifications

Believe it or not, Windows tips can cause background usage spikes.

• Go to Settings > System > Notifications

• Turn off "Get tips, tricks, and suggestions..."

Optional: Perform a Clean Boot 🔄

To rule out third-party interference:

• Press Win + R, type msconfig

• Under Services, check “Hide all Microsoft services” > Disable all

• Under Startup, open Task Manager and disable all

• Restart your PC

Wrapping Up ✅

High CPU or disk usage is a common yet solvable issue in Windows. With the steps above, you can pinpoint the source of the problem and improve your system’s performance without expensive repairs or upgrades. Regular maintenance, cleaning up startup items, and keeping your system updated go a long way in preventing future issues.

---

❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is my Windows CPU usage always at 100%?

• Ans: Common reasons include too many background apps, malware, outdated drivers, or Windows services like Superfetch and Windows Search consuming excessive resources.

Q2: How do I check what's causing high disk usage?

• Ans: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and click on the Disk tab to identify processes using the most disk resources.

Q3: Is 100% disk usage harmful?

• Ans: While not always harmful, prolonged high disk usage can lead to slower performance, system lag, and potential damage to HDDs due to constant read/write operations.

Q4: Can an SSD fix high disk usage?

• Ans: Upgrading to an SSD can significantly reduce disk bottlenecks, though it won’t fix software-based causes unless those are addressed too.

Q5: What background processes can I safely disable?

• Ans: You can safely disable services like Windows Search, Superfetch (SysMain), and unnecessary startup apps using Task Manager or MSConfig.

---

how to fix high disk usage, how to fix high disk usage windows 10, how to fix sysmain high disk usage, how to fix system high disk usage, how do i fix high disk usage, fix high disk usage, fix high disk usage windows 10, high disk usage fix, high disk usage windows 10 fix, how to fix high disk usage, how to fix high cpu usage, how do you fix high cpu usage, how do i fix high cpu usage, how to fix high cpu usage when playing games, how can i fix high cpu usage, high cpu usage fix, fintech shield