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How to Fix High Processor Usage

Content Type: Troubleshooting   |   Article ID: 000057744   |   Last Reviewed: 09/13/2022

Description

Some of these issues can be due to CPU high usage:

  • A game stutters or crashes.
  • Open applications stop reacting to new inputs.
  • Programs /Applications open or load very slowly.
  • Processor spikes to 100% utilization.

Resolution

Refer to How to Fix High CPU Usage for details on how to perform troubleshooting.

  • Reboot.
  • End or Restart Processes using Task Manager.
  • Update drivers.
  • Scan for malware.
  • Check Power Options.
  • Find specific guidance online.
  • Reinstall Windows*.

Other programs besides Task Manager that can check for CPU usage are listed below:

  • CPU-Z*: For general information about your CPU and motherboard.
  • Process Monitor*: Logs, not just CPU usage, but also registry, file system, and network activity. Check network activity using this tool if you suspect that a process could be malware.
  • Performance Monitor*: A built-in Windows* tool that gives a more detailed view of a process’s CPU usage over time. To open it, use the Windows Key + R, then type perfmon Performance Monitor has too many advanced features to describe here, but in short, it makes it easy to break CPU usage into multiple categories per process and track it over time for advanced troubleshooting.

Related Products

This article applies to 72 products.
Intel® Core™ i7 processors (14th gen) 5th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 3000 Series 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors Intel® Pentium® Silver Processor Series 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Core™ i5 processors (14th gen) Intel® Celeron® Processor J Series 8th Generation Intel® Core™ m Processors 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor D Series 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor 4000 Series Intel® Core™ Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor 2000 Series 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor N Series Intel® Pentium® Processor 3000 Series Intel® Pentium® Processor G Series 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor N Series Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor Series 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 1000 Series Intel® Core™ X-series Processors Intel® Core™ processors (Series 1) 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors 7th Generation Intel® Core™ m Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 5th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 2000 Series 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 5000 Series Intel® Core™ i3 processors (14th gen) Intel® Core™ processors (Series 2) 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors 6th Generation Intel® Core™ m Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor G Series 5th Generation Intel® Core™ M Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor J Series 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors Intel® Core™ i9 processors (14th gen) 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i9 Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Pentium® Processor 1000 Series 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Intel® Celeron® Processor 4000 Series Intel® Core™ Processor N-series 5th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors

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