Antimalware Service Executable, also known as MsMpEng, is a system process responsible for the Windows Defender program that helps protect your computer from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Nevertheless, at times, this procedure can result in elevated CPU utilization on your computer, leading to a reduction in your system’s operational speed. In this article, we will discuss how to fix Antimalware Service Executable high CPU usage and ensure that your computer runs smoothly.
What Causes High CPU Usage for MsMpEng?
There can be several reasons why the Antimalware Service Executable process is causing high CPU usage. One of the main reasons is when you have multiple security programs running simultaneously, causing conflicts and overloading the system.
Another reason could be outdated Windows Defender definitions, which can cause the program to continuously scan your computer for threats. Additionally, if you have a slow or old computer with limited resources, it may struggle to keep up with the demands of the Antimalware Service Executable process.
How to Check if MsMpEng is Causing High CPU Usage
To check if the Antimalware Service Executable process is causing high CPU usage on your computer, you can open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del and clicking on “Task Manager.” Then, click on the “Processes” tab and look for “Antimalware Service Executable” under the “Name” column. If you see high CPU usage for this process, it is likely causing the performance issues on your computer.
Fix #1: Disable Windows Defender Real-Time Protection
The simplest solution to fix high CPU usage caused by MsMpEng is to disable real-time protection in Windows Defender. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and type “Windows Security”.
Click on the top result to open the Windows Security app.
- In the app, click on “Virus & threat protection” in the left sidebar.
- Under “Virus & threat protection settings,” click on “Manage settings.”
- Toggle off the switch for “Real-time protection.”
- A warning notification will appear; press “Yes” to confirm.
After disabling real-time protection, check if the CPU usage for MsMpEng has decreased in the Task Manager. Keep in mind that this method will leave your computer vulnerable to malware and other threats, so it is not a long-term solution.
Fix #2: Exclude Certain Files and Folders
In some cases, MsMpEng may be consuming high CPU usage due to constantly scanning certain files or folders. You can exclude these files and folders from being scanned by Windows Defender to reduce the workload on MsMpEng.
To exclude files and folders from scans, follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu and type “Windows Security.”
Click on the top result to open the Windows Security app.
- In the app, click on “Virus & threat protection” in the left sidebar.
- Click on Managed settings
- Under “Exclusions,” click on “Add or remove exclusions.”
- Click on “Add an exclusion” and select either “File” or “Folder.”
- Browse to the file or folder you want to exclude and click on “Open.”
- Repeat this process for any additional files or folders you want to exclude.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
After excluding certain files and folders, MsMpEng should no longer consume high CPU usage while scanning them. However, keep in mind that excluding important system files or folders may leave your computer vulnerable to malware.
Fix #4: Update Windows and Windows Defender
If none of the previously mentioned solutions prove effective, it’s plausible that a software glitch is responsible for the elevated CPU utilization in MsMpEng. To fix this, make sure your computer is up-to-date with the latest Windows updates and that Windows Defender is also updated.
- Open the Start menu and type “Windows Update”.
- Click on the top result to open Windows Update.
- If there are any updates available, click on “Download and install.”
- Once the updates are installed, restart your computer.
- Open Windows Security again and check for any updates for Windows Defender.
- If there are any updates available, click on “Install now” and wait for the updates to finish installing.
- Once the updates are installed, restart your computer again.
After updating Windows and Windows Defender, check if MsMpEng is still consuming high CPU usage. If it is, move on to the next fix.
Fix #5: Perform a clean boot
If none of the previous fixes have worked, it’s possible that there may be conflicting programs running in the background causing high CPU usage for MsMpEng. To troubleshoot this, you can perform a clean boot to start your computer with only essential programs and services.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “msconfig” and press Enter.
- Go to the “Services” tab and check the box next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
- Click on “Disable all” and then click on “Apply.”
- Go to the “Startup” tab and click on “Open Task Manager.”
- Disable all startup items by right-clicking on each one and selecting “Disable.”
- Close the Task Manager and click on “OK” in the System Configuration window.
- Restart your computer and check if MsMpEng is still consuming high CPU usage.
If the issue has been resolved, you can then gradually enable programs and services until the culprit is identified. Once identified, you can uninstall the conflicting program or service to permanently fix the high CPU usage caused by MsMpEng.
Conclusion
High CPU usage for Antimalware Service Executable (MsMpEng) is a common issue that can be caused by various factors. By following the fixes mentioned above, you should be able to resolve this problem and improve the performance of your computer. Nonetheless, if the problem endures despite attempting all the remedies, it is advisable to seek additional help from Microsoft or a qualified technician.