How to Resolve 100% CPU Utilization on Windows 10/11

While using Windows OS, various processes operate in the background and consume system resources such as CPU and memory. If not correctly optimised, these processes cause system delay. Normally, Windows is smart enough to prioritise critical system processes to ensure that the OS is utilising the hardware to its full potential, but due to 3rd party applications (such as antiviruses) and malware, some processes begin utilising the CPU at the maximum level and CPU utilisation reaches 100%, slowing down overall system performance. In other circumstances, this type of issue develops if the system is overheating or if there is a hardware fault in the CPU or system Fan.

The steps to fix the issue are as follows:

Before running this utility, run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) programme by entering the following command in an elevated cmd window: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

DISM uses Windows Update to obtain the files needed to repair corruptions. However, if the operating system is already broken and most of the components are not working in Windows, this command will be ineffective.

After running the DISM command, in the same elevated command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press the enter key. This command will check all protected system files and replace corrupted ones with a cached copy from a compressed folder at C:\Windows\System32\dllcache.

Open task management and see which processes are consuming the most CPU. Right-click on the process and select "Go to details," which will see the actual exe file that is running that process. Simply right click on the exe file name, then click on "Set Priority" and pick "Low". This step ensures that the process is not allowed to use all of the CPU resources.

Click on Start, followed by Settings. Open Windows Update and search for and instal all available updates (cumulative, feature, and other optional updates). After installing the updates, restart the machine and check the CPU utilisation.

Navigate to the downloads section of your system's manufacturer's website. Download all of the newest drivers for your system from the downloads section. BIOS, VGA, Audio, Chipset, Dynamic Tuning Driver, Intel Turbo Boost Driver, and other drivers are examples of drivers. If your manufacturer provides a tool for automatic driver updates (such as HP Support Assistant, Dell Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage, and so on), utilise it to update the drivers to the most recent version.

However, I would recommend utilising the IObit Driver Booster programme, which searches for the best performing drivers for your device and automatically downloads and instals them. I'm personally using it, and believe me, it's fantastic.

After the drivers have been updated, restart the system and evaluate its performance.

Most of the time, due to the OS's balanced power plan, the CPU is not properly utilised by the system processes, resulting in processor and system process dysfunction. This results in inefficient CPU consumption. As a result, it is advised to establish a high performance power plan and set it as the default so that the system can operate to its full capability. Follow the steps below to develop a high performance power plan: > Open control panel and in the search box, type power, and then click on "Choose a power plan" and set the power plan to "High Performance". If it is not present in your system, then click on "Create a Power Plan". Now, choose "High Performance" and enter the name of your power plan. Now, Restart the system and evaluate its performance.

Before making any changes to the registry, make a backup of the registry. After you have completed the registry backup, navigate to the following position in the registry: HKEY LOCAL MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Control>Session Manager>Memory Management, double-click "Clear Page File Shutdown," update the value data to 1, and then click OK. Then restart the system to see if the problem persists.

Disable P2P sharing for Windows updates, click Start, then Settings, and finally Windows Updates. Then click on "Advanced Options", then click on "Delivery Optimization" and then switch off "Allow downloads from other PCs".

Malware and viruses are also big contributors to the 100% CPU use problem. When malware infects a computer, it may exploit the ntoskrnl.exe file, which is a Windows NT Kernel and System file. Its process is accessible in task manager under the name "System," and it consumes the most CPU. However, this file is also used by some third-party applications that may be installed on the computer. So, first and foremost, try running the system in clean boot mode to see whether the problem is fixed. If the problem persists, perform a full system scan using a reputable antivirus programme, such as Malwarebytes antimalware. It should resolve the problem.

Open msconfig.exe and then click on "Services" to do a clean boot. Then select "Hide all Microsoft services" and uncheck all services except LAN, WLAN, and Audio services, or your internet will be disconnected and your system audio will stop operating. Then click OK to restart your computer.

If none of the preceding alternatives worked, reinstall the operating system or do a factory reset to see if it resolves the issue. Whether it works, then update all of the drivers and then instal your programmes one by one, checking to see if the problem returns after installing any particular driver or application. The culprit would be if the problem repeats after installing a certain application or driver. Uninstall it right away.

If the problem persists even after reinstalling the operating system, either the system CPU or the system fan is malfunctioning, resulting in overheating or processor malfunction. I've seen hard drives and RAM produce similar issues owing to memory leaks in some circumstances. Contact your system maker and request that they do hardware tests and replace the motherboard, as well as the processor and fan. This would undoubtedly solve the problem.