Antimalware Service Executable High CPU Usage [Fixed]

Antimalware Service Executable is the background service for Windows Defender. This process is also called MsMpEng.exe and you can find it in the Task Manager. It runs to scan the spyware and malware on the device. 

However, sometimes, the antimalware service executable causes high CPU usage and as a result, the system performance slows down and after that, it crashes.  

This problem mainly appears if Windows Defender files are corrupted or missing. It is one of the most common issues with Defender and can be solved on your own. Therefore, check out the solutions and solve this issue on your computer. 

How To Fix Antimalware Service Executable High CPU 

Here we will be providing all the solutions that can help you get rid of the Antimalware service executable causes high CPU usage on the device. Follow and apply them one by one until the issue fixes.

Solution 1 – Change the Windows Defender’s Schedule

Change the Windows Defender’s Schedule

The Windows Defender’s real-time protection feature can cause this problem on the device. Therefore, you should change it by following these steps:

  1. Press the Win + R buttons to launch the Run box.
  2. Type taskschd.msc and then hit the Enter button or click on the OK option. 
  3. When the Task Scheduler window opens, go to the following this path: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender folder on the left navigation pane.
  4. On the right, find the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan folder, double-click on it.
  5. In the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan Properties window, unmark the box next to the Run with highest privileges option.
  6. After that, navigate to the Conditions tab and then untick all the items. Then click on the OK option to save the changes. 

Solution 2 – Add Antimalware Service Executable to Windows Defender Exclusion List

Add Antimalware Service Executable to Windows Defender Exclusion List

Another useful way in which you can get rid of the Antimalware Service Executable high disk problem on the system is to add Antimalware Service Executable to the Windows Defender exclusion list.

  1. Hit the Start button from the keyboard and then click on the Settings icon.
  2. When the Settings window opens, double-click on the Update & Security section and then select the Windows Defender tab.
  3. In that tab, go to the Exclusions section and then click on the Add an exclusion option. 
  4. From the next window, click on the Exclude a .exe, .com or .scr process option.
  5. Type MsMpEng.exe in the new exclusion name field and then click on the OK button to add it. 
  6. Once you are done, check if the issue is solved or not. If it fails to solve this problem then you can try the next solution.

Solution 3 – Disable Windows Defender Firewall

Disable Windows Defender Firewall

Sometimes, Windows Defender can also be responsible for this problem. Therefore, you need to turn it off at the earliest. Below are certain steps that you can follow:

  1. Press the Windows button and select Control Panel from the Start menu list.
  2. Once you are in the Control Panel window, go to the Windows Firewall section and then click on the Turn Windows Defender Firewall On and Off button on the left panel.
  3. On the right, mark the Turn Off Windows Defender Firewall option from both Private Network Settings and Public Network Settings sections.
  4. After performing these steps, click on the Save Changes option.
  5. Then restart the computer and then check if the Windows Defender Firewall was triggering the issue or not.

Solution 4 – Using the Local Group Policy Editor

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

Using the local group policy editor, you can eliminate the antimalware service executable causes a high CPU usage problem. To do that follow the steps below.

  1. Press the Windows Home key and R button to open the Run box.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and then hit the Enter button or click on the OK option. 
  3. From the Local Group Policy Editor window, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender.
  4. In the Windows Defender folder, double-click on the Turn off Windows Defender folder and then click on the Disabled option. After that, click on the OK option to turn it off. 

Solution 5 –Using the Registry Editor 

Using the Registry Editor 

Using the registry editor, you can easily resolve this issue on the device. To know more about it follow the steps hereunder:

  1. Open the Run box, type Regedit and then click on the OK option or press the Enter button.
  2. When you are in the Registry Editor window, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender folder.
  3. In the right window, double-click on the DisableAntiSptware folder and then set the Value data to 1.
  4. After doing this, click on the OK option to save the changes. 

Solution 6 – Remove the Bad Updates 

Remove the Bad Updates 

Removing the bad updates from the system can fix the antimalware service executable high CPU usage issue. Follow these steps:

  1. Press the Win + X keys to launch the WinX menu list and then select Command Prompt(Admin).
  2. Type the following commands one by one and then hit the Enter button.
  • “%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MPCMDRUN.exe” -RemoveDefinitions -All
  • “%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MPCMDRUN.exe” -SignatureUpdate

Once executed, reboot the computer and then check if the issue is eliminated or not. 

Solution 7 – Manually Limit the MsMpEng.exe CPU Usage

Manually Limit the MsMpEng.exe CPU Usage

If the previous solutions did not help you then you can try this solution to resolve this issue on your PC. Here’s how to perform it:

  1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc buttons at the same time to launch the Task Manager window.
  2. In the Task Manager window, go to the Details tab and then click on the More details option. 
  3. From that tab, locate the msmpeng.exe file, right-click on it and then choose the Set affinity option.
  4. Then choose the CPU limit threshold and close the Task Manager window. 

These are the fixes following which you can easily fix the antimalware service executable high CPU issue on the device. 

Maria Colombo
Maria Colombo
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