Fix 'Antimalware Service Executable' High CPU
While using Windows, many users encounter high CPU usage due to "Antimalware Service Executable" process. This article will discuss some effective solutions to help users fix this problem.
1. Check For Windows Updates
First of all, make sure your operating system and Windows Defender are up-to-date; Microsoft often releases updates to fix system vulnerabilities, improve performance and enhance the efficiency of antivirus software. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update" to check for and install all available updates.
2. Driver Updates
Make sure your hardware drivers are also up-to-date, especially for graphics cards, network adapters, and storage devices. Outdated drivers may lead to compatibility problems between your system and hardware, which in turn may affect the efficiency of your CPU.
It is recommended to use Driver Sentry to automatically detect and update drivers, saving time and avoiding the risk of downloading or installing incorrect drivers.
Click the download button to get the latest version of Driver Sentry, install the software, and then click "Scan".
After the scan, the software will display which drivers are missing or need updating. Find the driver program that needs to be updated in the result list, and then click the "Update" button.
After the update, it is recommended to restart your computer to ensure the updated drivers take effect.
3. Adjust Scanning Time
Windows Defender by default performs regular scans in the background. If the scan time overlaps with the time you are using your computer, it can cause a performance bottleneck. You can adjust the scanning time to make sure it doesn't take up too much resources while you are using your computer.
Open the "Windows Security" application.
Select "Virus and Threat Protection" > "Virus and Threat Protection".
In Scheduled Scan, set a time when you don't use your computer much to run a full scan.
4. Exclude Folders or Files
If you know that certain folders or files are not infected, you can exclude them from Windows Defender's scan. This way, Windows Defender will not check these files every time it scans, thus reducing the CPU load.
In the "Windows Security" , select "Virus and Threat Protection" > "Virus and Threat Protection" .
In the "Virus & threat protection" window, locate "Manage settings". Click on it.
Find "Exclusions" and click "Add or Remove Exclusions".
Scroll down to "Exclusions" and click on "Add an exclusions".
5. Disable Real-time Protection
Real-time protection is one of the core features of Windows Defender, which is used to detect malware and stop it from running in real-time. Although disabling real-time protection can reduce CPU usage, it can also reduce the security of your system. Therefore, this method is only suitable for short-term solutions and it is recommended to re-enable real-time protection as soon as the scan is complete.
Open the "Windows Security" application and select "Virus and Threat Protection".
Click "Manage Settings" in "Virus and Threat Protection" Settings.
Find "Real-time protection" and turn it off.
6. Change Power Plan Settings
Windows power plans can affect system performance. By default, some power saving plans may limit CPU performance and cause processes such as "Antimalware Service Executable" to consume more resources. Setting the power plan to "High Performance" mode can improve CPU performance and reduce resource consumption.
Open "Control Panel" > "Power Options".
Select the "High Performance" power plan.
7. Check For Other Security Software Interference
Some third-party antivirus software may conflict with Windows Defender, causing it to consume CPU resources abnormally. If you have other antivirus software installed, consider disabling it temporarily to see if the problem is resolved. If you no longer use these third-party antivirus programs, consider uninstalling them to avoid conflicts with Windows Defender.
Above is the way to fix "Antimalware Service Executable" high CPU utilization issue, hope it helps you.
See also:
How to Fix Audio Services Not Responding
7 Methods to Fix Windows 10 Low Volume
