Easy Solutions: Antimalware Service Executable High Disk/CPU Usage

Antimalware Service Executable High CPU/Disk Usage

Windows 10 includes Windows Defender, Microsoft's built-in antivirus. The Antimalware Service Executable process is Windows Defender's background process. This program is also known as MsMpEng.exe and is part of the Windows operating system.
It's responsible for checking files for malware when you access them, performing background system scans to check for dangerous software, installing antivirus definition updates, and anything else a security application like Windows Defender needs to do. That's why it's very likely to take up huge disk, memory, RAM and even network bandwidth, draining computer resources, especially after getting a Windows 10 update.

How Can I Fix Antimalware Service Executable High CPU/Disk Usage

If the Antimalware Sevice Executable process takes up high CPU on your Windows 10, don't worry. We have easy solutions for you to deal with it.

Solution 1. Change Windows Defender's Scheduling Options

Change Windows Defender's schedule is an effective way because the error is mainly caused by real-time protection feature. Follow the details below and fix 'antimalware service executable high disk usage' issue.

• Press the Windows logo key + R at the same time to invoke the Run box.
• Type taskschd.msc and press Enter.
• Double-click on Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows.
• Double-click Windows Defender in Windows. Then double-click Windows Defender Scheduled Scan.
• Uncheck Run with highest privileges.
• Uncheck all the items in the Conditions section. Then click OK.

With the steps above, your error should be fixed now.
If unfortunately, it doesn't help you, make sure to try the second solution below.

Solution 2. Add Antimalware Service Executable to Windows Defender's Exclusion List

1. Press the Windows logo key + I at the same time to open the Settings window.

2. Click Update & security.

3. Click Windows Defender. Then click Add an exclusion in Exclusions.

4. Click Exclude a .exe, .com or .scr process

5. Type MsMpEng.exe. Then click OK.

Solution 3. Disable Windows Defender

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Dialog Box.
• In the Run Dialog Box, type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
• In the navigation pane on the left, double-click the folders to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.
• If you find a registry entry named DisableAntiSpyware, double-click it and set its value data to 1.

Note: If you do not see a registry entry named DisableAntiSpyware, right-click in the main Registry Editor pane and select New > DWORD (32 bit) Value.

Name this new registry entry DisableAntiSpyware. Double click it and set its value data to 1.

Extra Help: Check Partition and Clear up Junk Files 

For those who got this problem very recently, performing a disk check should be taken into account. 

In order to perfectly solve this case, we need a free tool to help us - EaseUS free partition tool. With EaseUS free partition manager, it’s not something hard to resize partitions on hard disks anymore. You can do it by yourself and make the best use of disk space in clicks. Meanwhile, it keeps your Windows computer running at its best by speeding up the computer. This professional tool can help get this work done, and here is the detail:

 

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master. Select "Tools" and click "System Optimization".

Step 2: Click "Junk File Cleanup". Then you can click "Analyze" to let EaseUS Partition Master find junk files on your PC.

Step 3: You can check and choose junk files and click Clean up. All of the selected junk files will be cleaned and deleted from your PC. Click "Yes" to clean up junk files.

If you still have the problem with your disk/CPU usage issue, you can refer to fix 100% disk usage in task manager to know more solutions.