You must have noticed many times while using your windows systems in the middle of your operation you could have experience CPU hang or lagging in operation, this is due to high CPU usage by the “Antimalware service executable” process is a windows defenders background service running in the background of your windows OS.
The Antimalware Service Executable process is a windows Defender service which is an in-built Microsoft antivirus in windows 10, which is also known as MsMpEng.exe in windows operating systems.
As the name called Windows Defender will act as a defender for your windows which is responsible for protecting your computer from malware, dangerous software, or application that running on your computer through a background system scan.
Methods
Understanding of Antimalware Service Executable?
The “Antimalware Service Executable” process is a Windows Defender service running in the background of the windows, which is dedicatedly responsible for scanning your files and software for any malicious present on your computer.
This threat can be removed from your computer by MsMpEng.exe which is running in the background through scanning, which utilizes CPU or processor speed highly but that will involve the hanging of your system again and again during CPU usage.
To fix this CPU usage problem, we have tested these methods where you can easily get a solution to this error.
when you are doing some important task on your computer and suddenly without intimating you the antimalware Windows Defender runs its Full Scan and your CPU usage gets full which leads to hanging and lagging, not able to work on your system properly which make you very frustrated at that point of time.
In order to get rid of this issue, you need to reschedule the scan, here we will show you step by step how you can schedule the scan for your systems.
Step 1: Click on the Start menu and type Administrative Tools, click and open it.
Step 3:In the left pane of Task Scheduler browses the following path. (Library/Microsoft/Windows/Windows defender).
Step 4: You will see Windows Defender Scheduled Scan in the windows defender folder just double click and choose properties.
Step 5: Once you have chosen the properties, then go to the General tab, and uncheck the “Run with Highest privileges” option.
Step 6: Then click on the Conditions tab, uncheck all the options Idle, Power, Network, and click OK.
Step 7: Once everything is done, Now we need to reschedule the scan by selecting the Triggers tab and clicking on New.
Step 8: Create a new scan schedule as per your specified time, and we recommend you to choose the Weekly options, you won’t be interrupted by the windows defender, then select the day option and click Ok but don’t forget to check the Enabled option at the bottom.
we will be glad if you find this solution successful for your problem, if not then, check our 2nd method of solution for “Antimalware Service Executable” high CPU usage.
2. Windows Defender Disable
Another method that will help you in solving the High CPU usage is by disabling the Windows Defender. Having third-party antivirus on your computer and disabling the windows defender will be a great option. Many users have tried this option and they have gotten rid of high CPU usage by disabling the Windows Defender.
What are the ways you can disable Windows Defender?
Local Group Policy Editor
Registry
Local Group Policy Editor helps disable windows defender.
Step 1. Press Windows + R key to get the Run dialog box and type gpedit.msc in it and press ok to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration + Administrative Templates + Windows Components + Windows Defender. And double-click the option of ‘Turn off Windows Defender setting’.
Step 3. Once done, then Check the Enabled option, and windows defender will be disabled, click Apply and OK.
The registry is also a good option to disable windows defender.
Step 1. Press Windows + R key to get the Run box. Then type Regedit Enter to open the Windows Registry.
Step 2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.
Step 3. If you see a registry entry named DisableAntiSpyware, double click or right-click on it and edit it to change its value to 1.
We hope you find this solution easy to access and problem-solving. If not then find our next solution method.
3. Adding Antimalware Service to Windows Defender’s Exclusion List
This method will help you in minimizing high CPU usage by adding MsMpEng.exe to the exclusion list, we will be showing you easy steps to find the solution.
Step 1: Press Windows + I keys on the keyboard and open the settings window.
Step 2: Click on Update & Security.
Step 3: Then you have to select Windows Defender and then go to Add an exclusion in the Exclusion section.
Step 4: Click Exclude a .exe, .com or .scr process.
Step 5: Then type MsMpEng.exe, and click OK.
After following all the above steps you’ll be able to fix the Antimalware Service Execution high CPU usage problem.
4. Scan for Infected Malware
It may be possible that your PC has infected by malware and also infected the MsMpEng.exe process, you need to scan your system with Antimalware software Malwarebyte which can easily scan your entire system and delete the malware present in your computer and make it free.
FAQ: Antimalware Service Executable
1) Is windows defender safe for desktop apart from third-party antivirus?
Yes, totally it is safe just you need to schedule it at the right time for scanning your system. Read how you can schedule the windows defender as per your preference.
2) Why is ‘antimalware service executable’ running CPU high?
Because it runs the scan in real-time and thereby your PC gets hang due to high CPU and Ram usage.
Conclusion
Just follow our Step by step method and screenshots to rectify the Antimalware Service Executable High CPU usage issues in windows 10. How to Fix “Antimalware Service Executable” High CPU Usage on your PC – 2020
