In this article, you'll discover "How To Resolve High CPU Usage by Windows Driver Foundation on Windows 10."

The Windows Driver Foundation is an integral part of Windows that facilitates driver services. Normally, it does not limit the CPU's operations.

However, due to malfunctions, it can drain your battery and cause your system to freeze when it hits 100% CPU usage.

Let's delve into the ways to tackle the "Windows Driver Foundation high CPU" issue.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Windows Driver Foundation high CPU issue
• Resolving: Windows Driver Foundation high CPU usage
• Method 1. Remove peripherals from your computer
• Method 2. Start your system in Safe Boot mode
• Method 3. Utilize the System Maintenance Troubleshooter
• Method 4. Upgrade Windows to the latest version
• Method 5. Update or reinstall your drivers
• Method 6. Deactivate HID Sensor Collection V2 on Surface Pro
• Method 7. Mend your system files
• Method 8. Restore your system using System Restore
• Method 9. Reset or reinstall Windows
• Concluding thoughts

Understanding the Windows Driver Foundation high CPU issue

The Windows Driver Frameworks (WDF), commonly referred to as the "Windows Driver Foundation," consists of libraries utilized by device drivers in Windows. Rest assured, it's not malware or anything harmful. It's a crucial component of your operating system. Without these drivers, many hardware components like your mouse or GPU would be unusable.

Nevertheless, some users may encounter high CPU usage from the Windows Driver Foundation, which can result in performance degradation or a system that becomes unresponsive. To address this issue, you can use the following troubleshooting methods:

• Update your system through Windows Update for the latest performance enhancements
• Use one of Windows' built-in troubleshooters
• Try Safe Boot to isolate the issue
• Disconnect peripherals from your computer
• Update or reinstall your Wi-Fi driver
• Terminate the Windows Driver Foundation service task
• Disable HID Sensor Collection V2 (Surface Pro)
• Utilize a system restore point
• Reset or reinstall Windows

Let's go through the detailed steps required to implement these troubleshooting methods. You'll find a step-by-step guide for each method below!

Resolving: Windows Driver Foundation high CPU usage

Below are all the solutions to help you fix the Windows Driver Foundation process causing high CPU usage. Ensure to follow the instructions precisely to prevent any further harm to your system.

Method 1. Remove peripherals from your computer

If the Windows Driver Foundation is consuming a lot of CPU power, it might be due to a faulty driver. Removing your peripherals can help you identify the root cause. If the issue stems from the peripherals or their drivers, you can then address that.

If you suspect that a damaged or corrupt peripheral driver is causing the high CPU issue, consider disconnecting your peripherals. This can help you pinpoint any faulty devices.

Disconnect your peripherals one by one. Monitor if the CPU usage of Windows Driver Foundation changes throughout this process. If the usage decreases after disconnecting a device, you may need to update or replace the drivers for that device.

Method 2. Start your system in Safe Boot mode

To ensure your computer operates without third-party services, start in "Safe Boot." This mode will clear out any applications and third-party conflicts before booting. Check if the Windows Driver Foundation still consumes high CPU resources when in Safe Boot state.

Here's how to perform a Safe Boot on your Windows 10 system:

1. Press the Windows R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog in a new window.
2. Type “msconfig” without quotes and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will open the System Configuration window.
   
3. Navigate to the Services tab. Ensure you tick the Hide all Microsoft services box. This ensures you only see third-party services.
   
4. After hiding all system services, click the Disable all button to disable all third-party services on your device.
   
5. Click the Apply button and restart your computer. Upon reboot, your computer will initiate only essential Microsoft services.
6. Restart your computer. You'll be in a Safe Boot state with only official Microsoft services running. Check if the Windows Driver Foundation still uses high CPU resources in this state.

If you find that the Windows Driver Foundation no longer causes high CPU usage in a Safe Boot state, a third-party service is likely the culprit. You need to identify and either update the associated driver, remove the app, or disable the service entirely.

Method 3. Utilize the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

Microsoft offers various methods to resolve Windows issues. The built-in troubleshooters can help fix problems like your system not shutting down properly. The System Maintenance troubleshooter will attempt to address any issues, whether related or unrelated to the system.

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to open the Start menu. Select Settings, or use the Windows I shortcut.
   
2. Click on the Update & Security tile. Here, you can access most of your built-in troubleshooters.
   
3. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab using the left-side pane. You should see a troubleshooter titled System Maintenance Troubleshooter.
   
4. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button. Allow the troubleshooter to scan your device and identify any issues.
   
5. If you prefer not to share full diagnostic data with Microsoft, click on the Additional troubleshooters link. Locate the System Maintenance troubleshooter.
   

Keep in mind that this troubleshooter might not catch every issue, so consider trying it as a last resort. Even if it doesn't detect any problems, other methods might still resolve your issue!

Method 4. Upgrade Windows to the latest version

Updating your operating system could address many underlying issues, including high CPU usage by the Windows Driver Foundation. Download the latest version of Windows and see if the issue persists.

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to open the Start menu. Select Settings, or use the Windows I shortcut.
   
2. Click on the Update & Security tile. This is where you can manage your Windows Update settings and choose when to receive updates.
   
3. Stay on the default Windows Update tab. Click on the Check for updates option and wait for Windows to find available updates. If you see any updates displayed, click on the View all optional updates link to see and install them.
   
4. When Windows finds a new update, click on the Install option. Wait for Windows to download and apply the necessary updates.

Method 5. Update or reinstall your drivers

Just as your system can become outdated, so can your drivers. You might have installed the correct drivers previously and forgotten to update them. It's also possible that your computer came with built-in drivers when you first got it.

Here's how to update your drivers quickly and efficiently to possibly resolve high CPU usage from the Windows Driver Foundation.

1. Press the Windows X keys on your keyboard and click on the Device Manager option from the WinX menu.
   
2. Expand the driver menus by clicking on the arrow next to one. Right-click on the driver you want to update, and then choose Update Driver from the context menu. In this example, we'll update a Bluetooth device driver.
   
3. Select the method of updating your driver. You can either let Windows 10 search for a driver automatically or manually locate a new driver file already on your computer.
   
4. Wait for the driver installation to complete. Repeat this for any other drivers you use, and see if the issue has been resolved. For good measure, make sure to restart your computer after updating your drivers.

Method 6. Deactivate HID Sensor Collection V2 on Surface Pro

If you're using a Surface Pro device, you can try deactivating the HID Sensor Collection V2 device to resolve high CPU usage by the Windows Driver Foundation. Here's what you need to do.

1. Attach the type cover to your Surface device if it's not already attached. Next, press the Windows X keys on your keyboard and click on the Device Manager option from the WinX menu.
2. Locate the Sensors section and expand it.
3. Right-click on the HID Sensor Collection V2 option in the list, and choose Disable from the context menu.
4. Restart your Surface Pro computer and check if the issue has been resolved.

Method 7. Mend your system files

Corrupted system files can cause significant issues with your operating system, including high CPU usage. The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool designed to detect and repair corrupt files.

1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also use the Windows S keyboard shortcut.
2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
   
3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
   
4. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
5. Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your computer. If it finds any discrepancies, the utility will restore system files and fix all related errors.

Method 8. Restore your system using System Restore

Your system might have created a restore point before the issue occurred. In that case, you can revert your system to that state. This could fix the problem, effectively undoing any system errors that took place. Check what files will be affected by System Restore here.

1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also use the Windows S keyboard shortcut.
2. Type in System Restore and click on Recovery from the search results. This should be at the top, in the Best match category.
   
3. This will take you to the Control Panel. Here, click on the Open System Restore link found in the Advanced recovery tools section.
   
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore to a past point in time. You can select a restore point yourself, or use the recommended one if Windows 10 offers it. Don't forget to check what files and applications will be affected!
   
5. After selecting the options you're satisfied with, click on the Finish button and wait for Windows 10 to restore your computer.

After completing the restoration process, check if the Windows Driver Foundation process still uses high CPU resources.

Method 9. Reset or reinstall Windows

If none of the above methods work, you might need to reset or reinstall Windows to fix the issue. Depending on your preferences, you can reinstall the system without losing personal files. Unfortunately, this will delete most of your applications and system settings to provide your device with a fresh start.

Refer to our install Windows 11 guide for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows. For refresh and reset instructions, visit the official Microsoft support page.

Concluding thoughts

That's how to identify and fix the Windows Driver Foundation high CPU issue. You should find a solution that suits your PC's needs among these steps.

If you still have questions after reading our article or need help with anything tech-related, please contact us! We're eager to assist you in getting back up and running smoothly.

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