If you come across the “High CPU Usage by System Idle Process” problem on Windows 11, how can you resolve it? If your machine is acting up, this guide from MiniTool offers several solutions for you. Keep reading to find out more.

Upon opening Task Manager, you might observe that a large portion of the CPU is being utilized by a process named System Idle Process. This could result in your computer overheating, which may reduce its lifespan.

System Idle Process is a system process. There’s no need to worry if you notice high CPU usage (typically 98% and 99%). Sometimes, high system idle processes can be linked to software issues. If you find that the idle percentage seems unusually high, inspect whether any open programs are non-responsive.

Other potential causes for the System Idle Process high CPU issue include:

• Infection by viruses or malware.
• The hard drive is full and not optimized.
• Unnecessary programs or toolbars installed on your system.
• Too many unnecessary startup programs running in the background.
• Multiple antivirus programs installed.
• Corrupt or faulty device drivers.

Read on to discover how to address the System Idle Process high CPU issue on Windows 11.

How to Resolve System Idle Process High CPU Usage

Solution 1: Disable Certain Processes at Startup

For users running Windows 11/10, you can follow these steps to disable startup processes:

Initially, you can try using the free Startup Optimizer – MiniTool System Booster to disable startup apps. This tool also helps with uninstalling unnecessary programs, cleaning your computer, recovering deleted files, erasing files and folders, forcefully terminating unwanted processes, scanning network connections, and removing harmful software.

Let’s now see how to disable apps on Windows 11/10/8/7 using MiniTool System Booster.

1. After downloading and installing MiniTool System Booster, double-click it to launch.

2. On the main interface, click the drop-down menu to select Toolbox.

3. Under the System Management section, click the Startup Optimizer option to proceed.

4. Subsequently, you can view the potentially unwanted items and click the Expert view (all items) tab to check additional startup services. You can start or delay startup items.

Afterward, verify if the System Idle Process high CPU usage problem has been resolved.

Solution 2: Perform a Virus Scan

If your computer is affected by malware or viruses, the “High CPU Usage by System Idle Process” issue might occur. Run a malware/virus scan using Windows Defender or other third-party antivirus software, and remove any detected threats entirely.

Solution 3: Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software

To fix the “System Idle Process high CPU usage” error, you can also attempt to temporarily disable antivirus and firewall software. For guidance on disabling Windows Defender temporarily, refer to this article: 3 Ways to Disable Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10.

Once you’ve temporarily disabled Windows Defender, wait a few minutes and check if the issue persists. After resolving the issue, it’s advisable to re-enable the antivirus software.

Solution 4: Update Drivers

System Idle Process high CPU usage can also stem from outdated drivers. Prior to moving forward with the next method, consider updating the drivers.

1. Press the Windows I keys simultaneously to open Settings.

2. Navigate to Windows Update, then click Advanced options.

3. Select Optional features. If any driver updates are available, review the updates, then click the Download & install button.

Solution 5: Clean Up Your Disk

A full hard drive can also trigger the “System Idle Process high CPU” issue. Therefore, it’s essential to clean up your hard drive, which can enhance your PC's performance. Follow these steps to tidy up your hard drive:

1. Enter disk cleanup in the Search box and select Disk Clean-up from the top results.

2. In the dialog box, the system drive is chosen by default. Click OK to continue.

3. Next, you’ll see the total amount of disk space you can reclaim by deleting all the listed files.

4. Now, mark the files you wish to delete and press the OK button.

5. Finally, click Delete Files to confirm that you intend to permanently remove these files.

Solution 6: Perform Disk Defragmentation

The final approach to fix the “System Idle Process high CPU usage” issue is to defragment the hard drive. A damaged or fragmented hard drive can also lead to this problem. Hence, you need to defragment the hard drive. Here’s how:

1. Type defrag in the Search box and select Defragment and Optimize Drives.

2. At this point, you can pick the desired drive and click Analyze.

3. Following the scan, choose the fragmented drive and click Optimize.

4. Wait for the process to complete. Once the defragmentation is done, restart your computer and check whether the “System Idle Process high CPU Windows 11” issue has been resolved.

Conclusion

There’s no need to fret about the “High CPU Usage by System Idle Process” issue as it signifies unused CPU resources in your computer. If your computer is sluggish, you can use MiniTool System Booster to boost its performance.

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