How to Fix an Antimalware Service Executable Error in Windows GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows

How to Fix an Antimalware Service Executable Error in Windows

Stop Windows Defender from hogging system resources

By Jon Martindale Jon Martindale Writer Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 18, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide The Antimalware Service Executable, also known as MsMpEng.exe, is a core component of Windows Defender, the default security software built into Windows 10. If your computer runs slow, it could be because MsMpEng.exe is hogging CPU resources. Problems with the Antimalware Service Executable can prevent Windows Update from working properly. Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10.

What Causes Antimalware Service Executable High Resource Usage

MsMpEng.exe can make a hard drive or SSD work particularly hard when it conducts a system scan. Like other antivirus software, Windows Defender periodically performs scans to make sure nothing is running on a PC that shouldn't be, in addition to real-time monitoring. That shouldn't be a problem on higher-end laptops and desktop PCs. Still, the Antimalware Service Executable has been know to use a disproportionate amount of system resources in budget laptops. You can see how much of the CPU each active file and process uses in the Windows Task Manager.

How to Fix Antimalware Service Executable High CPU Usage

If MsMpEng.exe is hogging system resources, wait a few minutes. It's possible that the system is undergoing a full scan, and that once it's finished, the resources used by that process will go back to normal. If you want to make sure that a scan like that doesn't happen in the future, you can also take some steps to have more control over what the Antimalware Service Executable does and when. Change the Windows Defender schedule. Changing when Windows Defender runs its scans can give you a better grasp of the system's resource usage. This change allows you to control exactly when scans take place and how much system power it draws. Add MsMpEng.exeto the Windows Defender exclusion list. A bug can cause the Antimalware Service Executable to scan itself, using a ton of system resources in the process. To prevent this from happening, set Windows Defender to exclude MsMpEng.exe. Scan for viruses and malware. It's possible that malware caused problems with Windows Defender and made it use up too much of the CPU. Run a scan with a third-party antivirus tool to make sure that's not the case. Disable Windows Defender. Windows Defender is a great security tool, but if you exhausted everything else, the nuclear option is to disable Windows Defender entirely. Turning on Windows Defender can leave a PC vulnerable to security threats. If this fix made it possible to update Windows successfully, reactivate Windows Defender when you're done, and make sure only the Real-time protection option is enabled. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix It When Windows 11 Defender Won't Open How to Fix Broken Registry Items in Windows 11 How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Slow The 9 Best Free Antivirus Software of 2022 How to Fix It When Copy and Paste Isn't Working in Windows 10/11 How to Fix Kernel32.dll Errors in Windows How to Fix Corrupted Files in Windows 11 What Are the Types of System Resources in a Computer? How to Fix Error Code 0x80004005 12 Best Free Spyware Removal Tools (October 2022) How to Reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11 What lsass.exe Is & How It Affects Your Computer Error Code 0xc00000e9: What It Means and How to Fix It How to Fix It When Windows 10 Bluetooth Is Not Working Does Windows 10 Need Antivirus Protection? How to Fix It When the Cursor Disappears in Windows 10 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies