Msmpeng.Exe High CPU Usage Problem – Easy Fixes

Please don’t mistake MsMpEng.exe to be a virus, rather it’s a core process of your Windows Defender!

It scans all your downloaded files for malware or spyware and removes the suspicious ones.

Besides, it scrutinizes the system for any malicious software, virus threat, or other harmful programs.

Sometimes irrespective of your windows version you may encounter msmpeng.exe high CPU usage problem. The CPU usage can become even higher than 80%.

In today’s article, I am going to suggest some remedies to check this problem.

Problems That May Occur Due To Msmpeng.Exe High CPU Usage

You may get an access denied message if you try to end the msmpeng.exe high CPU process or you may come across high usage of both CPU and memory that causes high disk usage problem.

It hogs up your memory and that plays an impact on your performance as a result! If not checked properly this process randomly crashes on your computer.

Sometimes Msmpeng.exe may run constantly in the background causing high CPU usage on the system.

This is going to cause slow boot and there is also a high chance for memory leakage. 

Reasons Behind Msmpeng.Exe High CPU Consumption

There are a variety of reasons for this problem to occur. It might happen when Windows defender scans its directory or there are some lower hardware resources.

If there is any virus or malware threat in your system, you will receive such an error message.

In case you have some corrupted registry files, then also you will have to encounter such an error.

Now let us discuss some feasible workarounds to combat the issue and solve the msmpeng.exe high CPU problem.

Fix 1: Stop Windows Defender’s Scanning Process

Preventing Windows Defender to scan its directory is a valid solution that I may suggest you for solving msmpeng exe memory issue. Here I am mentioning the steps to perform the task.

Step 1: Go to the Start menu and then open your Settings option. From there select and Update & Security.

Step 2: Next select the Windows Security window and when the options get displayed in front of you, click on Virus & threat protection.

Step 3: Now from here, open Settings and go to the Manage settings option. Next, choose Exclusions.

Step 4: Then go to the Add or remove exclusions window and choose to Add an exclusion option and add your folders, files, or process.

It’s done. Now check if this has done any improvement to you.

Solution 2: Limit the CPU Usage from the Task manager

Setting a limit to the CPU usage is a wise technique when you are receiving msmpeng exe memory error message. Here is how you can do this using your task manager. Follow the steps:

Step 1:  Open your Task Manager and then click on the Details option.

Step 2: Now from the Details tab, right-click on msmpeng.exe.

Next, choose the Set affinity option and then set the CPU limit threshold.

Step 3: After you set the usage threshold this will help consume less memory. Hope this is going to check the excessive disk usage.

Solution 3: Rescheduling The Windows Defender

When you get msmpeng exe high memory message tries rescheduling Windows Defender for checking the high CPU usage.

Follow the given steps:

Step 1:  Hold Windows Key and press S hotkey for entering the Task Scheduler.

Step 2: When the Task Scheduler window opens, find the Task Scheduler Library. From here select Microsoft Windows > Windows Defender option.

Step 3: Now go to the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan option and double click on it.

Step 4: When you get to see the Properties window, move on to the Conditions tab.

Step 5: Now check that all the three options –

Start the task only if the computer is idle

Start the task only if the computer is on AC power

Start only if the following network connection is available

are disabled. Save the changes by hitting the OK button.

Step 6: Now revert to the Properties window and open the Triggers tab. Choose the New option.

Step 7: Select the Weekly or Monthly option as per your preference and save your changes.

Step 8: Revert to Task Scheduler window and save the same changes for every Windows Defender tasks.

Step 9: Check whether this workaround helps you to find a solution but remember that the high CPU usage problem will occur again when the Windows Defender will start scanning.

Try this rescheduling process once a month for avoiding the problem.

Solution 4: Use Safe Mode

Starting your PC using safe mode is a cool option to find an answer for msmpeng.exe high disk usage. Here is the process described to start your Windows 10 in safe mode.

Step 1:  Open Settings and choose Update & Security from the displayed options.

Step 2: Now go to the Recovery window and choose the Advanced start-up section.

 

Step 3: Hit the Restart now button and when your Computer restarts, select the Troubleshooting option when asked to Choose an option.

Step 4: Next move on to the Advanced button followed by the Start-up Settings. Now hit the Restart button again.

Step 5: A list will be displayed in front of you. You are supposed to tap the F4 button for starting your Computer in Safe Mode.

Check whether this process works for you.

Solution 5: Disabling The Windows Defender

Disable your Windows Defender to check the high CPU usage problem. But make sure you download and install one antivirus protection for your system first.

Step 1: Open the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R and enter the following: gpedit.msc. Hit the Enter button followed by the OK key.

Step 2: Now the Group Policy Editor will start in case you are using Pro and Enterprise versions of the Windows.

Step 3: You also have an option to install the Group Policy Editor Home version for your Windows.

Step 4: Now find out Computer Configuration from the left panel and select the Administrative Templates.

Step 5: Next go to the Windows Components and choose Windows Defender Antivirus.

Step 6: Now from the right pane, click twice on Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus.

Step 7: Now you will get into the Properties window. Choose the Enabled option and then hit the Apply button followed by OK for saving your changes.

Solution 6: Perform A Registry Tweak

You can also solve the annoying problem using the registry editor.

For doing so, I will describe the process, follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Launch run by pressing Windows Key + R. next enter regedit and press the Enter button.

Step 2: This will take you to the Registry Editor and from here locate the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender option.

Step 3: Move on to the right pane and right-click anywhere and then select New and DWORD (32-bit) / (64-bit) Value depending on your system.

Step 4: Now name the newly created DWORD as DisableAntiSpyware and then click twice on it.

Step 5: Proceed to set the value to 1 and hit the OK button.

Now close the window of Registry Editor and give your Computer a fresh restart.

Solution 7: Turn off The Sample Submission option

For checking the msmpeng.exe high disk usage some users have reported that disabling the sample submission step helped them.

The feature is effective in sending the problematic files to Microsoft for scrutinizing.

But this feature sometimes generates problems also. So, for fixing up the problem we must proceed to disable the feature.

Follow the process mentioned below for disabling the sample submission.

Step 1: Go to Settings and get into the Update & Security window.

Step 2: Now find out the Windows Defender option from the displayed menu and click on Windows Defender Security Center.

Step 3: Now go to the Virus & threat protection section from the left panel and open its Settings.

Step 4: Now find out the Automatic sample submission option for disabling it.

After you have turned off the automatic sample submission, see if this has satisfactorily solved your issue. 

Final Words

So, I hope by now, you can find out the best possible way to solve the msmpeng.exe high CPU issue from the given article.

If you still have queries related to the recording software, please communicate with us in the comments section provided below.

Feel free to shoot us a mail with your ideas or suggestions. We always look forward to hearing back from you.