Share this article

This article is translated in

Improve this guide

Fix: Windows Explorer High CPU Usage [9 Tested Solutions]

Lower CPU usage translates to better performance

10 min. read

Updated onNovember 8, 2024

updated onNovember 8, 2024

Share this article

This article is translated in

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

We suggest Fortect to handle a variety of CPU-related issues:

High resource consumption can be a problem and affect thedevice’s performance. And many reported high CPU usage due to theexplorer.exeprocess on Windows 10.

High CPU usageis one of the most dreaded problems, and it often takes a while before users can identify what’s actually causing the issue since the system doesn’t throw any error messages.

Here are some similar issues that users reported:

Let’s now walk you through all one needs to know about the problem and the most effective solutions for it.

Why does explorer.exe use high CPU?

Explorer.exe is the name of the Windows Explorer process, and under an ideal scenario, it shouldn’t consume much CPU, typically in the range of 0-5%. If it’s higher than that, there’s a problem that needs to be identified and eliminated to get the best performance.

One of the common reasons behind Windows Explorer high CPU usage in Windows 10 is corrupt system files. Certain third-party apps are also known to trigger CPU usage forexplorer.exe.

Besides, system errors, temporary files, issues with the hard disk, and malware can also lead to the problem. In addition to these, if the computer idles out too soon or incompatible hardware has been connected, you might witness explorer.exe high CPU usage when moving the mouse.

It depends on the number of Windows Explorer windows you have open, in addition to the task being carried out. Also, when you launch Windows Explorer, the memory usage will suddenly spike and then lower automatically after a few seconds.

In most cases, the memory usage of Windows Explorer, when left idle, will hover around 40-100 MB, while my computer currently shows 179.7 MB when actively using it in two different windows. If there is an issue with the system, it might increase even further.

How do I fix explorer.exe high CPU usage?

1. Remove old and temporary files

If you’re having problems withexplorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10, the problem might be caused by old and temporary files.

Programs on your computer create hundreds of temporary files, and sometimes these can interfere with your system, so it’s advised to remove them.

Alternatively, there arespecialized cleaning toolsthat can efficiently erase temporary files on your PC without leaving any leftovers.

2. Disable cloud storage clients

According to users, sometimes this issue can occur due tocloud storage servicessuch as Dropbox or OneDrive.

These services sync files automatically in the background, and that can causeexplorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10.

To fix the problem, users recommended disabling OneDrive anduninstalling Dropboxtemporarily and see if that solves the problem.

There are several ways to uninstall an application, but the most effective one is touse uninstaller software. It will remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you’re uninstalling, ensuring no leftover files interfere with the system.

3. Check for misleading desktop icons

Sometimes explorer.exe high CPU usage can occur due to certain icons on your desktop. This is an unusual occurrence, but it can happen on your PC.

Apparently, the issue is caused by a file or a shortcut on your desktop that doesn’t have an icon. For some reason, these types of files cause issues such as high CPU usage withexplorer.exein Windows 10.

To fix the problem, you just have to remove files/shortcuts without icons from the desktop, and the problem will be resolved.

4. Check for malware

Sometimes explorer.exe high CPU usage can occur due to malware. A certain process can be running in the background without your knowledge, and that can cause high CPU usage on your PC.

If you’re having this issue on your PC, we advise you to perform a full system scan and check if that solves the problem. To run the scan, you may use the built-in Windows Security or go with the third-party solution.

If Windows Security is unable to find the malware, you might want to move over to an effective antimalware tool that has the ability to detect malware, spyware, and other dangerous threats.

As an alternative, there is a powerful security tool that will safeguard your PC against digital threats with the latest protection functionality.

You can check ourtested recommendationsand choose an antivirus that is capable of securing your system from spyware or ransomware attacks, without affecting other processes or slowing down your computer.

5. Install the latest updates

If you’re having issues with explorer.exe high CPU usage on your Windows 10 PC, the problem might be the missing updates. Windows 10 is a solid operating system, but sometimes certain bugs can appear and cause high CPU issues.

However, you can fix this problem simply by installing the latest updates. Windows 10 usually installs the updates automatically, but you can always check for updates on your own.

6. Perform a Clean boot

Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, enable services and applications one by one until you manage to recreate the problem. Keep in mind that you’ll need to restart your PC every time you enable a group of services or applications.

According to users, sometimesexplorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10 can occur due to third-party applications on your PC.

Many applications and services tend to start automatically when Windows is booted, and that can cause this and other problems to appear.

Also, you can fix this issue simply by performing a Clean boot. In the Clean boot state, all startup applications and services should be disabled, allowing you to troubleshoot the problem.

7. Clear the contents of the Temp folder

After restarting Windows Explorer, the problem should be completely resolved. According to users,explorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10 can sometimes be caused by files in the Temp directory, and if Disk Cleanup couldn’t do it, the manual approach should do the trick.

8. Delete the AudioSes.dll

If you’re havingexplorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10, the problem might be related to theAudioSes.dllfile. According to users, this file can sometimes cause the issue, and the only way to fix it is to move this file.

This isn’t the most reliable solution, and modifying the contents of the Windows directory is usually not advised, so be sure to use extra caution. If any new problems occur, restore these two files to their original locations.

9. Run SFC and Check Disk scans

Sometimes theexplorer.exehigh CPU usage problem in Windows 10 can occur due to corrupted files on your PC. In this case, the SFC (System File Checker) scan comes to your rescue. Also, run the Check Disk scan to look for issues with the hard drive.

How do I stop Windows Explorer from running in the background?

Though many recommend terminating the Windows Explorer process from the Task Manager, the method doesn’t make sense because the taskbar and other critical elements are coupled with it.

So, when the Windows Explorer process is terminated, the Taskbar and even the desktop icons would disappear.

In this case, it’s best that youremove it from the startup appsif Windows Explorer or a particular folder has been configured to launch at boot.

That’s it! By now, you should be able to fixexplorer.exehigh CPU usage in Windows 10. Some of the solutions here would also work in the case of Windows Explorer high memory usage in Windows 10.

Besides, if the system heats up, find out how to fix ahigh CPU temperaturein Windows.

Don’t forget to tell us whether these steps helped you deal with the problem. You can do that in the comments section below.

Fix: Windows Explorer High CPU Usage [9 Tested Solutions]#

Why does explorer.exe use high CPU?#

How do I fix explorer.exe high CPU usage?#

1. Remove old and temporary files#

2. Disable cloud storage clients#

3. Check for misleading desktop icons#

4. Check for malware#

5. Install the latest updates#

6. Perform a Clean boot#

7. Clear the contents of the Temp folder#

8. Delete the AudioSes.dll#

9. Run SFC and Check Disk scans#

How do I stop Windows Explorer from running in the background?#