Fix Explorer.exe High CPU Usage in Windows (2024 Update)

Here's how to fix high CPU usage by Explorer.exe on Windows. Run Avast Internet Security@ https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7951287-12889080 to remove potential malware.

High CPU usage by the explorer.exe process in Windows can be attributed to various factors, such as third-party shell extensions, corrupted system files, or issues with Windows updates. Here are the detailed steps to help you troubleshoot and resolve the explorer.exe high CPU usage issue:

### 1. **Restart Explorer.exe:**

1. **Open Task Manager:**
– Right-click on the taskbar and select /"Task Manager/" or press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.

2. **Locate Explorer.exe:**
– Under the /"Processes/" tab, find and select /"Windows Explorer/" (explorer.exe).

3. **Restart Explorer.exe:**
– Click the /"Restart/" button in the lower right corner of the Task Manager window. This will restart the Windows Explorer process.

### 2. **Check for malware:**

1. **Run a full virus scan:**
– Perform a full system scan with your antivirus software to check for malware or malicious programs.

### 3. **Update Windows:**

1. **Check for updates:**
– Open Settings (Win I), go to /"Windows Update/" and check for updates. Install any pending updates.

### 4. **Disable quick access:**

1. **Open File Explorer Options:**
– Open File Explorer, go to the /"View/" tab, and click on /"Options./"

2. **Change folder options:**
– In the /"Folder Options/" window, go to the /"General/" tab.
– Set /"Open File Explorer to/" to /"This PC/" instead of /"Quick Access./"
– Click on /"Apply/" then on /"OK./"

### 5. **Check for faulty shell extensions:**

1. **Download ShellExView:**
– Download and run ShellExView, a free utility that displays and manages shell extensions on your system.

2. **Disable non-Microsoft extensions:**
– Sort extensions by "Enterprise./" Disable non-Microsoft extensions one by one and check if CPU usage decreases.
– If the issue is resolved after disabling a specific extension, that extension may be causing the problem.

### 6. **Perform a System File Check (SFC) and DISM scan:**

1. **Open Command Prompt as administrator:**
– Right-click the Start button and select /"Command Prompt (Administrator)/" or /"Windows PowerShell (Administrator)./"

2. **Run SFC scan:**
– Enter the command sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the scan complete.

3. **Run DISM scan:**
– Enter the command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

4. **Restart:**
– Restart your computer once the scans are complete.

### 7. **Disable Windows Search Service:**

1. **Open services:**
– Press Win R, type services.msc and press Enter.

2. **Locate Windows Search:**
– Scroll down to find /"Windows Search/" in the list.

3. **Stop and disable:**
– Right-click /"Windows Search/", select /"Shutdown/", then set the startup type to /"Disabled./"

4. **Restart:**
– Restart your computer.

### 8. **Check for disk errors:**

1. **Open Command Prompt as administrator:**
– Right-click the Start button and select /"Command Prompt (Administrator)/" or /"Windows PowerShell (Administrator)./"

2. **Run disk check:**
– Enter the command chkdsk /f and press Enter.
– You may need to restart your computer for the disk check to take place.

### 9. **Perform a clean boot:**

1. **Open system configuration:**
– Press Win R, type msconfig and press Enter.

2. **Perform a clean boot:**
– In the /"General/" tab, select /"Selective startup/" and uncheck /"Load startup items./"
– Go to the /"Services/" tab, check /"Hide all Microsoft services,/" then click on /"Disable all./"
– Click on /"Apply/" then on /"OK./"

3. **Restart:**
– Restart your computer to see if the problem persists.

### Additional Tips:

– **Update graphics drivers:**
– Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date, as outdated or incompatible drivers can cause performance issues.

– **Check resource-intensive programs:**
– Use Task Manager to identify if other running applications are consuming a significant amount of CPU resources.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, consider seeking help from Microsoft Support or the relevant forums for further troubleshooting based on your specific system configuration and software environment.