Is your PC feeling sluggish? Microsoft Defender, your silent guardian, might be the culprit. While diligently protecting your system with daily quick scans and real-time file checks, it can sometimes hog CPU resources. Don’t let Defender slow you down. Discover how to tame its appetite for system resources and reclaim your PC’s performance.
Control CPU Resources for Microsoft Defender Scans
Is your PC feeling sluggish? Blame Defender’s background scans! By default, these scans hog up to 50% of your CPU, battling your active programs for processing power. That’s right, while you’re trying to work or game, Defender could be silently devouring half your CPU resources, turning your once-zippy machine into a digital snail.
Unleash your system’s full potential! Tame background scans that hog your CPU. Here’s how to give your foreground apps the VIP treatment they deserve. Fire up PowerShell as administrator (Windows Search > powershell > right-click > Run as administrator) and prepare to command your system resources. Ready? Let’s go!
“` Set
–
MpPreference
–
EnableLowCpuPriority $true “`
This will set the priority to low.
“` Set
–
MpPreference
–
ScanAvgCPULoadFactor
30
“`
To throttle CPU usage to 30%, implement the setting. While lower limits are possible, performance below 15% risks crippling scan speed. Proceed with caution.
You can reset the changes by using the following commands:
“` Set
–
MpPreference
–
EnableLowCpuPriority
$false
Set
–
MpPreference
–
ScanAvgCPULoadFactor
50
“`
Move Data to a Dev Drive
Unleash peak performance with Dev Drive, a ReFS-formatted powerhouse engineered for demanding workloads. Imagine a digital playground where speed and stability reign supreme. Dev Drive delivers, and it gets better. Microsoft Defender smartly steps aside, deferring intensive scans to avoid crippling latency, especially beneficial when juggling countless files. Think lightning-fast builds and seamless development. The tradeoff? A slight security concession, as Defender prioritizes speed, scanning after access. Choose wisely: Performance or immediate comprehensive scanning.
You can create a Dev Drive and move frequently used data there to prevent the Defender from slowing it down.
Manage Archive Scanning
Microsoft Defender faces a challenge: diving deep into compressed archives. Think of it as unpacking countless boxes, one after another. This unpacking, or decompression, requires serious CPU muscle. Got a mountain of archives? Your PC might feel the strain, slowing down like a marathon runner hitting the wall.
While youcouldtell Defender to ignore these archives, that’s like leaving the front door unlocked. Sneaky malware often hides inside archives precisely to evade detection. So, proceed with caution!
Tired of Defender bogging down your system while scanning massive archives? There’s a smarter way. Tweak its settings to ignore bulky files and focus on the smaller packages where malware loves to hide. Think of it as a targeted strike instead of a drawn-out siege. For those rare, jumbo-sized archives, a manual scan is your safety net. Ready to take control? Dive into the Registry and fine-tune Defender like a pro. Here’s the key:
CAUTION! Entering the Windows Registry is like navigating a minefield. One wrong step and BOOM! System failure, lost data. Before proceeding, create a Registry backup – your safety net in this digital labyrinth. Proceed with extreme care.
Open the Windows Registry and move to the following location:
“`
HKEYLOCALMACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender “`
Right-click onWindows Defenderand selectNew→Key. Name this new keyScan.
Now, doubleclick your newly forged key. Choose “Decimal” as your base, and unleash the size limit in kilobytes! Dreaming of scanning only archives under 1 GB? Type in1048576and watch the magic happen. (That’s 1GB, cleverly disguised in KBs).
Regret your newfound power? No problem! Simply banish theArchiveMaxSizeDWORD value from whence it came (delete it).
Manage Scan Time
Is Microsoft Defender hogging your CPU? Don’t let scans slow you down! Instead of daily scans, switch to weekly without sacrificing security. With real-time protection on guard, that less frequent scan is all you need.
Unleash the Task Scheduler and embark on a digital treasure hunt! Navigate to the “Task Scheduler Library,” then delve into the hidden depths of “Microsoft,” onward to “Windows,” and finally, the fortress of “Windows Defender.” Once there, the coveted “Windows Defender Scheduled Scan” awaits your double-click. Under the “Triggers” tab, a world of possibilities unfolds – click “New” to forge your destiny!
With your preferences locked in, just hitOKand consider it done. Your automated weekly scan is now scheduled and ready to roll, taking care of business without you having to lift a finger. Set it and forget it!
Avoid Using Advanced Security Features if Not Necessary
Unlock the hidden power of Microsoft Defender – carefully. Buried within its defenses lie advanced features capable of bolstering your security, but activating them recklessly can bog down your system. Think of them as specialized tools: incredibly potent, but only when wielded with precision. Features like Application Guard, Controlled Folder Access, and Memory Integrity offer enhanced protection, but demand extra resources. Before flipping the switch, consider if the added security truly outweighs the potential performance impact. A leaner, meaner Defender might be all you need.
Don’t ditch Defender! Tweak it. Get rock-solid protection without bogging down your PC. Especially critical for gamers: these adjustments eliminate those micro-stutters that can mean the difference between victory and rage-quitting.
Thanks for reading 5 Ways to Resolve Microsoft Defender’s High CPU Usage Issue
