How To Solve Anti-malware Service Error Increase CPU Utilization

Windows Defender uses the Antimalware Service Executable background process to operate its services. You may have already checked Task Manager to see whether MsMpEng.exe (Antimalware Service Executable) is the process causing the High CPU Usage. Real-time protection is now the root of the issue since it continuously scans your data whenever the computer turns on or is left inactive. While an antivirus program is designed to provide real-time protection, it should only occasionally perform a full system scan instead of constantly scanning every system file.

The complete system scan can be disabled to solve this issue, and it should only be set to scan the entire system regularly. It will not interfere with Windows Defender’s real-time protection, which happens when you download a file or insert a pen drive into the computer. Windows Defender checks all newly installed files before allowing you access to them. You will benefit from this because real-time protection will remain secure, and you can do a complete system scan whenever needed, freeing up system resources. Well, enough of this. Let’s look at how to resolve the high CPU consumption of MsMpEng.exe truly.

Fix Antimalware Service Executable High CPU Usage

As an extra measure, always build a restore point in case anything goes wrong.

Method 1: Turn off Windows Defender’s full system scan triggers.

1. To launch Task Scheduler, press Windows Key + R, type “taskschd. msc,” and press Enter.

Note: You can try this repair if you get the MMC that does not create the snap-in error when you launch Task Scheduler.

2. To expand Task Scheduler (Local), double-click on it in the left window pane. Then, double-click Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows once more.
3. Locate Windows Defender by scrolling down, then double-click to see its settings.
4. To access the Properties, right-click on Windows Defender Scheduled Scan in the right window pane.
5. Uncheck Run with the highest privileges in the pop-up window’s General pane.
6. Next, select the Conditions tab, ensure every item in this window is unchecked, and click OK.

7. You can try to fix Antimalware Service Executable High CPU Usage by restarting your computer.

Method 2: Add MsMpEng.exe (Antimalware Service Executable) to the Windows Defender exclusion list

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. In the process list, search for MsMpEng.exe or Antimalware Service Executable.
2. Select Open File Location by right-clicking on it. The file MsMpEng.exe will appear in the address bar when you click it. Don’t forget to copy the file’s location.
3. To access Update & Security, press Windows Key + I.
4. After that, choose Windows Defender from the window pane on the left, then scroll down to Add an Exclusion.
5. Scroll down to select “Add an exclusion” and then “Exclude a.exe, .com, or. scr process.”
6. You will see a pop-up box where you must type MsMpEng.exe and select OK.

The Windows Defender exclusion list now includes MsMpEng.exe (Antimalware Service Executable). This should resolve Windows 10’s Antimalware Service Executable High CPU Usage issue.

Method 3: Disable Windows Defender

There’s another way to disable Windows Defender in Windows 10. If you lack access to the local group policy editor, you may permanently disable the default antivirus using this method.

It should be noted that changing the registry can have a permanent impact. Thus, it is strongly advised that you have a backup of your Registry before beginning this approach.

1. To launch the Run dialog box, press the Windows key + R.
2. To access the Registry, type regedit here and select OK.
3. You must navigate to the given path:

Software\Policies\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Defense

4. If you can’t locate the DisableAntiSpyware DWORD, right-click the Windows Defender (folder) key, choose New, and then click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

5. You must hit Enter and give it a new name, DisableAntiSpyware.
6. Double-click on this newly created DWORD to change the value from 0 to 1.
7. To save all your settings, you must finally click the OK button.

After completing these steps, your device must be rebooted for all of the adjustments to take effect. After restarting your device, you will discover that Windows Defender antivirus has been disabled.

Method 4: Run CCleaner and Malwarebytes

1. Download and run Malwarebytes and CCleaner.
2. Start Malwarebytes and let it explore your computer for potentially dangerous files. If malware is found, it will eliminate it automatically.
3. Choose Custom Clean after starting CCleaner.
4. Choose the Windows tab under Custom Clean, check the defaults, and click Analyze.
5. After Analyze is finished, delete the files that need to be destroyed.
6. Ultimately, select the Run Cleaner option and allow CCleaner to do its work.
7. Choose the Registry tab and make sure the following are ticked to clean your system further:
8. When CCleaner has finished scanning, click the Correct Selected Issues button to select the issues you want to correct.

9. To answer CCleaner’s question, “Do you want backup changes to the registry?” select “Yes.”
10. After your backup, choose all the issues you want to fix and click the Fix option.
11. To save changes, restart your computer.