

Open the Start menu, type “task scheduler” and click the top result to launch the program.We can remedy this by scheduling the scans to take place at a time when you’re less likely to feel the drain on your CPU. It is known to use excessive CPU for longer periods of time and carry out scans right when you’re waking up the computer to quickly send an email or check a website.Īlthough this can be frustrating, it’s important that you don’t remove or disable Windows Defender without first installing another IT security solution – after all, it may be the only thing that stands between your computer and the bad guys! Let the program do its job, resolve any threats and then follow these steps to prevent the anti-malware executable issue from happening again: Fix #1: Change Windows Defender’s scheduling optionsįor most people, Antimalware Service Executable high memory problems typically happens when Windows Defender is running a full scan. While it is normal for antivirus programs to consume system resources when running a scan, Windows Defender is far greedier than most. Full Scan relies heavily on the CPU and is not afraid to use whatever resources your system has available as a result, you may experience lag, delays, hanging and other system disruptions when it is scanning. At the same time, however, it can also be the cause of disproportionately high CPU usage.Īnother Windows Defender feature that may be responsible for slowing down your system is its Full Scan, which performs a comprehensive check of all files on your computer. This process allows Windows Defender to continuously monitor your computer for potential threats and provide real-time protection against malware and cyberattacks. Antivirus software from the world’s leading ransomware experts. What is Antimalware Service Executable (msmpeng.exe)?ĭo you use Windows Defender to protect your computer? If so, open up the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Start Menu > Task Manager), scroll through the list of background processes and you will find a process called Antimalware Service Executable and its corresponding file msmpeng.exe.ĭownload now: Emsisoft Anti-Malware free trial. In this article, we’ve put together a few simple steps you can follow to prevent Antimalware Service Executable from hogging your system’s resources and keep your machine running smoothly. If you’re a Windows Defender user and have noticed high CPU usage for abnormally long periods of time, you’ll be pleased to know that you can easily manage this issue. However, it’s also infamous for consuming far more than its fair share of CPU processing power, and can even single handedly reduce your computer’s speed to a glacial crawl. The Antimalware Service Executable process plays an important role in the Microsoft Windows Defender Service that comes bundled with Windows 10 (and, despite the similarities in name, is completely unrelated to Emsisoft Anti-Malware!).
